Editing Wiggins, Stone County, Mississippi

{{redirect|Wiggins, Mississippi|the unincorporated community|Wiggins, Leake County, Mississippi}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Wiggins, Mississippi  
|official_name            = City of Wiggins
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Wiggins City Hall (January 2021).jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Wiggins City Hall in January 2021
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Stone_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Wiggins_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Wiggins, Mississippi
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Mississippi]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Mississippi|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Stone County, Mississippi|Stone]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 29.17
|area_land_km2            = 27.84
|area_water_km2           = 1.33
|area_total_sq_mi         = 11.26
|area_land_sq_mi          = 10.75
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.51

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 4272
|population_density_km2   = 153.44
|population_density_sq_mi = 397.40

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 80
|elevation_ft             = 262
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|51|20|N|89|8|19|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 39577
|area_code                = [[Area codes 601 and 769|601, 769]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 28-80160
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2405742<ref>{{GNIS|2405742}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cityofwiggins.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}

'''Wiggins''' is a city in and the county seat of [[Stone County, Mississippi]], United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stone County, MS |url=https://explorer.naco.org/?county_info=28131 |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=County Explorer |language=en}}</ref> It is part of the [[Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area]]. The population was 4,272 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
Wiggins is named after Wiggins Hatten, the father of Madison Hatten, one of the area's original homesteaders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stonecounty.com/wiggins_history.htm |title=Stone County Economic Development Partnership |access-date=2009-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717032548/http://www.stonecounty.com/wiggins_history.htm |archive-date=2009-07-17 }}</ref> It was incorporated in 1904, and the 1910 census reported 980 residents. In the early 1900s, Wiggins prospered along with the booming timber industry. Wiggins was once headquarters of the [[Finkbine-Guild Lumber Company|Finkbine Lumber Company]].

{{Stack|[[File:G&SIRR Depot Wiggins.jpg|thumb|Wiggins business district and railroad depot before the 1910 fire]]}}
On January 21, 1910, between the hours of 11 am and 1 pm, more than half of the Wiggins business district was destroyed by fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gendisasters.com/mississippi/7979/wiggins-ms-fire-jan-1910 |title=Wiggins, MS fire, Jan 1910 &#124; GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods |website=Gendisasters.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref> The fire started from unknown origin in the Hammock Building, a lodging house, and spread rapidly because of strong winds from the northwest. With no city fire department or waterworks, the residents of Wiggins resorted to bucket brigades and dynamite to stop the fire, which was confined to the east side of the [[Gulf and Ship Island Railroad]]. The fire consumed 41 business establishments, including the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad depot. Only two or three residential dwellings were destroyed, because most homes were built away from the business district.

{{Stack|[[File:AmericanPickleCompany.jpg|thumb|American Pickle and Canning Company in Wiggins, circa 1910]]}}
Wiggins has long been known for its pickle production, and at one time boasted of being home to the world's largest pickle processing facility.<ref>Kat Bergeron. 2012. Green Gold: The story of the Wiggins pickle. ''[[Sun Herald]]'' (Biloxi, MS), Vol. 128, No. 230, Page 8F, May 20, 2012.</ref> However, the pickle processing facility is now closed, and although the timber industry has declined since the boom years, it still sustains many businesses in Wiggins.

