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Gulfport is the county seat of Harrison County
and the third oldest settlement on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast, founded in August, 1699
by Jean Baptiste LeMoyne Bienville. It was ruled
by the British and the Spanish before becoming
part of the United States in the Louisiana
Purchase. The town was severely damaged by
Hurricane Camille in 1969 and again by Hurricane
Katrina in 2005. Reconstruction provided an
opportunity for a rethinking of its
infrastructure and buildings. Federal grants
have allowed the rebuilding of some outstanding
new buildings and Beach Boulevard as well as the
seawall. The Bay has long been a popular holiday
resort for New Orleanians and, with its
selection of art galleries, antique stores and
with local festivals, it remains a
favorite recreational draw for people around the
coast. |
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