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Hancock County was established in 1812 from the Mobile District. It was named in honor of John Hancock. The county population in 1990 was 31,760 Bay St. Louis, the county seat, was incorporated in 1817  and was the first city incorporated in the state of Mississippi.  In 1818 it was called Shieldsborough;  in 1882 the name was changed to Bay St. Louis.  It is the 3rd oldest city on the Gulf Coast having been  discovered in 1699 by a scouting party sent out by d'Iberville.  It was named in honor of King Louis IX, Saint Louis, as it was discovered on his birthday.  The area was inhabited in the 1700's by French settlers.  The city of Waveland was chartered as a city in 1888.

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Banner photo: Darwood on the Jordan - Courtesy USGenWeb Penny Postcard Collection
John Hancock image courtesy Library of Congress.

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State Coordinator: Everette Carr

Assistant State Coordinator:  Bill White

County Coordinator:  Denise Wells