Biloxi's Founding: The First Permanent European Settlement on the Lower Mississippi

Biloxi, Mississippi, was established in 1699 by French‑Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville. It became the first permanent European settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley. The city takes its name from the Biloxi tribe, who inhabited the area. This early foothold laid the groundwork for French colonial claims in the region and marked the beginning of Biloxi's long history as a Gulf Coast hub.