| Share

Mississippi

Capital: Jackson

State abbreviation/Postal code: Miss./MS

Governor: Phil Bryant, R (to Jan. 2016)

Lieut. Governor: Tate Reeves, R (to Jan. 2016)

Senators: Thad Cochran, R (to Jan. 2015); Roger Wicker, R (to Jan. 2015)

U.S. Representatives: 4

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Delbert Hosemann, R (to Jan. 2016)

Treasurer: Lynn Fitch, R (to Jan. 2016)

Atty. General: Jim Hood, D (to Jan. 2016)

Organized as territory: April 7, 1798

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 10, 1817 (20)

Present constitution adopted: 1890

Motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)

State symbols:

flower	flower or bloom of the magnolia or evergreen magnolia (1952)
wildflower	coreopsis (1991)
tree	magnolia (1938)
bird	mockingbird (1944)
song	“Go, Mississippi” (1962)
stone	petrified wood (1976)
fish	largemouth or black bass (1974)
insect	honeybee (1980)
shell	oyster shell (1974)
water mammal	bottlenosed dolphin or porpoise (1974)
fossil	prehistoric whale (1981)
land mammal	white-tailed deer (1974), red fox (1997)
waterfowl	wood duck (1974)
beverage	milk (1984)
butterfly	spicebush swallowtail (1991)
dance	square dance (1995)

Nickname: Magnolia State

Origin of name: From an Indian word meaning “Father of Waters”

10 largest cities (2010): Jackson, 173,514; Gulfport, 67,793; Hattiesburg, 51,993; Southhaven, 48,982; Biloxi, 44,054; Meridian, 41,198; Tupelo, 34,546; Greenville, 34,400; Olive Branch, 33,484; Horn Lake 26,066

Land area: 46,907 sq mi. (121,489 sq km)

Geographic center: In Leake Co., 9 mi. WNW of Carthage

Number of counties: 82

Largest county by population and area: Hinds, 245,285 (2010); Yazoo, 920 sq mi.

State parks: 24

Residents: Mississippian

2010 resident population: 2,967,297

2010 resident census population (rank): 2,967,297 (31). Male: 1,441,240 (48.6%); Female: 1,526,057 (51.4%). White: 1,754,684 (59.1%); Black: 1,098,385 (37.0%); American Indian: 15,030 (0.5%); Asian: 25,742 (0.9%); Other race: 38,162 (1.3%); Two or more races: 34,107 (1.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 81,481 (2.7%). 2010 population 18 and over: 2,211,742; 65 and over: 380,407 (12.8%); median age: 36.0.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

Map of Mississippi

First explored for Spain by Hernando de Soto, who discovered the Mississippi River in 1540, the region was later claimed by France. In 1699, a French group under Sieur d'Iberville established the first permanent settlement near present-day Ocean Springs.

Great Britain took over the area in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars, ceding it to the U.S. in 1783 after the Revolution. Spain did not relinquish its claims until 1798, and in 1810 the U.S. annexed West Florida from Spain, including what is now southern Mississippi.

For a little more than one hundred years, from shortly after the state's founding through the Great Depression, cotton was the undisputed king of Mississippi's largely agrarian economy. Over the last half-century, however, Mississippi has diversified its economy by balancing agricultural output with increased industrial activity.

Today, agriculture continues as a major segment of the state's economy. For almost four decades soybeans occupied the most acreage, while cotton remained the largest cash crop. In 2001, however, more acres of cotton were planted than soybeans, and Mississippi jumped to second in the nation in cotton production (exceeded only by Texas). The state's farmlands also yield important harvests of corn, peanuts, pecans, rice, sugar cane, and sweet potatoes as well as poultry, eggs, meat animals, dairy products, feed crops, and horticultural crops. Mississippi remains the world's leading producer of pond-raised catfish.

The state abounds in historical landmarks and is the home of the Vicksburg National Military Park. Other National Park Service areas are Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, Tupelo National Battlefield, and part of Natchez Trace National Parkway. Pre–Civil War mansions are the special pride of Natchez, Oxford, Columbus, Vicksburg, and Jackson.

On Aug. 29, 2005, Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina, killing hundreds, mostly in Harrison County.

See more on Mississippi:
Encyclopedia: Mississippi
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
Monthly Temperature Extremes

All U.S. States: Geography & Climate
Printable Outline Maps
Record Highest Temperatures
Record Lowest Temperatures
Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations
Land and Water Area

All U.S. States: Population & Economy
Historical Population Statistics, 1790–Present
Per Capita Personal Income
Minimum Wage Rates
State Taxes
Federal Government Expenditure
Percent of People in Poverty
Births and Birth Rates
Homeownership
Percentage of Uninsured by State

All U.S. States: Society & Culture:
Most Livable States
Healthiest States
Most Dangerous States
Smartest States
Crime Index
Residency Requirements for Voting
Compulsory School Attendance Laws
Driving Laws
National Public Radio Stations