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From YouTube: Biloxi Through the Decades
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A
In
1810,
Biloxi's
population
was
counted
at
just
420.
The
year
later,
after
a
century
of
French,
British
and
Spanish
rule
Mississippi
became
the
20th
state
in
the
Union
and
Biloxi
began
to
grow,
as
Biloxi
became
a
popular
summer
resort.
The
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
became
known
as
the
American
Riviera
by
mid-century
Biloxi
had
become
the
most
important
of
the
Gulf
Coast's
resort
towns.
Then
in
1861
Mississippi
seceded
from
the
United
States.
The
civil
war
had
begun
after
the
war
recovery
along
the
Gulf
Coast
was
slow
but
picked
up
momentum.
A
With
the
arrival
of
the
railroad
in
the
1870s,
tourists
began
to
return
and
distant
markets
were
opened
up
for
a
burgeoning
new
industry.
Seafood
by
1904
Biloxi
was
known
as
the
seafood
capital
of
the
world
with
the
demand
for
labor
high
polish
Acadian
French
and
Slovak
workers
came
to
work
in
Biloxi
Seafood
industry
as
the
seafood
and
timber
industries
boomed.
This
rich
mix
of
cultures
was
joined
by
Greeks
Irish
Italians,
African
Americans
and
after
the
late
1970s
Vietnamese,
a
wide
variety
of
traditions
were
born
of
this
diversity.
Through
the
decades.
A
Many
cultural
organizations
have
regularly
held
celebrations
with
contests
food,
music
and
dance
Mardi
Gras,
the
oldest
and
most
popular
celebration
began
in
1891.
It
was
held
sporadically
until
1908
when
it
became
an
annual
event
with
the
crowning
of
the
first
king
D'iberville
and
queen
x11
Biloxi's
spelled
backwards.
I've.
B
Known
Mardi
Gras,
all
my
life
and
we
were
always
getting
prepared
and
then
on
Tuesday
morning
is
when
all
the
excitement
and
fun
began.
My
daddy
would
get
up
at
the
crack
of
dawn,
we'd
load
his
car
and
then
he
would
go
out
to
the
boat
for
King
Diavel
landing
and
then
of
course,
my
mother
and
my
sister.
Now
we
were
in
charge
of
the
maids
in
the
Queen.
A
For
many
years,
the
Biloxi
firemen's
parade
now
known
as
the
Biloxi
firefighters,
Day
Parade,
was
Biloxi's.
Second,
most
popular
event.
In
1888,
with
Biloxi
Seafood
industry
thriving
the
first
schooner
races
were
held,
the
races,
a
weekly
event
gained
national
attention
and
were
held
until
1933
overflow
crowds,
cheered
from
the
Biloxi
Yacht
Club.
As
the
white
winged
Queens
bide
for
the
winning
prize,
a
keg
of
beer
from
1922
to
1934,
the
Biloxi
Elks
Club
sponsored
a
4th
of
July
celebration
that
featured
bathing
beauty
contests
and
sailing
races.
Sailing
regattas
were
held
throughout
the
summer.
A
Since
1929,
the
annual
blessing
of
the
fleet
has
been
held
at
the
beginning
of
the
shrimping
season.
As
the
decorated
boats
pass
and
parade
the
Catholic
priest
blesses.
Each
one
and
prays
for
the
safety
of
the
fishermen
and
for
a
good
catch
and
since
1948,
the
annual
deep-sea
fishing
rodeo,
has
attracted
anglers
from
all
over
the
coast
to
compete
for
cash
prizes.
During
the
early
20th
century,
Biloxi
continued
to
grow
electricity,
a
Street
Railway
system
and
telephone
service
were
added.
A
paved
highway
was
built
along
the
beach
and
in
1928
a
new
seawall
was
dedicated.
A
More
hotels
were
constructed
as
tourism
increased
after
World
War
2
Biloxi
once
again
became
a
popular
vacation
destination.
Keesler
Army
Airfield
had
survived
demobilization
to
become
Keesler,
Air,
Force,
Base
and
his
other
bases
closed.
Keeler's
population
grew
Engineers
transformed
highway
90
into
a
four-lane
highway
and,
at
the
same
time,
sand
was
pumped
from
the
sound
to
form
a
300-foot
sloping
beach
as
a
buffer
to
the
seawall.
The
white
sand.
Beach
quickly
became
a
tourist
attraction
for
those
coming
in
droves
on
the
new
superhighway.
C
A
C
First
star
that
I
really
remember
was
Dave
Gardner.
He
was
sort
of
a
southern
Lenny
Bruce.
He
and
his
heyday
would
draw
more
people
into
the
nightclub
than
any
other
performer.
There
was
standing
room
only
when
Dave
performed
there
were
others
like
Mamie,
Van,
Doren
and
Jerry,
Van,
Dyke
and
Jayne
Mansfield,
of
course,
and
then
Gene
Warren
the
four
myths.
So
there
are
a
lot
of
people
that
actually
started
on
the
coast.
C
A
Place
an
inland
nightclub
popular
with
the
locals,
brought
in
Hank
Williams
senior,
the
just
beginning,
Elvis
Presley
and
Jerry
Lee
Lewis,
who,
in
keeping
with
his
onstage
style,
practically
tore
up
the
piano.
During
this
time,
Jimi
love
jr.,
began
marketing,
his
White
House
and
Buena
Vista
hotels
as
potential
convention
centers
others
followed
his
lead
and
Biloxi
became
a
convention
destination
as
well
as
a
mecca
for
tourists.
A
Then
in
1969,
Hurricane
Camille
wrought
destruction
on
the
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
in
the
wake
of
the
storm
that
people
picked
themselves
up
and
began
to
rebuild.
Biloxi's
economy
recovered
slowly
until
1992,
when
the
state
of
Mississippi,
legalized,
dockside
gaming,
igniting
the
biggest
economic
boom
in
Biloxi's
history,
then
in
August,
2005
Hurricane
Katrina
brought
all
of
that
to
a
standstill.
A
Katrina
hit
the
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
with
high
winds,
heavy
rains
and
a
twenty
six
and
a
half
foot
storm
surge,
causing
massive
damage
to
the
area
and
killing
53
people,
5,000
businesses
and
homes
and
Biloxi
were
destroyed
as
they
had
throughout
history.
The
people
of
Biloxi
would
gather
the
strength
to
rebuild
the
Beau
Rivage
reopened
just
one
year
to
the
day
after
Katrina.
Today.
Biloxi
is
once
again
a
major
vacation
destination,
offering
a
wealth
of
outdoor
activities
outstanding,
seafood
and
casino
gambling
welcome.