Long Beach blends pirate lore, farming history and beach views
Tucked between Gulfport and Pass Christian, the lovely Gulf Coast community of Long Beach welcomes residents to over 300 years of history, excellent educational options and miles of sugar sand beaches. Dubbed “The Friendly City,” it was incorporated in 1905 and was once nicknamed the “Radish Capital of the World” due to the town’s bumper crops of radishes as long as carrots. First mapped out by French explorers in 1699, the area proved popular with pirates due to the abundance of barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, pirate captain Cleytus Pitcher is believed to have buried treasure nearby in the early 1800s. Today, Long Beach conveys small-town charm amid a mix of commercial, industrial and retail spaces overlooking the stunning scenery and emerald waters of the Mississippi Sound.
“Long Beach is one of the best-kept secrets around,” says Philip Leblanc, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty-Lorraine Road. “It’s basically a suburb of Gulfport and has a very inviting downtown with great restaurants and bars. As a Realtor, when I welcome people here, it’s very positive and fun to introduce them to the coast. Most people don’t have an idea of what it’s like here, since most people only associate Mississippi with the delta. But there’s a very cohesive coastal vibe across the Mississippi beachfront that carries over the miles.”
Housing includes ranches, cottages and waterfront new builds
Living in Long Beach offers not only beautiful views but also incredible convenience. Located only 10 miles from the airport and 16 miles from the casinos of Biloxi, the town is just over an hour’s drive from New Orleans. The area has plenty of room for homebuyers to build their own custom home. But there are plenty of established residences, too. Of course, contemporary styles are more common, especially since the town was badly damaged in Hurricane Katrina. The rebuilding effort has seen lots of homes remodeled, and the community has come back in a major way. Houses can be raised on stilts to protect, but older ones are often built on slabs. There are ranch-styles, cottages, townhouses, midcentury residences and more along the quiet streets. Prices range from $150,000 for a three-bedroom with two baths, to $765,000 for a waterfront new construction with four bedrooms and baths.
Long Beach schools offer college prep and military support
Students in the area have their choice of schools to choose from. Thomas L. Reeves Elementary teaches children to be ready, respectful and responsible. Niche gives it an A grade and considers it the 26th best public elementary facility in the state. It has dedicated classes to teach students to use the library for fun and research. Long Beach Middle is one of the top 20 best public middle schools in Mississippi, according to Niche. It's also a Military Star School, designed to help military children face the educational and emotional challenges of starting classes in a new place. Long Beach High School is the 16th best college prep school in the state, per Niche, and it uses a career and technical center to teach students computer science, engineering, health sciences, law, public safety and more.
Off-leash dog park has separate areas for large and small breeds
Fetch Park invites well-mannered and vaccinated dogs to sit, stay and play at the 2.5-acre site. The off-leash park opened in 2018 and features two fenced areas: one for large dogs and one for more petite pups. The area is lit up for evening play, and it has shade pavilions and water fountains for pets and people. The park is also ADA accessible and includes concrete walkways, benches, hills, fire hydrants and dog rinse stations.
Students can study ocean engineering at Gulf Park Campus
Long Beach is home to the only four-year college on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The University of Southern Mississippi was founded in 1910 in Hattiesburg and opened a second location along the coast in 1947. The Gulf Park Campus operates on 52 acres of waterfront property and offers the only ocean engineering degree in the state.
Found on the campus’s main lawn, the Friendship Oak is one of the most photographed attractions along the Gulf Coast. The tree is more than 500 years old, and legend holds that those who are shaded by its branches will remain friends forever. Dating to approximately 1487, the tree is 60 feet high, is 20 feet in circumference and has long sloping branches spreading over 155 feet. It was featured in Life magazine in 1950, while visiting poets read their work to students here, and countless classes took place under the ancient canopy. Long Beach offers residents beautiful scenery, a friendly, coastal vibe and numerous education options for all ages.
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Yanan Sun
