Pine Belt (Mississippi)

The Pine Belt, also known as the "Piney Woods", is a region in Southeast Mississippi.  The region gets its name from the longleaf pine trees that are abundant in the region.

Geography 

The Longleaf Pine belt covers 10 counties in Mississippi; Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Wayne, Marion, Lamar, Forest, Perry, Jasper and Greene. It is east of the Mississippi Delta region, north of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and south of the Jackson area.

History 

In the years before Mississippi was discovered by Europeans, Native American tribes populated the state.  Specifically in the Pine Belt region of Mississippi, the Natchez tribe resided. The Natchez provided a formidable challenge for French and Spanish settlers, but their population halved less than 15 years after contact with Europeans.  Disease and warfare eventually forced them to settle with the Creek people or English colonists.

The Mississippi Territory eventually became a U.S. state in 1817, and the Pine Belt became more populated and Mississippi's main economical attribute next to agriculture.  After the American Civil War, railroads were extended into the area.

With its main industry inert, farming became more popular, but due to poor soil, the area struggled.

Principal cities

 Hattiesburg
 Laurel
 Ellisville
 Bay Springs
 Stringer
 Sumrall
 Collins
 McComb
 Columbia
 Brookhaven

Education 

Universities

The University of Southern Mississippi 
William Carey University

Community colleges

Pearl River Community College
Jones County Junior College 
Southwest Mississippi Community College
Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Media

Newspapers, magazines, and journals

Laurel Leader-Call
The Hattiesburg American 
The Times
Enterprise-Journal

Television

Hattiesburg - WDAM 7 
Hattiesburg - WHLT 22
Hattiesburg - WHPM 23

Transportation

Airports

Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport

Interstates

Interstate 55
Interstate 59

Highways

U.S. Highway 11
U.S. Highway 49
U.S. Highway 84
U.S. Highway 98

Notable people

Gerald McRaney
Sela Ward
Brandy Norwood
Leontyne Price
Bo Diddley
Ray J
Taylor Spreitler
Steve McNair
Stevon Moore
Johnny Welch
Walter Payton

See also
 Belt regions of the United States

Category:Regions of Mississippi
Category:Natural history of Mississippi
Category:Belt regions of the United States