Higher Education
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offers courses through four
campuses on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. These campuses include the Keesler
Center, which is located on Keesler Air Force Base. The branch provides
accelerated courses and three degrees ‐ Associate of Arts, Associate of
Applied Science, and Community College of the Air Force Associate. The
branch serves the active military as well as their dependents, retired military
and their dependents, and Keesler AFB civilian workers.
In 1999, the City of Biloxi annexed the Woolmarket area and in 2004, the City
annexed an additional 850 acres that were located east of Biloxi and north of
D’Iberville. In 2010, the City annexed an additional 2.5 square miles along
Highway 67.
Transportation infrastructure in Biloxi includes I‐10 and I‐110, as well as
U.S. Highway 90. Interstate 10 stretches through the southern end of Biloxi
and intersects with I‐110, which is located on the eastern side of the city and
runs north and south, although the interchange is located in D’Iberville.
United States Highway 90 runs east to west through the southernmost part of
the city along the coast. The CSX rail line also runs east‐west through the
southern part of the city, north of U.S. Highway 90.
Legacy of Community Partnership with Keesler AFB
The City of Biloxi and Keesler AFB have had a lasting relationship. Through the
City of Biloxi’s support, Keesler AFB has become a prominent Air Force Base
on the Gulf of Mexico.
The City of Biloxi operates under a mayor–council government system. The
city is served by a seven‐member city council elected from each of the seven
wards every four years. The City has a Planning Commission made up of
15 Biloxi citizens who are appointed by the Mayor. The Planning Commission
has both recommendation authority and decision authority. The Planning
Commission may approve applications for major subdivision preliminary plats
and make recommendations to the City Council regarding amendments to the
zoning ordinance and map; planned developments; conditional use permits;
property, right‐of‐way, and easement dedication acceptances; and
right‐of‐way easement vacations or abandonments.
The City’s and the installation’s relationship stems back to the early 1900s
when the U.S. Government issued the United States Naval Reserve land to the
City of Biloxi. The City of Biloxi expanded the Naval Reserve Park and later
gave a portion of the land to the Coast Guard. In the 1930s the City of Biloxi
gave part of this land to the Veteran’s Administration hospital, and later built
an airport. This airport, along with over 1,500 acres of land, was leased from
the City of Biloxi to the U.S. Government for a technical training school to
support World War II training. In 1941, the City of Biloxi Chamber of
Commerce pledged over a third of the cost required to acquire land for the
new technical and training school in Biloxi, and in that spring Biloxi was
selected as Army Air Corps school site. Later, the City leased the Naval
Reserve Park, 685 acres, to the U.S. Government for the aviation school.
The City of Biloxi, along with the City of Gulfport, is the seat of Harrison
County. The County offices are split between the two cities. For example, the
Harrison County Chancery Clerk is located in Biloxi, while the Sheriff’s
Department and Justice Courts are located in Gulfport. The city is home to
the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources headquarters and the South
Regional Office of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Page 2‐6
As the installation became more established, the City of Biloxi and the
installation worked together to establish necessary infrastructure for on base
military operations and residency. For example, in 1941, a new cable line was
put down on Howard Avenue, beginning at Fayard Street and extending to the
installation, to provide permanent telephone facilities at Keesler. In that same
year, Biloxi residents approved a waterworks bond issue to build a sewer
system and to conduct waterworks improvements for the installation.
Background Report