The History of Gulfport

Early History    //     Downtown Gulfport     //     Port of Gulfport     //     The Gulf &Ship Island Rail Road   ///   Traveling by Trolley   ///
/// John C. Robinson  ///   The 1947 Hurricane  ///

Gulfport's story begins in the 1840s in the villages of Mississippi City and Handsboro, east of present-day downtown. Early enterprise was devoted to cutting and selling the timber reserves of the pine forests inland. Mississippi City was south along the gulf and Handsboro was north of it along the bayous. Because Mississippi City was the center geographically, it was named county seat, and the county courthouse was built there in 1842.  Gulfport's story begins in the 1840s in the villages of Mississippi City and Handsboro, east of present-day downtown. Early enterprise was devoted to cutting and selling the timber reserves of the pine forests inland. Mississippi City was south along the gulf and Handsboro was north of it along the bayous. Because Mississippi City was the center geographically, it was named county seat, and the county courthouse was built there in 1842.