The Hattiesburg Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in southeastern Mississippi that covers three counties - Forrest, Lamar, and Perry. The MSA's principal city is Hattiesburg. The 2010 census placed the Hattiesburg MSA's population at 162,410, though estimates as of 2019 indicate the population has increased to 168,849.[1] The area is part of the geographical region known as the Pine Belt, famous for its abundance of longleaf pine trees. The Hattiesburg MSA is part of the larger Hattiesburg-Laurel Combined Statistical Area.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 123,812 people, 45,999 households, and 31,372 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 72.13% White, 25.96% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.
The median income for a household in the MSA was $30,746, and the median income for a family was $37,731. Males had a median income of $30,221 versus $20,464 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $15,615.