The town has a reputation as an "arts community." Its historic and secluded downtown area, with streets lined by Live Oak trees, is home to several art galleries and shops plying shiny wares new and old alike. It is also home to a number of ethnic restaurants, relatively uncommon in surrounding communities.
Ocean Springs was the hometown of the late Walter Inglis Anderson, a nationally renowned painter and muralist. The town plays host to several festivals, including its Peter Anderson Festival and The Herb Festival.
Ocean Springs was severely damaged on August 29, 2005, by Hurricane Katrina, which smashed many buildings along the shoreline, including the Ocean Springs Yacht Club, and the historic wooden Fort Maurepas, and gutted or flooded other buildings. Katrina's 25 ft (7.6 m) storm surge also destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs.
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,225 people, 6,650 households, and 4,688 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,479.9 people per square mile (571.4/km²). There were 7,072 housing units at an average density of 607.6/sq mi (234.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.74% White, 7.03% African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.63% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.50% of the population.
There were 6,650 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 5 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,885, and the median income for a family was $56,237. Males had a median income of $37,733 versus $26,580 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,923. About 3.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.