Gulfport, Mississippi
SperlingViews

A Place to Complain and Blame - 5/9/2011

Apparently this forum is a place where people who can't or won't make their lives successful and happy come to blame the place they are living, which in this case is the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS area. Your life is up to you and life is hard after Katrina so it's get up and make it better or whine online about it. This area has many pluses but also many hardships. You love it or hate it, I happen to love it. I grew up in Miami, FL and love the Gulfport-Biloxi area much more. It has a deep seated culture, a 400 year old history, natural beauty, harsh, brutal summers, alligators, snakes, sandy soil, high cost of living after Katrina and I still love it. I find this whining about this area to be immature and self-pitying. Go find Nirvana somewhere else, that is, if it exists. You still take you with you when you go.[more...]

GULFPORT NOT BAD BUT NOT MUCH TO DO. - 2/17/2010

I'M FROM GULFPORT,MS I GREW UP HERE .IT ALWAYS BEEN A SLOW FAST TOWN GROWING TOWN THERE CASINO'S FEW CLUBS NOT WHOLE LOT TO DO THE PEOPLE IS RESPECTFUL HERE IN SOME WAYS GULFPORT IS ALSO A TOURIST AREA THAT PEOPLE COME ON A VACATION GULFPORT IS UNRATED CITY NOT MUCH TO DO HERE THE BEACH IS DIRTY AND THE SAND IS TRASHY YOU ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF RED NECKS AROUND IT'S NORMAL TO ME BECAUSE I KINDA SEE IT AS A SOUTHERN THING GULFPORT DID A GREAT JOB RECOVERING FOR HURRICANE KATRINA A LOT BETTER THAN NEW ORLEANS GULFPORT IS GOOD ON HOUSING GOOD LOOKING NEIGHBORHOOD'S DEPEND ON WHERE YOU GO WE ALSO HAVE MARDI GRAS IT'S ENJOYABLE AND THE KIDS WILL LOVE IT. THINK A LITTLE BEFORE YOU COME HERE YOU MIGHT LIKE.[more...]

I can't wait to leave - 11/19/2009

I have lived in Gulfport since 1997,except for one year when I lived in Oklahoma City (awesome city by the way). I moved here 6 months after high school with my parents. I grew up in Newburgh, NY, so yes there was a heavy dose on culture shock that did not wear off for about a year. Gulfport has come a long way, I will say that. It has steadily progressed over these last 12 years and is catching up after Hurricane Katrina as best as anyone can reasonably expect after such devastation. I think in general, there is an underestimation of the hit that the Mississippi Gulf Coast took because New Orleans got so much coverage. Personaly, I have never liked living down here. I would much rather be back up North. I have met quite a few people that have moved here from New York and other Northern states and enjoy the slower pace and the heat and other living conditions. I am glad for them but that has not been my experience. I find that the whole state is about 20 years behind the rest of the country in terms of education, healthcare, and jobs. The state has about 9 colleges and universities not to mention numerous community colleges, but good well- paying jobs are very hard to come by. Many students leave the area once they graduate because there simply is no work for them. There is a Gool Ol' Boy system at work here. The Gulfport/Biloxi area is like a very small town in its mentality. Someone always knows someone else or their relatives, as well as thier business. As far as recreation, there is alot to utilize. There are some golf courses, movie theaters, casinos. The man-made beach stretches 26 miles and is very popular. I do not advise that you swim in the water. It is common to get ear infections and strep throat afterwards. If you have a boat there are lots of marinas to keep it in and there is a very active boater's circle. Gulfport is a fairly safe city. I have confidence in our Police Dept. They work very hard and are extremely competent in what they do. It is very hot and humid most of the year, very tropical conditions. You will be wearing shorts at Christmas time. It can get very cold at night in the winter, as low as 20 degrees. It is what I call a wet cold. It is hard to get and stay warm. Most people would say that the Gulfport/Biloxi area is family oriented. I can see that to a point, but I am no expert since I don't have children. If I did I would be very reluctant to put them in the public schools. That is not to say that there are no good schools at all. There are. But having gone to school in New York I have very high standards and I would definitely do my homework. There are good points and bad about living here. I believe after being here so long, that not being from the area makes it a million times harder to get a job, know the right people, make freinds inthe right circles, etc. But this is just one viewpoint. Others that have moved here love it and stay. I have also known of people that moved here and didn't make it six months before they packed up and went back to where they lived before. I would caution everyone to do thier research. But now that I think of it, this place is good for nothing except retiring to. If you are into boating, hunting, fishing, muddin', big trucks, country music, seafood, getting pregnant first and married later, being preached to everywhere you go including in the workplace by the Baptists, getting fat on all the fast food, getting dressed up for a night out at Walmart, suffocatingly hot summers that last 8-9 months a year; sub-standard healthcare, education, roads, public transportation, and overall quality of life(let me not forget to tell you to hold on to your job no matter what it is b/c if you lose it, it is very very hard to find another one); hostile employer/employee relations, and dumbing yourself down to match the intellectual level of those you are forced to work and deal with everyday, then this part of the south is for you. [more...]

Not a good place to raise children - 10/24/2009

I would not recommend living here if you have children, the education rate down here is very poor, and teen pregnancies are very high, I would say that is due to the fact that there is not a lot for children and teens to do down here. Theres the beach and a few parks but that gets old and isnt very educational or anything. If you are an adult who likes gambling and bars then you could have lots of fun, but overall I would not recommend having a family in this area.[more...]

