Pass Christian, nicknamed The Pass, is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area.
SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES
Bay Saint Louis Beach
Beautiful, white sand and clean water provide you with a gorgeous, relaxing experience for anyone and everyone. Bring an umbrella, a towel and a picnic basket, and it’s a great time for the whole family.
L & N Historic Train Depot
The beautiful Bay St. Louis train depot, built in 1928, houses the visitors center, where visitors can get information about businesses and attractions in the Bay St. Louis area, the Mardi Gras Museum, featuring beautiful Mardi Gras costumes, and the Alice Moseley Folk Art and Antique Museum.
War Memorial Park
Mississippi’s veterans and heroes are remembered forever at the peaceful War Memorial Park. Monuments litter the park, with names of men and women who served in our armed forces, and names of victims of the relentless hurricanes that have battered the coastline. Two large smooth-bore deck guns face out to sea. Farther inland, a large playground sits awaiting children. It’s a beautiful, awe-inspiring marker left for future generations, reminding us of the men and women who have fought for our freedom.
EDUCATION
SCHOOLS:
- DeLisle Elementary School
- Pass Christian Elementary School
- Pass Christian Middle School
- Pass Christian High School
NEIGHBORHOOD
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,579 people, 2,687 households, and 1,797 families residing in the city. The population density was 781.2 people per square mile (301.7/km2).
There were 2,687 households.
The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,743, and the median income for a family was $46,232. Males had a median income of $35,352 versus $22,195 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,008. About 8.2% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
POPULAR REAL ESTATE
- City Center
- Lizana / Dedeaux
- E North St / Menge Ave
- De Lisle
HISTORY
Indian mounds can be found throughout the Gulf coast region of southern Mississippi. A 1768 English map shows one large mound existed on the shore near to Market Street. Others existed at Bayou Portage and at the Shelly Plantation on the shore north of the Bay of Saint Louis near DeLisle. The mounds in the area containing arrowheads, pottery, and human skeletons were pilfered by amateur archaeologists over the years and many of the items recovered are in private collections. At the border of Pass Christian and Long Beach there once existed an Indian village. The approximate location of the Indian Village is just a few hundred yards east of White Harbor Road. There are no ruins at this location but the beach in this area has produced many arrowheads and pottery shards over the years.
French explorers
Pass Christian was discovered by French-Canadians shortly after the first French colony was established in Biloxi. In June 1699, while sounding the channel at the Pass Christian peninsula, the French named that channel Passe aux Huîtres for the many oysters they found there. Pass Christian was named for a nearby deepwater pass, which in turn was named for Nicholas Christian L’Adnier, who lived on nearby Cat Island in 1746.
The Widow Asmard
In 1781 all of Pass Christian peninsula was owned by Julia de la Brosse (Widow Asmard). Upon her death in 1799, Widow Asmard deeded 800 arpents – the entire downtown Pass Christian – to Charles Asmar, a free person of color, who upon his death left the property to his heirs. Pass Christian was officially chartered as a town in 1848.
American Civil War
The town was a famous resort prior to the Civil War. It was a favorite location for the beach and summer homes of the wealthy of New Orleans, who built a row of historic mansions along the shoreline, where Scenic Drive was one of the country’s notable historic districts. The Southern Yacht Club, established in 1849, was the first yacht club in the South and the second in the United States, and was originally located in Pass Christian before moving to New Orleans in 1857. The first sailing regatta on the Gulf Coast was sailed in the Mississippi Sound on July 21, 1849 and organized by the Pass Christian Regatta Club with twelve boats participating.