Bay St. Louis & Hancock County

The western gateway to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, known for its artsy small-town charm and waterfront living along the Bay of St. Louis. Bay St. Louis (pop. 9,284) has a revitalized downtown with galleries, boutiques, and restaurants that draw weekend visitors from New Orleans, 60 miles west. Waveland (pop. 7,198) is a beach community rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. Diamondhead (pop. 9,529) is a master-planned golf community north of Bay St. Louis. The Kiln (pop. 2,224) and NASA's Stennis Space Center round out the county.