Pascagoula

Pascagoula might not be Margaritaville, but it is Jimmy Buffet’s hometown. He even has a bridge named after him, which you’ll find by driving along Beach Boulevard or walking the Beachfront Promenade. The city is sandwiched between the Pascagoula River and the Gulf of Mexico, and with sandy beaches along its south side, you’re not far from reaching your own slice of paradise, no matter where you live in the city. Pascagoula is home to major employers like Ingalls Shipbuilding, the leading producer of ships for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corp and Coast Guard, and Chevron’s largest U.S. refinery. In addition to the industries that keep Pascagoula pumping, Lazaro Rovira, owner/broker of Rovira Team Realty, describes it as “a small city with a very involved government that’s constantly building the community, which attracts a lot of people.” Rovira, who is Latino, was drawn to the city years ago because it “goes out of the way to make everyone feel welcome and involved in the community.”

Houses in Pascagoula are a mix of older homes and new construction, with some clustered into subdivisions. “We don’t have the big subdivisions in Pascagoula,” says Rovira. “Every house has a unique look to it.” In addition to houses, there are apartments, condos and townhouses. Styles include cottage and ranch-style houses, split levels, Mediterranean-style with stucco roofing, Colonial Revivals with a second story front porch and New Traditional-style custom builds. Closing sale prices for recent listings range from $110,000 for a cottage-style house to $760,000 for a Colonial Revival with 5,500 square feet of living space. If you’re planning to build a custom home or make renovations to an existing home, you may be eligible for an exemption on City of Pascagoula ad valorem taxes. “The city is constantly trying to find ways to draw homebuyers,” Rovira explains. You can learn more by contacting the City of Pascagoula Planning & Building Department.

The Pascagoula-Gautier Public School District has an A rating from the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Accreditation, and includes 19 schools at the elementary, academy, middle and high levels, plus specialty school campuses. Students can attend Central Elementary School from Kindergarten to 4th Grade, Trent Lott Academy for Grades 5-6, Colmer Middle School for Grades 7-8 and Pascagoula High School. Pascagoula High has a B grade on Niche, and it offers Career Academies geared to prepare students for college and the job market based on their interests. Resurrection Catholic School is an option for those interested in private school. The high school level of Resurrection, serving Grades 7-12, has a B-plus Niche grade, ranking high in clubs and activities, academics and sports.

At Anchor Square Shopping Complex in the heart of downtown, you’ll find several local clothing, jewelry and antique stores in the collection of 16 Mississippi Cottages along a boardwalk. Other shopping options include Bealls Outlet and Walmart Supercenter. For grocery shopping, there are local stores like Wayne Lee’s Grocery & Market or familiar chain stores like Ramey’s Marketplace.

At Bozo’s Grocery & Grill, you can buy fresh seafood to cook at home, or step into the restaurant next door for a bite to eat. Jacks by the Tracks offers a variety of sushi and other seafood items, and depending on when you dine in, you could have a live music performance for entertainment. Brady’s Steaks and Seafood has a variety of delicious food on their menu, from fresh seafood served daily to specialty dishes like Hamburger Steak and Pasta Alfredo. For tasty baked goods from donuts to custom cakes, stop by Andersons Bakery.

With 200 acres of parks, you won’t lack for outdoor recreation options in Pascagoula. One that stands out is Beach Park, a 14-acre park with fantastic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Kids can play on the playground filled with plenty of climbing equipment, or cool off on the splash pad. Picnic tables are spread across the park, along with grills if you feel like having a cookout. Cross the street to the pier and spend the afternoon fishing, or take a stroll on the Beachfront Promenade. There are boat launches all over the city, so if boating’s your thing, it isn’t hard to head out to nearby barrier islands or go deep-sea fishing. Or you can set off on the Pascagoula River on your kayak and paddle the Blueway Trail. If you prefer land-based recreation, bike along the Historic Pascagoula Bike Trail and take a historic tour of Pascagoula.

If you enjoy being active in the community, consider volunteering for Main Street Pascagoula, a local non-profit organization that continuously works at improving and maintaining the downtown commercial district on Main Street. It hosts events year-round that draws the community together, like Third Fridays, the aptly named festival-style block parties that are held downtown on the third Friday of the month from March through October. Come by for live music, activities for kids, vendors and specials at downtown businesses. You’ll never be bored in Pascagoula, Mississippi’s Flagship City.

Written By

Tina Davis

Photography Contributed By

Yanan Sun

Video By

Anne Sheridan