In 1718 Antoine-Simon Le Page du Pratz arrived at Louisiana, and in his book The History of Louisiana he describes the possible etymology of the island's name, and its use as grazing land for livestock.[2]
Horn-island is very flat and tolerably wooded, about six leagues in length, narrowed to a point to the west side. I know not whether it was for this reason, or on account of the number of horned cattle upon it, that it received this name; but it is certain, that the first Canadians, who settled on Isle Dauphine, had put most of their cattle, in great numbers, there; whereby they came to grow rich even when they slept. These cattle not requiring any attendance, or other care, in this island, came to multiply in such a manner, that the owners made great profits of them on our arrival in the colony.
From 1943 to 1945, Horn Island was closed to all public access and activity for use as a biological weapons testing site by the U.S. Army.[3]
In 1989 the island was used as a propagation site for the endangered red wolf as part of the red wolf recovery program.[4] This population was removed in 1998 because of a likelihood of encounters with humans.
^Le Page du Pratz, Antoine-Simon (1774). The History of Louisiana. T. Becket. p. 15. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
^ abcMcGinnis, Helen. Hiking Mississippi: A Guide to Trails and Natural Areas, (Google Books), University Press of Mississippi , 1995, pp. 100-03, (ISBN0878056645).