Gautier (/ˈɡoʊʃeɪ/ GOH-SHAY) is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States, along the Gulf of Mexico west of Pascagoula. It is part of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,572 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 11,681 at the 2000 census. In 2002, Gautier had annexed land more than doubling its area.[4]
Gautier, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
City Gautier (Go Chay) | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
 Location of Gautier, Mississippi | |
  Gautier, Mississippi Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 30°22′54″N 88°38′39″W / 30.38167°N 88.64417°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Jackson |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Casey Vaughan (I)[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 32.12 sq mi (83.20 km2) |
| • Land | 30.26 sq mi (78.37 km2) |
| • Water | 1.86 sq mi (4.83 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,024 |
| • Density | 628.75/sq mi (242.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 39553 |
| Area code | 228 |
| FIPS code | 28-26860 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0670341 |
| Website | www |
Gautier is a bedroom resort community surrounded by bayous and wetlands on three sides. The natural environment of Gautier offers many opportunities for recreation and eco-tourism. The Gulf Coast region, of which Gautier is a part, has been considered a relatively high growth area of the state; however, the loss of houses and jobs after Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 led to outmigration in 2006.
History
editThe town takes its name from the Gautier family that originated in Lyon, France. Fernando Upton Gautier (1822–1891) was born on a cargo ship as his parents were emigrating to New Orleans. In 1867, Gautier established a spacious homestead[5] at the mouth of the Pascagoula River, which still stands. He established a lucrative sawmill business in the area, and the town grew up from it. The home, known by locals as "The Old Place", is owned by the descendants of Fernando Upton Gautier and his wife, Theresa Fayard Gautier (1828–1911),[5] and is used for private and public events.
Geography
editGautier is located in southern Jackson County along Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the West Pascagoula River, locally known as the "Singing River".[6] The city is bordered to the east by the city of Pascagoula (the Jackson county seat) and to the west by Ocean Springs, and to the north by unincorporated Vancleave.
U.S. Route 90 passes through the center of Gautier, leading east 4 miles (6 km) into Pascagoula and 13 miles (21 km) to Ocean Springs. Interstate 10 passes through the northern part of the city limits, with access from Exit 57 (Mississippi Highway 57) and Exit 61 (Gautier Vancleave Road). I-10 leads west 30 miles (48 km) to the Gulfport area and east 42 miles (68 km) to Mobile, Alabama.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Gautier has a total area of 32.1 square miles (83.2 km2), of which 30.2 square miles (78.3 km2) are land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), or 5.90%, are water.[3]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,087 | — | |
| 1980 | 8,917 | 327.3% | |
| 1990 | 10,088 | 13.1% | |
| 2000 | 11,681 | 15.8% | |
| 2010 | 18,572 | 59.0% | |
| 2020 | 19,024 | 2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 10,084 | 53.01% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,828 | 30.63% |
| Native American | 105 | 0.55% |
| Asian | 268 | 1.41% |
| Pacific Islander | 23 | 0.12% |
| Other/Mixed | 844 | 4.44% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,872 | 9.84% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,024 people, 7,013 households, and 4,577 families residing in the city.
Government
editThe city of Gautier has had a City Manager-Council organizational structure since 1987. Although Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 slowed growth, the population of Gautier is expected to grow at a steady rate during the coming decades. The socio-economic demographics of the city is similar to that of Jackson County in terms of income, age, gender and education, although Gautier has a higher rate of college-educated persons. The income and employment of residents benefits greatly from the proximity of strong employment centers in Jackson County.
Education
editMost of Gautier is served by the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. Portions are in the Jackson County School District and in the Ocean Springs School District.[9]
The main secondary school in the city, of the Pascagoula-Gautier district, is Gautier High School, whose doors opened in 1996 and which was awarded blue ribbon status by the Department of Education in 2005. The city is also served by Gautier Middle School, Singing River Academy, and three elementary schools.
The Jackson County Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is located in Gautier, as one of four campuses of the community college.
Notable people
edit- Walter Inglis Anderson, painter and writer[10]
- Mario Edwards Jr., professional football defensive end[11]
- Aaron Jones, professional basketball player[12]
- Margie Joseph, R&B, soul and gospel singer[13]
- Kez McCorvey, former professional football player[14]
- John Read, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives[15]
References
edit
- ^ Winn, Chancelor (May 5, 2021). "Gautier mayoral race heats up ahead of the general election". WLOX. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Gautier city, Mississippi". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ City of Gautier Comprehensive Plan 2030 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, City of Gautier Planning Commission (2009), pages 3, 25.
- ^ a b "Ocean Springs Archives by Ray L. Bellande" (2006) web: OS-Archives Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Pascagoula - Mississippi's Singing River". exploresouthernhistory.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jackson County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
- ^ Jones, Chris. "Walter Inglis Anderson". Mississippi Writers and Musicians. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Clay, Patrick (March 15, 2019). "Saints sign Gautier native Mario Edwards Jr". WLOX. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Rockwell, Curtis (March 17, 2015). "College basketball: Gautier's Aaron Jones and Ole Miss tip-off NCAA Tournament Tuesday night". gulflive.com. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "MS Gulf Coast Blues & Heritage Festival". Mississippi Blues Trail. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Schmadtke, Alan (September 30, 1993). "FSU'S MCCORVEY HAS RIGHT MOVES". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "John Read's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved September 18, 2021.