Overview

Waveland (the Land of the Waves) was originally part of old Shieldsboro (now Bay St. Louis​) and was known as Montgomery Station and Grand Bend before applying for, and being granted, a special charter to become a separate municipality with a Mayor and ​Board of Aldermen in 1888.

Early in 1970, under the administration of then Mayor Garfield Ladner, Waveland became a city due to the increase in its population. Initially, it's creation was largely due to the presence of the L & N Railroad and it's proximity to New Orleans. From the beginning, it was a resort town to many New Orleans residents having summer homes here.

Today, Waveland is the only city on the Gulf Coast prohibiting commercial buildings on the beachfront. At the foot of Coleman Avenue is the Veteran's Memorial Monument, honoring all veterans. Next to the monument is the Garfield Ladner Pier extending 860’ into the Bay of St. Louis (replacing the pier built in 1988 and completed in 2003). This pier is built of concrete, replacing the wooden pier lost in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It is used by fishermen from dawn to dusk. It has handicap access and picnic pavilions. A bike/walking track alongBeach Boulevard stretches from Waveland to the Bay St. Louis Bridge and is popular with walkers, runners and bikers.