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Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Locals call it "The Bay" is the third oldest city on the Gulf of Mexico, following Pensacola, Florida and Biloxi, Mississippi. It is 21 years older than New Orleans. Iberville visited the Bay in April, 1699 and in December of that year built a fort on the bluff overlooking the bay, which incidentally is the highest point of land on the Gulf in the four-state area.
The Old Spanish Trail which runs through the city actually should be called the Old Indian Trail because they used it for thousands of years before the Spanish visited North America.
For most of the 1700s there were only 48 families between the Pearl River and the Perdido. They were mostly fisherman, all of whom spoke either French or Spanish.
There were no English speaking residents, even after England defeated France in the Seven Year War and won title to the area. In 1779 Spain took possession from England. Then for a period of 74 days in 1810, the populace rebelled and declared themselves the Independent Nation of the Republic of West Florida. A constitution was drawn up, a president elected and the Lone Star Flag adopted. President Madison declared that West Florida was part of the Louisiana Purchase and the little republic ceased to be one of the nations of the world, and shortly thereafter in 1817 it became part of Mississippi, the nation's 20th state.
During the 1800s Bay St. Louis was a health resort of international fame because of its healing waters and its excellent climate. It contained the summer residences of New Orleans' elite and after 1870 when train service was established, many of them resided permanently in the Bay and the businessmen commuted to the city.
Present day Bay St. Louis retains much of its historic charm, having over 570 buildings on the National Registry of Historic Homes, the oldest dating from 1787. Its newly refurbished beaches are beautiful and have not yet been discovered by the masses who overcrowd the beaches to the east of the city. There are excellent restaurants and antique shops. Commuter trolleys run regular schedules to Biloxi and points in between. Two casinos (Casino Magic in the northeast section of the Bay and Jubilee south of town at Bayou Caddy) offer professional entertainment in addition to gambling. Beach Boulevard runs southward from a point directly behind Casino Magic. It continues for nine miles along the shoreline past beautiful and historic homes to Bayou Caddy and the docks of Camp Maple Leaf. The Jordan and Wolfe Rivers enter the Bay at its northeast and northwest points respectively reducing the salinity of the water and adding to the variety of aquatic life.
If you would like more information on the area, please give us a call:
Hancock County Historical Society Charles Gray - President (601) 467-4090
Camp Maple Leaf Bed & Breakfast / Sail Charters Aboard Wooden Boats !
Jude & Nancy Miller - Owners (601) 466-3499
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