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World's Largest Man-Made Beach, world record near Biloxi, Mississippi

March 7, 2024

World's Largest Man-Made Beach, world record in Mississippi

Biloxi, Mississippi, United States--The 42-kilometer beach between Biloxi and Pass Christian, Mississippi, are currently man-aged; the beach is kept clear of encroaching vegetation, groomed, and raked using heavy equipment; it is also graded to maintain a flat beach profile, thus setting the world record for being the World's Largest Man-Made Beach, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photos: TripAdvisor (see bottom of this page)

"Biloxi is bordered to the south by a beautiful white sand beach. Harrison County is proud to be home to the world’s largest man-made beach with 26 miles of glistening white sand, majestic sand dunes and a pedestrian pathway," the Biloxi Bay Area Chamber says.

"Adjoining our pristine white sandy beach is a beautiful scenic drive, Beach Boulevard. A drive along the boulevard provides a view of the beach, the Mississippi Sound, historic antebellum homes, and ageless oak trees. You can enjoy the drive along Beach Boulevard and visit our neighboring cities of Gulfport, Long Beach, and Pass Christian."

"Harrison County Sand Beach Authority

Rules of the Beach:

No tents or structures during the hours of darkness unless approved by the Sand Beach Authority
No glass, china, or pottery
No motor vehicles, except those permitted by the Sand Beach Authority
No animals of any kind with the exception of service animals described under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals
No firearms, air guns, or bow and arrows
No fireworks, except by permit approved by the Sand Beach Authority
No fires, except those permitted by the Sand Beach Authority
No advertising, except those approved through the Sand Beach Authority
No loud or unusual noise

"It’s not really a secret that Mississippi is home to an enormous amount of history and unique places to visit. One such place that lands itself in both categories is the largest man-made beach in the world that starts in Biloxi and runs to Henderson Point in Pass Christian," the Vicksburg Daily News says.

"Harrison County is home to Gulfport and Biloxi and it was emerging as a notable destination for tourism in the 1920s. In 1924 an act was signed that was aimed at protecting the public highways which ran along the shoreline. As a result of this act, a seawall project began in 1926 and was constructed along portions of the coastal sealine at a cost of $3.4 million (roughly $26 million in today’s money). The project was completed in 1928 and offered protection from tidal surges.

"Public Law 727 was enacted by Congress in 1946. The goal was to help protect communities along the coast and to help control erosion. The new law helped to protect the communities by promoting and aiding in the construction of artificial beaches that contained seawalls. The Harrison County shore Protection Project helped to reconstruct the seawall in the 1950s. The project produced the largest man-made beach in the world to protect the seawall. Nearly 13 miles of coast was raised, from Henderson Point to the Biloxi Lighthouse, which provided additional storm protection to the area communities."

"The Mississippi Gulf Coast, also known as Mississippi Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast region, Coastal Mississippi, and The Coast, is the area of Mississippi along the Mississippi Sound at the northern extreme of the Gulf of Mexico.

"At the state's creation, Hancock and Jackson were the only two counties to make up this region. However, before the end of the first centennial, subdivisions in the counties lead to the formation of Harrison County, as well as the pineywoods counties of Pearl River, Stone and George." (Wikipedia)

"The Mississippi Gulf Coast is known for its beautiful beaches, exciting casinos, world-class entertainment, and fine dining options," The Inn at Long Beach says.

"There are many attractions and hotels in Long Beach, MS, making it a great place to spend a vacation. While the area is known as a southern tourism hub now, how did the area become what it is today? Learn more about the Mississippi Gulf Coast with these Long Beach Mississippi fun facts!"

LOCATION FACTS

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The Mississippi Gulf Coast is the longest human-made beach in the U.S.A. It spans from Biloxi to Henderson Point.
Hancock County was the first county to allow dockside gambling in 1990, which lead the way to the area’s many casinos.
The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2016. It’s the highest honor a museum can receive!
Coastal Mississippi’s famous Cruisin’ The Coast event attracts car enthusiasts from 44 states and international visitors from countries like Australia, Canada, and Germany. The event had over 8,000 cars registered in 2018.
Coastal Mississippi has six barrier islands, including Ship Island and Deer Island. Ferries run seasonally to Ship Island and is a popular beach hangout.
In 1904, Biloxi was crowned as the Seafood Capital of the World.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is responsible for producing about 70% of the nation’s oysters and shrimp.
The Friendship Oak, located on the Southern Miss-Gulf Coast campus, is more than 500 years old.‍

"Following World War II, its resort-hotel business grew rapidly, enhanced by one of the world’s longest man-made sand beaches (extending eastward for 26 miles [42 km] from Pass Christian through Gulfport to Biloxi). In 1969 Hurricane Camille devastated Gulfport’s beachfront and port, but the area was subsequently rebuilt. The city again suffered extensive storm damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005," the Britannica says.

"The surrounding coastal bayous and rivers abound with fish. Gulfport’s deepwater harbour is notable for handling banana imports. Tourism is a major part of the economy, spurred by the addition of casino gambling in the 1990s; shipbuilding is also important.

"The Jefferson Davis Campus of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (1965) is in Gulfport. Ship Island and other areas of Gulf Islands National Seashore lie off the coast. Mardi Gras parades are held annually. Inc. town, 1898; city, 1904. Pop. (2000) 71,127; Gulfport-Biloxi Metro Area, 246,190; (2010) 67,793; Gulfport-Biloxi Metro Area, 248,820."

"The 42-kilometer beach between Biloxi and Pass Christian, Mississippi, is one of the longest “man-made” beaches in the United States (Schmid, 2003)," the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station says.

"The beach borders the Mississippi Sound in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It is considered “low ener-gy,” meaning that significant sand movement occurs as a result of high-energy events (Schmid, 2001).

"All 42 kilometers of the beach are currently man-aged in essentially the same way. The beach is kept clear of encroaching vegetation, groomed, and raked using heavy equipment. It is also graded to maintain a flat beach profile. Sunbathers and other visitors use some sections of the beach intensively."

Photos: World's Largest Man-Made Beach, world record in Mississippi
(1) TripAdvisor/Texas Family

(2,3,4,5) TripAdvisor/Karen L

(6) TripAdvisor/Leah J