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Picayune is a city in Pearl River County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. The population was 10,535 at the 2000 census.
Hurricane Katrina
Picayune received considerable damage from Hurricane Katrina. The eye of Katrina passed directly over Picayune but there was no flood damage due to its inland location. There was, however, extensive damage to powerlines which made food and water hard to find for at least a week. Some residents were without power for up to a month. Gasoline was quite hard to find for at least two weeks with vehicles waiting in lines for several hours when a shipment of fuel did become available. Most homes had roof damage from either wind or falling trees but were still inhabitable once temporary repairs were made in the following week or two. Due to its location only an hour north of both New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, its population has surged with evacuees who have permanently relocated or are as of yet unable to return home. Some estimates indicate an initial population increase from 13,000 to nearly 40,000 residents.
Picayune also suffered severe damage from 200 MPH wind gust in the August, 1969 CAT5 Hurricane Camille that also devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast but not quite as extensively as Hurricane Katrina. Camille was much more compact so the path of destruction was much smaller.
Geography
Picayune is located at (30.528089, -89.680182).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.6 km² (11.8 mi²). 30.5 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.34%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,535 people, 4,100 households, and 2,865 families residing in the city. The population density was 345.9/km² (895.6/mi²). There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of 150.0/km² (388.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.02% White, 35.92% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.
There were 4,100 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $26,958, and the median income for a family was $33,260. Males had a median income of $31,438 versus $20,035 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,798. About 18.9% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Amtrak's Crescent train connects Picayune with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 100 South Highway 11.
Interstate 59 connects Picayune to New Orleans LA in the south and Hattiesburg MS, Meridian MS and Birmingham Al, to the North.
Picayune Municipal Airport (KMJD) has a 5000 ft runway and is a popular destination for private fixed wing and rotary aircraft visiting the New Orleans area. Rental car, Taxi and Limousine services are available,
History
Picayune was founded in 1904, named by Elia Jane Poitevent Nicholson, the owner and the publisher of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Points of interest
External links
"Picayune, Mississippi"