Facts about Mississippi
State: Mississippi
Abbreviation: MS
Capital: Jackson
State Since: December 10, 1817
Area Codes: 228, 601, 662
Bird: Mockingbird
Flower: Magnolia
Largest City: Jackson
Motto: Virtute et armis – By valor and arms
Nickname: Magnolia State
Population: 2,844.658
Song: Go Mis-sis-sip-pi
Tree: Southern Magnolia
Time Zone: -6
Adjacent States:
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Alabama
Mississippi Travel Information
Mississippi is one of the states of the United States. The standard abbreviation for the “Magnolia State”, as it is nicknamed, is MS. The capital is Jackson. The name Mississippi means “great river” in either the Ojibwa language or a related Algonkian language. For fun ideas from the locals, check out Ask a Local!
History
The area that now forms the state of Mississippi was originally settled by Native American tribes. Mississippi became the 20th state of the United States on December 10, 1817. Mississippi, which had many slaves, sided with the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Mississippi’s bad reputation for the rights of blacks, even after the Civil War, is evident from the famous speech that Martin Luther King gave on August 28, 1963. In it he said, among other things:
“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice”
(Translation: “I dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, stifled by the heat of injustice and oppression, will be an oasis of freedom and justice.”) Also featured in the movie In the Heat of the Night from 1967 Mississippi gets off to a bad start.
Geography
The state of Mississippi covers more than 125,000 km², of which 121,606 km² is land. The state belongs to the Central time zone. Mississippi is located on the Gulf of Mexico and is bordered to the north by the state of Tennessee, to the west by Arkansas and Louisiana, to the east by Alabama. The main river is the Mississippi, which defines the entire western border. The state is quite flat; the highest point is the summit of Woodall Mountain (246 m). Black Creek in DeSoto National Forest.
Climate
Mississippi has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are long and winters short and mild. In July the temperature averages 28°C, in January it averages 9°C.
Demography and economy
Stately home in Natchez (Mississippi) In 2006 Mississippi had 2.9 million inhabitants with an average density of 23 inhabitants per km². The largest city is capital Jackson. See how many cities are in Mississippi. In 2006, the state’s gross domestic product was $84 billion. Mississippi’s per capita income is the lowest in the United States. On the other hand, the cost of living is also the lowest.
Born in Mississippi
- William Faulkner (1897-1962), writer
- Morgan Freeman (1937), film actor
- John Grisham (1955), lawyer, politician and author of legal thrillers
- Jim Henson (1936-1990), puppeteer, producer and director
- James Earl Jones (1931), film and voice actor
- BB King (1925), blues guitarist
- Elvis Presley (1935-1977), pop singer and actor
- Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933), country singer
- Britney Spears (1981), pop singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and writer
- Donna Tartt (1963), thriller writer
- Tennessee Williams (1911-1983), (play) writer, poet and essayist
- Oprah Winfrey (1954), TV personality, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist
Tupelo
Tupelo is best known as the hometown of the King of Rock and Roll. One of the nicest sights is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. You will also pass Elvis’ school and the music store where he bought his first guitar. In addition, in Tupelo you will find a nice zoo and one of the largest car museums in North America.
Natchez Trace Parkway
One of the most scenic trails in Mississippi is Natchez Trace Parkway. This 715-mile road runs from Natchez to Nashville, passing through Mississippi. The hilly road takes you past beautiful nature, waterfalls, bridges and historic buildings. There is also plenty to do along the way, such as hiking, horseback riding and camping.
