Laurel (Mississippi)
Jones County
28-39640
Laurel is a city of Jones County in the U.S. state of Mississippi.
Geography
Laurel is located at 31 ° 41'51 " north latitude and 89 ° 8'22 " west longitude. The nearest big cities are Jackson (120 kilometers north-west ) and New Orleans (200 kilometers south-west ). The Interstate Highway 59 runs through the city.
History
Laurel was founded in 1882. Due to the forest wealth in the area soon developed a strong timber industry. After the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad railway line was built, took over the following years, several sawmills to operate on. Because of the pure yellow color of the wood of conifers processed products were in great demand. The early 1900s, Laurel was a world leader in the supply of those products. The name of the town goes back to the time throughout the region numerous existing shrubs the broadleaf laurel Rose ( Kalmia latifolia ), referred to locally as the mountain laurel. Due to the increased Forestry their inventory but has since declined significantly.
2005, Hurricane Katrina reached the city and caused significant damage.
Today also oil, gas, metal processing and electrical industries are located in Laurel next to the wood industry. Mississippi's oldest art museum, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, located in the city.
Demographic data
In 2009, a population was determined by 18,831 persons, representing a growth of 2.4 % over the year 2000. The increase is mainly explained by the fact that people from the southern coastal regions, who had lost in Hurricane Katrina its existence, in Laurel were looking for a new home. The average age of residents in 2009 was 34.7 years.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Lance Bass ( born 1979 ), singer, actor and film producer
- Marsha Blackburn ( born 1952 ) Congressman from Tennessee
- Ralph Boston ( b. 1939 ), Athlete
- Lee Calhoun (1933-1989), Athlete
- Charles McGhee (1942-2002), jazz trumpeter
- Sam Myers (1936-2006), blues musician and songwriter
- Michael Parker ( b. 1949 ), politician
- Chip Pickering ( b. 1963 ), American politician
- Clinton Portis ( born 1981 ), football player
- Parker Posey ( born 1968 ), actress
- Leontyne Price (* 1927), opera singer
- Ben Thigpen (1908-1971), jazz musician