Opened July 1, 1976
“New South, Old Charm”

Pearl River County Welcome Center was the third center to welcome visitors to our beautiful state.

One of the most historic, most interesting, and most beautiful spots in all South Mississippi is the former home site of the Choctaw Indian chiefs on the bluff on the Hobolochitto River, where The Hermitage now stands, in the northwest part of Picayune. Picayune was formerly known as Hobolochitto.

Picayune has a very unique name. The name was acquired in a round about way for the Spanish Coin. Miss Eliza Poitevant, a resident of the area in the early 1800’s, was literary editor of the Daily Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper that sold for “One Picayune,” a Spanish Coin worth six and a fourth cents. Miss Poitevant later married the publisher of that newspaper, which is now known as the Times-Picayune. Either through her influence, or out of admiration for her, the City of Picayune was given its present name in honor of the newspaper, which her husband published.

The Pearl River County Center is approximately one hour’s drive from downtown New Orleans, Hattiesburg, and the heart of MS Gulf Coast.

Cindy Schoonmaker, Supervisor
Pearl River County Welcome Center
I-59 North
Picayune, Mississippi 39466
601.798.8184
Fax: 601.798.8175
pearl@mississippi.org