Waveland, Mississippi

Waveland is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,674. Waveland was the birthplace of jazz clarinetist Johnny Dodds.

The current mayor of Waveland is Democrat Tommy Longo. The city of Waveland is described by its geography and demographics; also, the physical site of Waveland was obliterated by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, but later rebuilt (as described below).

Geography

Waveland is located at 30°17'23" North, 89°23'1" West (30.289646, -89.383492)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 17.6 km² (6.8 mi²). 17.6 km² (6.8 mi²) of it was land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,674 people, 2,731 households, and 1,783 families residing in the city. The population density was 378.4/km² (980.2/mi²). There were 3,442 housing units at an average density of 195.1/km² (505.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.38% White, 11.21% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 2.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,731 households out of which 31.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,304, and the median income for a family was $38,438. Males had a median income of $29,762 versus $21,694 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,413. 13.7% of the population and 11.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Hurricane Katrina damage

The city of Waveland, Mississippi was obliterated by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, but later rebuilt. In a news report, state officials said Waveland took a harder hit from the wind and water than any other town along the Gulf Coast, and that the town was obliterated (CNN 01-Sep-05). Waveland was also severely damaged by Hurricane Camille in 1969. The eye of Camille passed directly over Waveland (Camille-report).

A loosely knit group of hippies called the "Rainbow Family" arrived in Waveland soon after Hurricane Katrina. From early September 2005 to early December 2005, they ran the "New Waveland Cafe & Clinic" located in the parking lot of Fred's Dept Store on Hwy 90. The cafe provided free hot meals three times a day. The clinic was staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses from around the United States who saw over 5000 patients during the duration. This was the first experience of the counter-culture Rainbow Family in running a disaster recovery center. The Bastrop Christian Outreach Center also volunteered with the Rainbow Family. By all accounts it was an unimaginable success and helped to bring together different segments of society which normally never interact.

The death toll from Hurricane Katrina for Waveland was reported at almost 50 people dead, as they had been hit directly by the eyewall with a twenty foot storm surge. The devastation was enormous.

External links

• Waveland practically wiped off map by force of Katrina, an August 31, 2005 article about the damage from Hurricane Katrina
• Katrina town fights for survival, BBC report, December 2, 2005
• The Waveland Project, Tulpe Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, B.S.A., has been to Waveland as part of the relief effort.
• The Giving Circle, Inc., carries out Operation: Waveland, MS, helping to rebuild Waveland.
• alexwrege.com, blog entries and images about a volunteer operation from The University of Toledo.