On June 22, 1935, a mob of 200 white people lynched a black man, R. D. McGee. A white girl had been attacked, and McGee was suspected as the culprit. He was roused from his bed, and taken before the girl. She identified him, a day later, based on the clothing her attacker had been wearing.<ref name="Clothing">{{cite news |title=Mob Hangs Man for Attempted Attack on Girl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40972424/mob_hangs_man_for_attempted_attack_on/ |access-date=23 December 2019 |location=Wiggins, Mississippi |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |newspaper=Stone County Enterprise |date=Jun 27, 1935}}</ref> The same day it was reported that Dewitt Armstrong, another African-American was flogged for making insulting remarks to white women.<ref name="Flogged">{{cite news |title=Negro Flogged |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40972581/negro_flogged/ |access-date=23 December 2019 |location=Wiggins, Mississippi |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |newspaper=Stone County Enterprise |date=Jun 27, 1935}}</ref><ref name="NYTLynch1935">{{cite news|title=Negro is Lynched, Another Whipped|newspaper=New York Times|date=23 June 1935}}</ref> On November 21, 1938, another black man, Wilder McGowan, was lynched by a mob of 200 white men for allegedly assaulting a 74-year-old woman. An investigator found there was no merit to the charge against McGowan, but rather that he was lynched because he "Did not know his place,"<ref name="Defender1938">{{cite news|title=Mob Uses Attack Rumor as Excuse to Slay Man who Wouldn't 'Knuckle'|newspaper=Chicago Defender|date=17 December 1938}}</ref> and in addition had rebuffed a group of white men who had invaded a negro dance hall "looking for some good-looking nigger women". His death certificate indicated strangulation by "rope party".<ref name="McGowanDeathCert">{{cite web|title=Standard Certificate of Death|url=http://nuweb9.neu.edu/civilrights/wp-content/uploads/Death-Certificate4.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923010746/http://nuweb9.neu.edu/civilrights/wp-content/uploads/Death-Certificate4.pdf |archive-date=2014-09-23 |url-status=live|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref> Although seventeen men were identified as participating in the lynching, the justice department decided no action was merited.<ref name="NEU">{{cite news|title=Wilder McGowan|url=http://nuweb9.neu.edu/civilrights/mississippi/wilder-mcgowan/|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref> In 2016, a group of white students at [[Stone High School (Mississippi)|Stone High School]] put a noose around a black student's neck. The student's parent alleged that local law enforcement discouraged their family from filing a report.<ref name="Noose">{{cite news|last1=Hawkins|first1=Derek|title=White high schoolers in Miss. put noose around black student's neck and 'yanked,' NAACP says|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/10/25/white-high-schoolers-in-mississippi-put-a-noose-around-a-black-students-neck-and-yanked-naacp-says/|access-date=19 November 2017|date=25 October 2016}}</ref>

In June 2021, Wiggins voters elected their first African-American mayor, Darrell Berry, who had served as mayor pro temp since November 2020 and then interim mayor since January 2021, following the death of the city's incumbent mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Berryhill|first=Lyndy|date=January 7, 2021|title=Wiggins appoints Darryl Berry as Interim Mayor|url=https://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/news/wiggins-appoints-darryl-berry-as-interim-mayor/article_7abd4d44-512a-11eb-ad82-7be18e44bfae.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=Stone County Enterprise|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Berry">{{Cite web|last=Berryhill|first=Lyndy|date=June 16, 2021|title=Berry elected Mayor|url=https://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/news/local/berry-elected-mayor/image_03423af4-cdee-11eb-84f6-17042fd1d491.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=Stone County Enterprise|language=en}}</ref> Berry had been an elected Wiggins alderman during three mayoral terms (12 years) prior to his election as mayor.<ref name="Berry"/> As of June 2021, the city had three African-Americans simultaneously serving on the city council.<ref name="Berry"/>

===Pine Hill===
[[File:WigginsPineHillFestival2012.jpg|thumb|Pine Hill Festival in 2012]]
[[File:Pine Hill, Wiggins, March 2019.jpg|thumb|Street view of Pine Hill in 2019]]
After the 1910 fire and until the 1960s, the center of commerce for Wiggins developed on both sides of Pine Avenue, that sloped downhill and eastward, perpendicular to [[U.S. Route 49]] and Railroad Street (First Street), over a distance of one city block. Small shops were built mainly of brick and were mostly contiguous to each other. Over the years, the shops were occupied by numerous businesses that included [[Pharmacy|drug stores]], law offices, a grocery store, a shoe store, a dry cleaners, [[Variety store|5 & dime]] stores, auto supply store, barber shops, cafes, a movie theater, dry goods outlet, feed & seed outlet, an army surplus store, beauty salons, clothing stores, gift shops, County Library, and [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Post Office]]. In more recent years, the shops have served as real estate offices, [[Certified Public Accountant|CPA]] & tax preparer outlets, an antique store, newspaper office, ice cream shop, art & frame shop, food outlets, and stationery shop.

