What Mississippi is known for

Mississippi, also referred to as the "Magnolia State," became the twentieth state in the United States in 1817. The general location of Mississippi is in the southern part of America, sitting along the south coast in the Gulf of Mexico. The state is commonly known for the famous Mississippi River that runs along the west border of the state. The name Mississippi comes from a Native American word that means "father of waters" or "great waters," originally given to the Mississippi River. The land's first inhabitants were the Native Americans, though their population in the area has diminished ever since it was discovered by foreign explorers and European settlers.[4] The current population of Mississippi is now 2,976,149 people.[1] The state is known for its diversity and thriving southern culture. The most well-known city is Jackson, which is also the state capital.[3]

Jackson, Mississippi, is located at the junction of two major interstates, interstate 20 and 55. The city offers places to see and visit, including museums that focus on the history of civil rights, African American culture, and natural sciences and art. Jackson Zoo is another attraction that is primarily a big hit with families. Other family activities in the city include the Children's Museum and the Petrified Forest. Depending on the time of year, it's possible to run into a few festivals in town, like the Mississippi Blues Marathon, Rhythm and Blues Festival, Greek Fest, and the Celtic Fest.[3]

The Gulf of Mississippi is a popular place for tourists to visit, especially the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The gulf offers white sand beaches, though most of the seashore is submerged. The area provides easy access to recreational activities such as camping, hiking trails, old forts, kayaking, and snorkeling. Another popular coastal area is Ocean Springs that has become a place for artists, craftspeople, and shops. Historic churches from the 1800s are located around the city. Other tourist attractions include Tupelo Automobile Museum, USS Cairo Museum at Vicksburg National Military Park, The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, and the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum.[3]

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, where his childhood home has been preserved for fans to visit. It is said that Elvis gained his love for music as a young boy listening to gospel music in church. The chapel he attended in his youth has since been relocated to the same property as his home.[3] It is recommended to visit the state March through May or September through November when the temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold. The middle of the summers have extremes in high temperatures and humidity, while the winters can become very cold.[5]

Mississippi is one of the most culturally diverse states with a high population of African Americans, which makes up 37.8% of the population. The White population sits at 59.1%, and Hispanics make up 3.4%.[1] The state is racially diverse and religiously diverse as well, with 83% of the population identifying with Christian-based faiths.[6] Mississippi is one of a few states in America that are a part of the bible belt, a region with a high density of very religious people. The most prominent religion in the state is Baptists, followed by Methodists, African American Protestants, and other Evangelical groups. Religion has been at the forefront of the state's history, having a prominent role in missionaries, Native Americans, frontier churches, and proslavery arguments. Churches were often used as the meeting place for Civil Rights movements and are also attributed to inspiring a change of mindsets. Religion has also played a significant role in the music and literature produced from within the state.[2]

The economy of Mississippi has been seen to be at a significant disadvantage during the early 21st century due to having one of the lowest per capita gross products. The current economy is now driven by manufacturing and services such as retail, real estate, health, and social services. Historically the economy was driven primarily by the production of cotton but that has declined since the 20th century. The agricultural sector has decreased but continues through livestock, poultry, catfish from aquaculture, and other crops such as soybeans and sweet potatoes. During 1936, Mississippi developed a program to "balance agriculture with industry." But like many states during the 1900s, Mississippi suffered from declines in manufacturing. With all the swings within the economy, the emergence of casinos became a prominent source of revenue for the state. Taxes on gaming in casinos and sales, personal, corporate, and gasoline taxes have been the comprehensive primary source of income.[4]

Greenwood, Mississippi, used to be the cotton capital of the world and was the driving force of the Mississippi economy in previous centuries. The state is the birthplace of various famous individuals and events. Such people include Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, Ida B. Wells, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Buffett, and Hiram Revels, the first African American Senator. Interesting facts about the state are that rootbeer was invented in Biloxi; the first human lung and heart transplant happened at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; school children voted the magnolia as the state flower.[7]

Geography

Mississippi sits in a humid subtropical climate, which experiences abundant rainfall throughout the year. The state sits along the south coast connecting it to the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to a wet environment. Louisiana and Arkansas connect to the west side of Mississippi, with Tennessee at the top and Alabama along the east border. The land is relatively low-lying with some hills. The highest point only reaches 800 feet above sea level. The Coastal Plain region covers the entire state. The environment provides fertile agricultural soils and has ideal climates for growing crops that last virtually year-round towards the coast.[4]

