Mississippi
The Mississippi Coast is growing more diverse. Here’s what group is driving the shift.
The Mississippi Coast has grown more diverse over the last four years largely because of rising Hispanic populations in Harrison and Jackson counties, according to new estimates by the Census Bureau.
The data, released Thursday, shows Hispanic populations across the three coastal counties have grown by about 4,000 people since 2020.
The largest shift was in Jackson County, where data shows the Hispanic population increased by over 2,000 people and has nearly doubled since 2010. In Harrison County, the Hispanic population grew by about 13 percent.
Hispanics still make up only a fraction of each county’s total population. But the data also shows subtle growth among minority populations across the Coast.
The number of Black, Asian and multiracial residents rose slightly in Harrison and Hancock counties over the four-year period. About 40 percent of Harrison County’s population is now made up of minority groups.
The data mirrors national trends. Last year, according to the Census Bureau, the country’s Hispanic and Latino population increased by 1.9 million — more than any other race and ethnicity group combined. The shift is forcing politicians to court a diverse group of voters that swung conservative in the last presidential election but have also reported fears of becoming ensnared in the Trump administration’s plan for mass deportations.
In South Mississippi, the group has been growing for decades. The new arrivals have opened Puerto Rican restaurants, stocked grocery stores with Central American products and celebrated the Festival Hispano for Hispanic Heritage Month in Pascagoula. The area has long drawn newcomers for jobs at Ingalls Shipbuilding, and the region’s Latino population surged when construction workers arrived after Hurricane Katrina.
Over the years, Hispanic residents arriving in Pascagoula have also helped the city avoid steeper population loss.
The Census Bureau counts the country’s population every ten years. But it also estimates populations annually. It counts Hispanic origin as an ethnicity, not a race, and Hispanics can also list racial identities.
The data released Thursday also showed the share of white residents who do not identify as Hispanic dropped slightly in each coastal county over the last four years.
It follows Census Bureau estimates released last month that showed Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and Lucedale rank among the top 10 fastest-growing places in Mississippi.
NIL money comes with a price. More specifically, a tax bill.
The Mississippi legislature is trying to reduce that burden for college athletes who play there.
Via Bea Anhuci of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, the Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a bill that would exempt NIL earnings from state income tax.
It’s a recruiting tool for Ole Miss and Mississippi State, one that would put the Mississippi schools on equal footing with other states that host SEC universities. Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have no state income tax, and Arkansas carved out NIL earnings from the state’s income tax burden in 2025.
Mississippi currently charges a four-percent tax on anyone making more than $10,000 per year.
NIL earnings remain subject to federal income tax.
The bill will have to also pass the Mississippi Senate, and the governor would then be required to sign it into law.
Subscribe to Clarion Ledger: Local journalists covering local stories
Clarion Ledger journalists cover the important moments in Mississippi. Support local journalism by subscribing.
Staff
A wood products manufacturer is set to create new jobs as part of a major expansion.
Carpenter Pole and Piling is investing nearly $5 million into its Wiggins, Mississippi, operation.
The expansion will add 10 new positions and support long-term growth in the region.
“Carpenter Pole and Piling is a true Mississippi success story, and we’re proud to see the company continue investing right here at home,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said.
“This expansion in Stone County is creating new opportunities for hardworking Mississippians while strengthening a company that has long contributed to our state’s economy,” Reeves said. “When Mississippi businesses grow, our communities grow with them, and we remain committed to fostering a business environment where companies can thrive.”
Carpenter Pole and Piling produces utility poles and pilings for marine and foundation use.
The project includes construction of a new treatment plant, investment in a 2,600-cubic-foot autoclave and an alternative treatment option to improve production capacity.
The company is also clearing and preparing an additional 20 acres for a new pole storage yard.
Stone County is also contributing to the project.
The company expects to complete construction by September 2026.
The new roles are expected to be filled by January 2027.
Carpenter Pole and Piling specializes in the production of utility poles. It also manufactures foundation and marine pilings.
The new autoclave will increase production and add an alternative treatment option.
This story was created by business and development writer Ross Reily, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
Video: U.S. ‘Accelerating’ Military Assault in Iran, Hegseth Says
On the brink of death, a woman is saved by a stranger and his family
MacBook Neo versus an old MacBook Air: good luck
Israel hammers Iranian internal security command centers to open door to uprising
US submarine sinks Iranian warship by torpedo in a first since World War II
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
US submarine sinks Iranian warship by torpedo in a first since World War II
Which oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have been attacked?
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former supreme leader, tipped to become Iran’s next head of state
Video: Senators Question Kristi Noem on ICE Immigration Tactics
Combustible Republican Senate primary in Texas heading into overtime
-
World7 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts7 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO7 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Florida3 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Maryland3 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Wisconsin2 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin