Best Web Design in Bay St. Louis, MS (2026)

Web Design for Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Bay St. Louis is a walkable Gulf Coast arts town and the seat of Hancock County, wrapped around the Bay of St. Louis west of Gulfport-Biloxi. Long the summer retreat of wealthy New Orleanians, its French-Creole and Catholic heritage still colors the galleries, blues halls, and antique-lined streets of Old Town. Nearly wiped out by Hurricane Katrina's landfall in 2005, the Bay rebuilt into one of the coast's most celebrated small towns.

AppWT works with Bay St. Louis, MS businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Bay St. Louis

Also known as. The Bay. A Place Apart (city motto). Shieldsboro (its 19th-century name).

History. Named in 1699 by the French, when the d'Iberville-Bienville expedition reached the bay; the name honors King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis). Known in the early 1800s as Shieldsboro; the town was incorporated as Bay St. Louis in 1818, an act of the newly formed Mississippi legislature, and the name was formally restored in 1875. Became the summer home of wealthy New Orleanians, reinforcing its French-Creole culture; the railroad linking it to New Orleans arrived in the 1850s. County seat of Hancock County, a county named for Founding Father John Hancock. Hurricane Camille brushed the coast on August 17, 1969; Hurricane Katrina made its final Mississippi landfall just west of the town on August 29, 2005, driving a storm surge of roughly 28 feet and destroying much of the waterfront. The rebuilt Bay St. Louis (US 90) bridge won an America's Transportation Award and includes a pedestrian bridge showcasing local artists' work.

Local economy. Tourism, arts, dining, and antique retail anchor Old Town's economy. NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, the agency's largest rocket-engine test complex, sits nearby in Hancock County and is a major regional employer. Commercial fishing and seafood remain part of the coastal economy. Casino gaming in Hancock County (Silver Slipper) adds coastal tourism jobs.

Culture and community. Second Saturday Artwalk: on the second Saturday of each month Old Town galleries and shops stay open late with exhibits, refreshments, and live music. The historic 100 Men Hall (built 1922) hosted Ray Charles, James Brown, B.B. King, and Etta James on the Chitlin' Circuit and is an official stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Mardi Gras is celebrated here, with a Mardi Gras museum displaying Carnival costumes and memorabilia. A lively food and music scene, from seafood joints to venues like the Mockingbird Cafe.

What makes Bay St. Louis distinct. Named one of the 'Coolest Small Towns in America' by Budget Travel magazine. Was once in the running to be Mississippi's state capital before losing out to Natchez (which soon lost it to Jackson). The 1966 film 'This Property Is Condemned,' starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford, was filmed here. Katrina's storm tide here was among the highest ever recorded on the U.S. mainland, exceeding 28 feet.

Bay St. Louis Landmarks and Local Life

• Old Town Bay St. Louis - the compact historic shopping and gallery district
• The Bay St. Louis / US 90 bridge with its dedicated pedestrian span
• Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church
• 100 Men Hall - Mississippi Blues Trail music venue
• Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum in the old L&N train depot