NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
LOCALLY POWERED
Picayune Main Street, Inc. a 501©3 non-profit organization is a Nationally Accredited Program and a member of Mississippi Main Street Association comprised of Board of Directors, vital volunteers, and community organizers.
Picayune Main Street, Inc. Mission is to enhance our community and encourage investment in Picayune MS through Downtown Revitization & Beautification Projects.
Committed to the belief that “Community Development precedes Economic Development”, the Main Street Association of Picayune, MS remains a driving force behind the booming economy of our Downtown District.
Through Partnership Sponsors, Fundraisers & Grants, we have changed our aesthetic from barren and derelict to colorful, usable, exciting, and Instagram worthy through facade grants for storefront improvements, creation of murals by local artists on once barren walls, and the full transformation of two alleys into vibrant public spaces.
Our semi-annual Street Festivals see our population more than double. Shop by Candlelight and Christmas on the Rails are staples of the holiday season, while music events and sidewalk sales keep our downtown bustling year-round. Headline music events and a gumbo cookoff, benefitted the creation of a new state of the art playground that is the second largest in the state.
While we focus our attention and resources in the heart of the city, our events and projects have a positive effect on Picayune and Pearl River County.
Time to Discover the Charm in Downtown Picayune, MS Enjoy Events, Arts, Antiques, Shopping & Dining.
“Picayune” is A Precious Coin in the Purse of the South located 40 miles from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans and the big gaming action of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,we are strategically located to offer the best of both worlds: A hometown atmosphere and easy access to the busy world.
We would like to invite you to join Picayune Main Street, Inc.
Call 601.799.3070 for more information or email us [email protected]
Picayune Mississippi
The city’s history traces back to the Spanish colonies that once inhabited the Gulf Coast, as a picayune is the name of a Spanish coin. The town, however, got its name when the owner of the well-renowned newspaper, The Times Picayune, and prestigious resident of the town, Eliza Jane Poitevent Nicholson, was called on to name the area in the 1880s.The area known as Picayune was long inhabited by the local Choctaw Native American tribe. The area was first claimed by French settlers and was a part of Louisiana. Many different European settlers wanted possession of the area because of its strategic location: near the Gulf of Mexico and near the Pearl County River. In 1763, the French surrendered all their assets, east of Mississippi, to the English. In 1799 the Spanish reasserted their claim by attacking British forts near the Gulf of Mexico. The area would be returned to French rule in 1800. Legend says that Napolean Bonaparte had placed French headquarters in Picayune. History tells us that Napolean sold the area to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.During the 1800s, the area grew slowly. During the U.S. Civil War, many of the local men joined the Confederate Army and went away to war. Those left behind experienced their hardships at the hands of occupying Yankee soldiers and anti-slavery guerrilla fighters.After the Civil Way, Picayune experienced an economic boom. In 1883 a railroad line from New Orleans, LA, to Cincinnati, OH, was constructed. This rail line brought with it businesses, jobs, and new citizens. The town of Picayune was incorporated as a city in 1922.During the city’s early years, Mississippi’s Gulf area was experiencing a timber boom. Companies were quickly harvesting the area’s native pine. When local timber was depleted from the area, companies brought in tung trees to plant. These tree orchards, which were harvested for their oil, made Picayune the tung oil capital of the world. The tung oil industry was devastated after Hurricane Camille destroyed most of the local orchards in 1969.Now, Picayune is a thriving city with around 12,000 citizens. The appeal of the area is its southern small town charm, excellent schools, and thriving small business.
~MS Coast National Heritage Area Website~
Picayune Main Street, Inc.
Nationally Recognized Locally Powered
Throughout the year, Picayune Main Street, Inc. sponsors events in Downtown Picayune, MS to help support a vibrant shopping and dining district and create a place that attracts people and inspires all to Enjoy Events, Arts, Antiques, Shop, Dine & Play Local while experiencing The New South Old Charm of Historic Picayune, MS
“Picayune” is A Precious Coin in the Purse of the South located40 miles from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans and the big gaming action of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we are strategically located to offer the best of both worlds: A hometown atmosphere and easy access to the busy world.
Picayune Main Street, Inc.
As a Designated Mississippi Main Street Community and Main Street America™ Accredited program, Picayune Main Street, Inc. is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
All Main Street America Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.
Being a Main Street America™ member is a mark of distinction, and represents a commitment to continual improvement, community engagement, and rigorous outcome measurement. The status that comes with being a part of this network also sends a strong message to local stakeholders, as well as city, state, and national funders. It signifies that you are part of a greater movement that has a proven track record for generating impressive economic returns, preserving community character, and celebrating local history.
Picayune Main Street, Inc. is Nationally Recognized Locally Powered
