Biloxi has a population of more than 46,000 as of 2019, and it's part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metro area in Mississippi. Biloxi is one of the most popular tourist destinations along the Gulf of Mexico coast, and it is known for its casinos and beach resorts, as well as the Keesler Air Force Base.
Biloxi's waterfront is located right on Mississippi Sound, while the Gulf of Mexico coast is surrounded by barrier islands. It is located on the Mississippi River, bounded by the Tchoutacabouffa River and Biloxi Bay, which are part of a Jackson County line.
One of its most famous features is the Biloxi Lighthouse, built in Baltimore and then shipped south and completed in May 1848. Since its discovery, eight flags have flown over the city, including the U.S. flag, the state of Mississippi flag, and the Confederate flag.
For tourists visiting Biloxi, a hop-on car is available that can take visitors from one casino to another for free. Not all hotels in Biloxi are casino resorts, and those looking for an alternative will find a wide range of restaurants, bars, hotels, and entertainment options in the city.
The Hopper Trolley Casino offers access to many of the city's attractions and runs daily from the Biloxi Convention Center to the Mississippi State Convention and Visitors Bureau. Self-guided tour brochures describing the historic heart of Biloxi are available for free and show the historic buildings, restaurants, bars, hotels, and entertainment venues in the city.
From the 18th century, Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville sailed with a small group of men to Biloxi Bay and founded his first settlement on the Gulf of Mexico. French colonists founded the so-called "Old Biloxi" in honor of the founder of the town, Jean-Baptiste de la Rochefoucauld.
The Biloxi area changed hands several times before Mississippi became a state in 1817, first as part of the Louisiana Purchase and then as the state's capital. At the same time, Spain ceded its territory to the United States and ceded all of Louisiana west of Mississippi, including New Orleans, to Spain as part of the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
If you visit Biloxi, you'll likely visit several casinos and sample some of the best seafood on the Gulf Coast. Also known for its commercial fishing industry, it is a great way to learn about the culture and livelihoods of its people.
If you want to have a view of the Gulf Coast, many of the hotels are located on or near the water. You can visit a museum, see live entertainment at one of these resorts, or even cruise the Gulf Coast. The city is also famous for one of the largest aquariums in the United States and a number of other attractions it has to offer.
The Biloxi airport is called the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, and the city's main highway is U.S. Highway 90, or Beach Boulevard. Interstate 10 also passes through the northern parts of the city.