When the city of Picayune was established in the 1880s, its most famous resident selected its name. Eliza Jane Poitevent Holbrook Nicholson — better known by her pen name, Pearl Rivers — was the owner and publisher of The Daily Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper that morphed into the paper that still exists today. The newspaper was named for its price: a picayune, the Spanish coin worth about six cents. Pearl Rivers loved her paper like she loved her town, so she named the latter for the former.
Today, the Mississippi city of 12,000 is trying to make its own headlines. New road constructions and a revitalized downtown point to a city on the rise, maintaining its place as the largest city in Pearl River County. Many residents work in the coal, oil and power industries, and Stennis Space Center, a NASA rocket engine test facility, is about 10 miles south. “There are people here from all over,” says Martha Ford, a broker with Ford Realty Inc. “Sometimes work brings them here, but some want a part of the country life, to get away from the hustle and bustle."
Picayune is the largest city in Pearl River County.
Picayune is just 50 miles from New Orleans using Interstate 59.
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Convenient access to New Orleans and Hattiesburg
Picayune is about 50 miles from New Orleans and 60 miles from Hattiesburg. “You can go into the city for some of the best food in the world,” Ford says. “But you can also let your kids ride four-wheelers — and you can’t do that in the city.” Interstate 59 runs east of downtown, and the city recently got approval to construct a $3.4 million road parallel to I-59 that will lead to the city’s commercial center, easing highway traffic and drawing more people to downtown businesses. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, 50 miles east, has nonstop flights to several domestic locations. The city has an Amtrak stop on the Crescent line, which runs from New Orleans to New York City. Highland Community Hospital is a 60-bed facility.
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is 50 miles east of Picayune.
Picayune has an Amtrak stop on the Crescent line that runs from New Orleans to NYC.
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A mix of New Traditional and older ranch-style homes
City homes have a median price of about $215,000, slightly below the state median. Homes stay on the market for 107 days on average. New Traditional homes built in recent years can be found in the eastern half of the city. Ranch-style homes built between 1970 and 2000 are prevalent throughout Picayune. There are also lots and large parcels of land available for building.
Ranch style homes are common throughout Picayune.
New Traditional homes can be found when looking to move to Picayune.
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West Canal Street is home to local shops and restaurants
Downtown Picayune is full of local restaurants, especially along West Canal Street. Betty K’s is a family-owned burger shop famous for its chili buns. The street also has several antique shops, clothing stores and furniture retailers. Away from downtown, Pine Tree Plaza Shopping Center has larger stores and chain restaurants.
Betty K’s is a family-owned burger shop famous for its chili buns in Picayune.
Picayune’s Pine Tree Plaza Shopping Center has larger stores and a fitness center.
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Protecting regional plant life at the Crosby Arboretum
Nearly half of Picayune residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, just under the U.S. urban median. Most of the city parks are designed for recreation. Friendship Park features the third-largest playground in the state, while the Crosby Arboretum has more than 100 acres of native plants split into three habitats.
Picayune’s Crosby Arboretum has more than 100 acres of native plants in three habitats.
Friendship Park has several baseball fields to play on.
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Museums and a downtown public art walk
The city has museums and historic buildings to explore. Inside the Picayune Train Depot, the Lower Pearl River Valley Transportation Museum chronicles local history and its many intersections with railroad development. A public art walk features murals and other art pieces placed around downtown. Each holiday season, the city hosts Christmas on the Rails, a free event with games, music and food held across multiple downtown locations. Twice a year, the Main Street Street Fair has craft and food vendors placed along Canal Street.
The Picayune Train Depot serves as a museum and functioning train station.
Picayune’s Lower Pearl River Valley Transportation Museum shows local railroad history.
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Two school districts serve local students
Most city students are served by the Picayune School District, which receives a B-minus from Niche. A small number of students are served by the Pearl River County School District, also rated B-minus. Pope John Paul II Catholic High School, a private school, earns an A-minus.
City students are served by the Picayune School District, which receives a B- from Niche.
Pope John Paul II High School is centrally located in Slidell, LA.
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A moderate risk of hurricanes and tornadoes
The city’s violent crime rate has fallen in recent years, while its property crime rate has remained steady. Summers can be long and humid, while winters are typically cold but short. The city has a high risk of hurricanes and tornadoes compared to the rest of the country.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
