Community Information
Picayune and Pearl River County offers the best of small town living. Our unique community is known for its gracious home-town style. Once visited, we are seldom forgotten.
Centrally located within an hour's drive from the white sands of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the big city life of New Orleans, and the university town of Hattiesburg, we are a peaceful and friendly community dedicated to family living at its best.
Picayune
Picayune, Mississippi was named in a roundabout way for the Spanish coin. Miss Eliza Poitevant, a resident of the area in the early 1800's was literary editor of the Daily Picayune, a new Orleans newspaper which sold for "one Picayune," a Spanish coin worth six and a fourth cents. Miss Poitevant later married the publisher of that newspaper, which is now known as the Times-Picayune. Either through her influence, or out of admiration for her, the City of Picayune was given its present name in honor of the newspaper which her husband published.
Climate
The annual average temperature is 67 degrees F and there are 246 days between killing frosts. The wettest month is July and the driest month is October.
Population/Employment
Among the fastest growing counties in Mississippi, the population of the Greater Picayune Area is estimated to be about 35,000. Picayune is immediately adjacent to the Stennis Space Center which employs approximately 3,600 people. Approximately one-third of the people working at Stennis live in the Greater Picayune Area. There are two industrial parks in the area which employ approximately 1,000 people. Pine, hardwoods, beef and dairy cattle, swine, soybeans, blueberries and truck farming abound.
Healthcare
Picayune is serviced by Highland Hospital, a 95-bed acute hospital providing a full range of services including 24-hour emergency care. Services include CT scanning, MRI, nuclear medicine, laser surgery, a dedicated mammography unit, cardiovascular testing, physical therapy, radiology, ICU, behavioral health services, same-day surgery, laboratory, OB/GYN services, nursery, family fitness center, and home health agency.
Education
Two school systems serve the area, Picayune School District and Pearl River Central School District. These schools offer separate labs for work in science, computers, math and business, as well as Vo-Tech schools. A nearby community college, Pearl River Community College, is fully accredited offering students up-to-date career training for high-tech jobs. It also offers one of the finest nursing programs in the state.
Recreation
Friendship Park hosts our little theater group, Picayune On Stage, with bi-monthly presentations and, on occasion, a dinner theater. It also serves as the home for arts and crafts shows, equestrian events, livestock shows, baseball, softball, soccer, and tennis. A new children's park, Kid's Kingdom, was built based on plans suggested by the area's children.
Camping at nearby parks, riding stables, hunting, fishing, boating, and water skiing on the Pearl River and some man-made lakes give residents a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center offers fun, excitement, and learning for the whole family with free guided tours of the Space Shuttle Main Engine test complex and their Visitor's Center.
Within Crosby Arboretum's 1,700 acres are habitats of wetland, savanna, and woodland plant communities. Once a strawberry field, Pinecote, the Arboretum's 64-acre Native Plant Center, hosts tours of native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers. A popular gathering place, this award winning forest's Pavilion is within Picayune's city limits.
More Information
The Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (601) 798-3122 or by email for more information about Picayune. Tourist information for our State is available at the Pearl River County Welcome Center at (601) 798-8184. The local newspaper, The Picayune Item, may also be viewed online at www.picayuneitem.com.
Poplarville
Poplarville is located approximately 25 miles North of Picayune. The home of the Annual Blueberry Jubilee, Poplarville prides itself in being a city of hospitality. Poplarville is also the county seat for Pearl River County. The people of Poplarville are its greatest asset as they work together to build a strong community which will help give every person a springboard to success. This is a family-oriented community, offering an excellent place to raise your family in an atmosphere that encourages a wholesome lifestyle.
Climate
Poplarville's climate offers a mild winter, pleasant spring and fall, and lots of summer sun that encourages outdoor activities.
Population/Employment
The population of Poplarville is estimated at 2,653. Poplarville is the center of commerce and industry for the North Pearl River County area, which includes a population in excess of 10,000. Poplarville offers excellent facilities for business and industry with its well-trained work force and industrial park. A leading industry is Movie Star, Inc. which employs more than 200 employees and also operates a popular Factory Outlet Store. Other leading industries included in Poplarville are Best Equipment, Prime Industries, Baker Maid, Ultra Wood Coating, Shelton Trucking Service and Garrett Industries.
Education
The Poplarville Special Municipal School District is one of the finest public school systems in the area and is accredited by the State Accrediting Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Pearl River Community College offers an excellent opportunity for students to complete their first two years of academic studies. It has a modern technical center which offers students up-to-date career training for high-tech jobs and its vocational center prepares students for a wide range of employment opportunities. PRCC also offers the residents of Poplarville the opportunity to attend many musical, theatrical, and sporting events. At present time there are more than 3,500 students enrolled at PRCC.
Recreation
Poplarville has a modern baseball complex featuring four fields and its youth leagues cover many age groups allowing more than 1,000 youngsters the opportunity to play baseball each year. A Basketball League for youngsters is extremely popular in the fall. Three golf courses are in the Poplarville area -- Pearl River Country Club, Hillsdale Resort and Golf, and Wolf River Ranch.
More Information
The Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce can be reached at (601) 795-0578 for more information.
Last updated on
06/20/12.
Webmaster: Pam Brister