Wiggins, Mississippi

Wiggins, Mississippi
—  City  —
City Hall in Wiggins, October 2010
Location of Wiggins, Mississippi
Coordinates: 30°51′31″N 89°8′16″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Stone
Area
• Total	11.3 sq mi (29.2 km2)
• Land	10.8 sq mi (27.9 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)
Elevation	262 ft (80 m)
Population (2007)
• Total	4,747
• Density	420.1/sq mi (170.1/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	39577
Area code(s)	601
FIPS code	28-80160
GNIS feature ID	0679669

Wiggins is a city in Stone County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,849 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stone County.

History

Wiggins, MS business district and railroad depot before the 1910 fire

Wiggins is named after Wiggins Hatten, the father of Madison Hatten, one of the area's original homesteaders. It was incorporated in 1904, and the 1910 census reported 980 residents. In the early 1900s, Wiggins prospered along with the booming timber industry. Wiggins was once headquarters of the Finkbine Lumber Company.

American Pickle and Canning Co., Wiggins, MS, circa 1910

On January 21, 1910, between the hours of 11 am and 1 pm, more than half of the Wiggins business district was destroyed by fire. The fire started from unknown origin in the Hammock Building, a lodging house, and spread rapidly because of strong winds from the northwest. With no city fire department or waterworks, the residents of Wiggins resorted to bucket brigades and dynamite to stop the fire, which was confined to the east side of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad. The fire consumed 41 business establishments, including the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad depot. Only two or three residential dwellings were destroyed, because most homes were built away from the business district.

Wiggins has long been known for its pickle production, and at one time boasted of being home to the world's largest pickle plant. However, the pickle plant is closed now, and although the timber industry has declined since the boom years, it still sustains many businesses in Wiggins.

Geography

Wiggins is located at 30°51′31″N 89°8′16″W (30.858559, -89.137860).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29 km²), of which, 10.8 square miles (28 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (4.53%) is water. The entrance to Flint Creek Water Park is located in the city, off Highway 29.

View of Railroad Avenue, now First Street, Wiggins, MS, circa 1920

View of Railroad Avenue, now First Street, Wiggins, MS, 2010

Transportation

• Airport: Dean Griffin Memorial Airport
• Highways: U.S. Highway 49, Mississippi Highway 26, Mississippi Highway 29
• Railroad: Kansas City Southern Railroad

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,849 people, 1,380 households, and 1,000 families residing in the city. The population density was 357.8 people per square mile (138.1/km²). There were 1,546 housing units at an average density of 143.7 per square mile (55.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.60% White, 31.51% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 1,380 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,597, and the median income for a family was $31,591. Males had a median income of $27,262 versus $20,801 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,813. About 22.3% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.6% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

• The City of Wiggins is served by the Stone County School District
• Vardaman Street Christian Academy (A private school, serving K-4 through Grade 10)

Media

• Stone County Enterprise, "Your hometown newspaper since 1916" — Heather Freret, Publisher
• WIGG AM Radio. Currently off the air. License expires June 1, 2012.

Business Organizations

• Stone County Economic Development Partnership — Jay Paul Gumm, Executive Director
• Wiggins Rotary Club

Notable Residents (past and present)

• William Joel Blass, attorney and educator
• Chris Boykin, CEO of Big Black Inc.
• Jay Hanna Dizzy Dean, professional baseball player and radio personality, lived in the nearby Bond community
• Anthony Herrera, actor, soap opera star
• Boyce Holleman, attorney and actor
• Fred Lewis, Cincinnati Reds outfielder
• Stevon Moore, retired from NFL Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
• Taylor Spreitler, actress
• Emilie Blackmore Stapp, author and philanthropist

See also

• Camp Iti Kana
• Camp Tiak
• De Soto National Forest
• Dizzy Dean Rest Stop
• Finkbine-Guild Lumber Company
• Flint Creek Water Park
• Gulf and Ship Island Railroad
• Leaf River Wildlife Management Area
• Mississippi Gulf Coast
• Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
• Ramsey Springs, Mississippi
• Sweetbay Bogs Preserve