Editing Kiln, Mississippi (section)

===Population growth and Hurricane Katrina===
[[File:Annonciation Catholic Church Kiln MS August 2013 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Annonciation Catholic Church, 2013]]
Toward the end of the 20th century, Kiln's population began to grow. Kiln's population grew from 1,262 people in 1990<ref name="census 90">{{cite web|title=1990 Census of Population and Housing|url=http://ftp.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-26.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130223154/http://ftp.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-26.pdf |archive-date=2022-01-30 |url-status=live|website=Census.gov|access-date=August 4, 2017|page=Mississippi 33}}</ref> to 2,040 by the end of the century,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mississippi: 2000: Summary Population and Housing Statistics|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-1-26.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030321003218/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-1-26.pdf |archive-date=2003-03-21 |url-status=live|website=Census.gov|access-date=August 4, 2017|page=34 Mississippi}}</ref> nearly a 62% increase in population over the decade. One of the main reasons for the population increase in not only Kiln but the entire [[Mississippi Gulf Coast]] was the growth of the [[casino]] industry in the area. The Mississippi Gaming Control Act of 1990 specified that gaming sites were restricted to the southernmost three counties in Mississippi (Hancock, [[Harrison County, Mississippi|Harrison]], and [[Jackson County, Mississippi|Jackson]] counties). On December 5, 1990, Hancock County was the first county in Mississippi to approve dockside gambling. Three casinos opened in neighboring Harrison County in August 1992, and on September 30, 1992, Casino Magic opened in [[Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi|Bay Saint Louis]] at the location of the current [[Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast|Hollywood Casino]]. Bayou Caddy's Jubilee Casino opened on January 7, 1994, in [[Lakeshore, Mississippi|Lakeshore]] at the location of the current [[Silver Slipper Casino (Waveland)|Silver Slipper Casino]]. The Gulf Coast casinos brought in new tourism and economic development to the area, which led to an increase in population in many cities and towns along the Gulf Coast, including Kiln.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Klaus J. |last1=Meyer-Arendt |title=Casino Gaming on the Mississippi Gulf Coast |url=https://ir.uwf.edu/islandora/object/uwf%3A22820/datastream/PDF/view |website=UWF Institutional Repository |access-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref> Kiln became the fastest growing area in Hancock County. This growth led to the establishment of several new businesses, a new post office, two new schools, and a new library in the town.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gagnet |first1=Betsy |title=Kiln fastest growing area in the county |url=http://www.hancockcountyhistoricalsociety.com/reference/vf.php?t=subjects&vf=Hancock%20County%20History%20General%20Newspaper%20Clippings&i=96 |access-date=August 4, 2017 |issue=Hancock Today Special Edition |work=The Sea Coast Echo |date=June 29, 1997|publisher=Hancock County Historical Society}}</ref>

On August 29, 2005, [[Hurricane Katrina]] made its third landfall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Before and during landfall, water poured into the [[Bay of Saint Louis]], and the initial flooding occurred in low-lying areas along the Jourdan River and its tributary [[bayou]]s. Therefore, Kiln and Diamondhead began to flood before the bulk of the surge came.<ref>{{cite web |title=Katrina's Surge: Part 10 |url=https://www.wunderground.com/education/Katrinas_surge_part10.asp |website=Weather Underground |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806020450/https://www.wunderground.com/education/Katrinas_surge_part10.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Kiln saw at least {{convert|30|ft}} of floodwater.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Plombon |first1=Betty |title=Katrina and the Forgotten Gulf Coast |date=2006 |publisher=Dog Ear Publishing |page=7}}</ref> Several homes were severely damaged and destroyed. Kiln was spared the worst of the damage and served as a major point for reconstruction of Bay Saint Louis and [[Waveland, Mississippi|Waveland]] afterwards.