In the late 1960s, U.S. Route 49 bypassed the downtown area, and many businesses moved from Pine Hill to other locations within Wiggins. The old Wiggins High School and Elementary School buildings occupied a city block, situated at the base of Pine Hill. When the school buildings were demolished in the 1970s, the school land was dedicated to City use as Blaylock Park. In the 1980s, city and county business leaders saw a need for developing a sense of community and tourism by initiating an annual Pine Hill Day, which later became Pine Hill Festival.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=http://www.stonecounty.com/edp_home.htm |title=Stone County Economic Development Partnership |access-date=2011-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018170258/http://www.stonecounty.com/edp_home.htm |archive-date=2010-10-18 }}</ref> During Pine Hill Day, area residents offered items for sale as arts & crafts, in farmers' markets, and as local cuisine. To attract more visitors, other venues such as live music entertainment, competitive foot races, antique vehicle displays, commercial food vendors, and games for kids were added through the years, and the festival became a Spring event. In 2014, an estimated 15,000 people attended the 2-day festival.<ref>Patrick Ochs. 2014. Record crowds fill Wiggins for festival. ''[[Sun Herald]]'' (Biloxi, MS), Vol. 130, No. 171, Page 2A, March 23, 2014.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|11.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|10.8|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi|km2}} of it (4.53%) is water.  The entrance to [[Flint Creek Water Park]] is located in the city, off Highway 29.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Wiggins, Mississippi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 85
 | Feb record high F  = 85
 | Mar record high F  = 89
 | Apr record high F  = 93
 | May record high F  = 100
 | Jun record high F  = 105
 | Jul record high F  = 105
 | Aug record high F  = 108
 | Sep record high F  = 101
 | Oct record high F  = 96
 | Nov record high F  = 89
 | Dec record high F  = 87
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 61.6
 | Feb high F = 65.6
 | Mar high F = 72.6
 | Apr high F = 78.5
 | May high F = 84.7
 | Jun high F = 90.6
 | Jul high F = 91.5
 | Aug high F = 91.5
 | Sep high F = 87.9
 | Oct high F = 80.2
 | Nov high F = 70.3
 | Dec high F = 63.8
 | year high F = 78.2
 | Jan mean F = 48.9
 | Feb mean F = 52.9
 | Mar mean F = 59.2
 | Apr mean F = 65.4
 | May mean F = 72.6
 | Jun mean F = 79.2
 | Jul mean F = 80.9
 | Aug mean F = 80.9
 | Sep mean F = 76.7
 | Oct mean F = 67.3
 | Nov mean F = 57.2
 | Dec mean F = 51.6
 | year mean F = 66.1
 | Jan low F = 36.2
 | Feb low F = 40.1
 | Mar low F = 45.9
 | Apr low F = 52.2
 | May low F = 60.4
 | Jun low F = 67.8
 | Jul low F = 70.3
 | Aug low F = 70.3
 | Sep low F = 65.5
 | Oct low F = 54.5
 | Nov low F = 44.1
 | Dec low F = 39.4
 | year low F = 53.9
 | Jan record low F  = 1
 | Feb record low F  = 7
 | Mar record low F  = 15
 | Apr record low F  = 29
 | May record low F  = 39
 | Jun record low F  = 48
 | Jul record low F  = 54
 | Aug record low F  = 56
 | Sep record low F  = 37
 | Oct record low F  = 25
 | Nov record low F  = 18
 | Dec record low F  = 7
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 6.05
 | Feb precipitation inch = 5.30
 | Mar precipitation inch = 5.86
 | Apr precipitation inch = 5.46
 | May precipitation inch = 5.51
 | Jun precipitation inch = 5.90
 | Jul precipitation inch = 7.28
 | Aug precipitation inch = 6.12
 | Sep precipitation inch = 5.89
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.95
 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.12
 | Dec precipitation inch = 5.92
 | year precipitation inch = 67.36
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mob
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 5, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00229639&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 5, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=right
|1910= 980
|1920= 1037
|1930= 1074
|1940= 1141
|1950= 1436
|1960= 1591
|1970= 2995
|1980= 3205
|1990= 3185
|2000= 3849
|2010= 4390
|2020= 4272
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2013}}</ref><br>2012 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|website=Census.gov|access-date=September 7, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019235623/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|archive-date=October 19, 2013}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Wiggins racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2880160&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-08|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Number
!Percent
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|2,661
|62.29%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|1,348
|31.55%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|15
|0.35%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|26
|0.61%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|1
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|145
|3.39%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|76
|1.78%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 4,272 people, 1,348 households, and 889 families residing in the city.