Gulfport, MS - 6/1/2009

I have lived in Gulfport since 1997,except for one year when I lived in Oklahoma City (awesome city by the way). I moved here 6 months after high school with my parents. I grew up in Newburgh, NY, so yes there was a heavy dose on culture shock that did not wear off for about a year. Gulfport has come a long way, I will say that. It has steadily progressed over these last 12 years and is catching up after Hurricane Katrina as best as anyone can reasonably expect after such devastation. I think in general, there is an underestimation of the hit that the Mississippi Gulf Coast took because New Orleans got so much coverage. Personaly, I have never liked living down here. I would much rather be back up North. I have met quite a few people that have moved here from New York and other Northern states and enjoy the slower pace and the heat and other living conditions. I am glad for them but that has not been my experience. I find that the whole state is about 20 years behind the rest of the country in terms of education, healthcare, and jobs. The state has about 9 colleges and universities not to mention numerous community colleges, but good well- paying jobs are very hard to come by. Many students leave the area once they graduate because there simply is no work for them. There is a Gool Ol' Boy system at work here. The Gulfport/Biloxi area is like a very small town in its mentality. Someone always knows someone else or their relatives, as well as thier business. As far as recreation, there is alot to utilize. There are some golf courses, movie theaters, casinos. The man-made beach stretches 26 miles and is very popular. I do not advise that you swim in the water. It is common to get ear infections and strep throat afterwards. If you have a boat there are lots of marinas to keep it in and there is a very active boater's circle. Gulfport is a fairly safe city. I have confidence in our Police Dept. They work very hard and are extremely competent in what they do. It is very hot and humid most of the year, very tropical conditions. You will be wearing shorts at Christmas time. It can get very cold at night in the winter, as low as 20 degrees. It is what I call a wet cold. It is hard to get and stay warm. Most people would say that the Gulfport/Biloxi area is family oriented. I can see that to a point, but I am no expert since I don't have children. If I did I would be very reluctant to put them in the public schools. That is not to say that there are no good schools at all. There are. But having gone to school in New York I have very high standards and I would definitely do my homework. There are good points and bad about living here. I believe after being here so long, that not being from the area makes it a million times harder to get a job, know the right people, make freinds inthe right circles, etc. But this is just one viewpoint. Others that have moved here love it and stay. I have also known of people that moved here and didn't make it six months before they packed up and went back to where they lived before. I would caution everyone to do thier research.[more...]

Uncomfortable in Gulfport, MS - 3/11/2008

Not the best of places to live if you are part of an inter-racial couple. Crime is fairly high. Weather is unpredictable.[more...]

weather - 10/29/2007

Hot and humid, with bugs in summer, cold and humid in winter. Best months...MAR-APR & OCT-NOV.[more...]

Cost of living on the rise - 5/6/2007

Since Katrina, the price of livable houseing has skyrocketed, and it is almost impossible for a new purchaser to obtain homeowner's insurance. In fact, if one wishes to live within a mile of the beach, it is impossible.[more...]

Renting or Buying - 4/5/2007

I have lived here for 15 yrs. After Katrina finding a place to rent is impossible. I rent and my landlord has went up 44% since the storm. This is happening everywhere here now. There is no-one to turn too for help in fighting this type of gouging. After a loss of 70,000 + homes, it's just not worth trying to stay and raise a family. My wife and I are trying to find some place near the mountains now, we have got to get out before we are homeless. People are still living in FEMA trailers, tents, campers. Folks like us that still have a place are being forced out so the landlords can triple the rent no matter who gets hurt. Without money here, your walked on.[more...]

The real deal since Katrina - 11/28/2006

Someone said that soon it will be a ghost town, where have you been?? It is more populated than before Katrina and there are new things popping up everyday. Most of the debris is cleaned out and the cost of property is going up up up. There are so many new people here, all different ethnic groups. If you are looking for a coastal life style you better move here quick or you wont be able to afford land. This place is going to explode just like Florida did. I used to live in Florida and now it is very populated and houseing is expensive. overall the Gulfport/Biloxi area is comming back and it will be bigger and better than ever before!![more...]

Hurricane Katrina has hurt Mississippi Gulf Coast - 6/12/2006

Hurricane Katrina has hurt Mississippi Gulf Coast. I live in Gulfport and the economy has been hurt by the hurricane. If you are the kind of person who needs entertainment to keep them busy you may want to think twice before moving here. Also, housing prices have gone up and most homes are being sold for more than they are actuall worth. Apartments are also overpriced.[more...]

Katrina - 9/18/2005

Since Katrina, we're iving in a LANDFILL! The only option we have for entertainment and fine dining is Wendy's, and a movie theatre that used to show 16 movies and now only 2. People are moving out and soon this will be a ghost town. It took 30 some odd years to build back after Camille and I've lived here 30 years but it's time to go.[more...]

Gulfport is Nice for Older, More Established Peopl - 7/6/2005

If you've already got your career in gear and money saved, you're fine in Gulfport. There's not much entertainment-wise besides the casinos, but the beach is a relaxing plus. For children and teenagers, though, Gulfport just means trouble. Boredom, depression, laziness--all these things can make for a pretty bad experience. My entire family is from NYC, and my father got stationed at Keesler in 1986, the year I was born. He took his tours while my siblings and I stayed in Gulfport with my mom. I ended up living there for 18 years of my life--let's just say it wasn't fun. After a graduation from high school in 2004, I had to get out of there. There are no opportunities for young people--especially young black people. I attend college in the DC-MD-VA metro area (where my permanent address is now), and I'm thriving here. Good energy balance. Sure, there are traffic jams and noisy, rude people, but it's no NYC. I visit Gulfport every few months, since my boyfriend and friends are there. But I don't think I'll ever live there again. Visiting isn't even that great if you don't have a car--public transportation is extremely (and that's an understandment) scant. I think there's one bus that travels through the entire area. I'm being a little sarcastic, but anyway, Gulfport is great for those who have money and just want to relax a little. Not so great for those young people who want to step out and do something bold.[more...]