Diamondhead is a city in Hancock County, Mississippi, located north of Bay St Louis, with a population of around 9,000 people. It is the highest point of elevation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at over 100 feet above sea-level. This is also the inspiration for the name, as Diamondhead is a volcanic cone in Hawaii. 

Diamondhead was quite rural until 1969 when significant investment came to the area, transforming it into a retirement and resort town. Malcom McLean, who owned a trucking company in North Carolina, formed the Diamondhead Corporation and purchased 5,700 acres of forest from the Gex family for three million dollars. The land was developed in 10,000 parcels as the start to the Diamondhead community. By 1980, there were over 1,000 residents and infrastructure such as streets, the Pines Golf Course, sewerage and water, country club, a yacht club, a marina, and an airplane runway was built. Many residents came from New Orleans and worked at the Stennis Space Center at this time. A property owners association was formed to help finance and guide future development. In the 1990’s, Diamondhead saw further growth with the expansion of Stennis and the introduction of casinos on the Gulf Coast. 

The north side of Diamondhead faced little damage following Katrina. Unlike most Gulf Coast cities, the population surged in Diamondhead as it was once of the few places people could move to on the coast following the hurricane.  

Following a failed attempt at incorporation in the 1990’s, a petition for incorporation was filed in 2009. While approved by Hancock County, opponents took the matter to court. Following a lengthy legal battle ending with the ruling of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, Diamondhead was incorporated in 2012.