==Education==
*The City of Wiggins is served by the [[Stone County School District]].
*Gateway Christian Academy (A private school, serving Nursery/Preschool–12.)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gateway Christian Academy Profile (2020) {{!}} Wiggins, MS|url=https://www.privateschoolreview.com/gateway-christian-academy-profile/39577|website=Private School Review|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>

==Media==
*''Stone County Enterprise'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/ |title=Home |publisher=Stone County Enterprise |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref> "Your hometown newspaper since 1916"
*Wiggins is part of Mississippi Gulf Coast Radio and Television Stations Market Area

==Infrastructure==
*Airport: Dean Griffin Memorial Airport<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/M24/ |title=M24 - Dean Griffin Memorial Airport |publisher=AirNav |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*Highways: [[U.S. Highway 49]], [[Mississippi Highway 26]], [[Mississippi Highway 29]]
*Railroad: [[Kansas City Southern Railroad]]

==Notable people==
*[[William Joel Blass]], attorney and educator<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theclintoncourier.net/contentitem/248300/2155/william-joel-blass |title=The Clinton Courier, William Joel Blass |access-date=2014-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421050835/http://www.theclintoncourier.net/contentitem/248300/2155/william-joel-blass |archive-date=2014-04-21 }}</ref>
*[[Chris Boykin]], CEO of Big Black Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lockerroommag.com/big-black-and-bam-bam/ |title=Big Black and Bam Bam &#124; The Locker Room |website=Lockerroommag.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*[[Sammy Brown]], professional football player
*[[Dizzy Dean|Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean]], professional baseball player and radio personality, lived in the nearby [[Bond, MS|Bond]] community<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3407900133.html |title=Dean, Dizzy - Dictionary definition of Dean, Dizzy &#124; Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary |website=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*[[Justin Evans (American football)|Justin Evans]], professional football player<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2017 |title=Justin Evans of Wiggins drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by Tampa Bay |url=https://www.wlox.com/story/35282212/justin-evans-of-wiggins-drafted-in-the-second-round-of-the-nfl-draft-by-tampa-bay |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=wlox.com |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Anthony Herrera]], actor, soap opera star<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/news/exec/view.pl?archive=1&num=1455&printer=1 |title=Anthony Herrera |website=Stonecountyenterprise.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*[[Marcus Hinton]], gridiron football player<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/hint01300.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031723/http://www.profootballarchives.com/hint01300.html |archive-date=2014-11-29 }}</ref>
*[[Boyce Holleman]], attorney and actor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.olemiss.edu/holleman/#.U1PTgFcqTko |title=Attorney Boyce Holleman Remembered By Sons with $100,000 Gift to Law School |website=News.olemiss.edu |date=2017-04-13 |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*[[Rebekah Jones]], [[whistleblower]]
*[[Fred Lewis]], former [[Cincinnati Reds]] outfielder<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lewisfr02.shtml |title=Fred Lewis Stats |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*[[Stevon Moore]], retired from [[NFL]] [[Cleveland Browns]] and [[Baltimore Ravens]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorSt21.htm |title=Stevon Moore Stats |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |date= |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>
*[[Taylor Spreitler]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1837588/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb.com|title=Taylor Spreitler biography|access-date=2014-04-20}}</ref>
*[[Emilie Blackmore Stapp]], author and philanthropist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neh.gov/events/exploring-the-life-and-the-legacy-emilie-blackmore-stapp-1876-1962 |title=Exploring the life and the legacy of Emilie Blackmore Stapp (1876-1962) &#124; National Endowment for the Humanities |website=Neh.gov |date=2014-03-15 |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Mississippi}}
*[[Wiggins Depot (Mississippi)|Wiggins Depot]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Wiggins}}
*{{Official website|http://www.cityofwiggins.com/}}

{{Stone County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Cities in Stone County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:County seats in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in Mississippi]]