The land gives Mississippi excellent conditions for plant life. Half of the state is forested with abundant amounts of healthy, thriving trees. Oaks and pine trees are plentiful in the southern reaches of the state while hardwood and fruit trees thrive in the north. Pecan and magnolia trees are some of the most prominent trees that can be found growing throughout the state. Magnolia has been given the title of the state tree. The land not only serves as a prime location for flora but also for fauna. Such wildlife found in the state includes white-tailed deer, armadillos, swamp rabbits, wild turkeys, mud turtles, and red-bellied woodpeckers. The gulf is stocked with shrimp, fish, oysters, and crawfish.[4]

Mississippi is covered in many rivers, bayous, and creeks. The most famous waterway in the state is the Mississippi River which runs along the west border of the state. The river is known for its size, which reaches over a mile wide in some parts. Many of flora and fauna in the state take up residence in or along the Mississippi River. The state believed they understood and had the river under control when the most disastrous flood in the lower Mississippi Valley happened in 1927. Roads, rails, and telephone communications were destroyed and lost when 23,000 square miles of land flooded. Now the river engineers study the river's hydrology closely and take precautions to prevent such an event from occurring again. however, another of the enormous floods occurred in 1993 when rainfall continued to be persistent. Even all the dams and reservoirs couldn't stop the flooding.[4]

Summers in Mississippi are usually warm with temperatures in the low 90s (Fahrenheit) throughout July and August. The winter average temperatures range from 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, typically achieved in January. Precipitation levels reach an average of 50 inches per year. The state is subject to tropical cyclones during the hurricane season between June to October. Gulfport and Biloxi suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which holds records as one of the strongest Atlantic storms.[4] It's reported the state suffered near-total devastation from the storm. The storm maintained high speeds, even causing severe damage in parts of the state that aren't close to the coast, such as Mendenhall, Jackson, and Magee.[8]

History

The first inhibitors of the Mississippian land consisted of three major Native American tribes; the Choctaw, Natchez, and Chickasaw tribes. The Natchez tribe went extinct during a war with the French Garrison at what is now the city of Natchez. The Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes were removed from their homeland to the Oklahoma Region in the 1830s during what is known as the Trail of Tears. The first foreign encounter with the land occurred in 1540 by Hernando de Soto, who continued after he found no gold or silver in the ground. 130 years later, Pierre le Moyne d'Iberville, a French explorer, established France's land claim after realizing the Mississippi River's strategic importance. France gave up possession of the land to Great Britain after the French and Indian War in 1763. Later after the American Revolution, Mississippi gained its statehood on December 10, 1817. During the Civil War, Mississippi ended up seceding from the Union in 1861, which in turn caused much suffering and devastation in the land and among its residents. As a result, the end of the war only brought economic ruin, making the reconstruction period more difficult. Former slaveholders and slaves struggled to find equal ground in politics and the economy. Slavery ended with the Civil War, but segregation only intensified. The white politicians created a constitution that created a system of racial segregation, making it so black people were put in a position of dependency.[4]

The bitter feelings between the two races didn't diffuse until the first World War, when such feelings were absorbed by feelings of patriotism. During this time of World Wars, Mississippi took hard hits from the war including agricultural depression, the Mississippi River Flood of 1927, and the Great Depression of the 1930s. After these events, racial segregation continued and intensified during the Civil Rights movement. In 1955, a black boy, Emmett Till, was brutally abused, lynched, murdered, and dumped in a river by Bryant and Milam in Mississippi. The murder of Emmett sparked the demand for justice, especially after the unfair trial that let the two men walk free.[9] Another serious incident during the movement happened when members of the Ku Klux Klan murdered three civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Since the Civil Rights movements, Mississippi has now become desegrated, and racial hate has decreased dramatically.[4]

Mississippi has continued to struggle with its economy and is currently seen as disadvantaged economically, with its per capita gross being one of the lowest in the nation. The state relies heavily on manufacturing and services, retail trade, health, and social services to promote the state's economy. The state's primary and secondary public school systems have continued to be ranked low in most measurable standards. However, during the nation's early years, Mississippi had an outstanding higher education through Jefferson College, which didn't survive the American Civil War. The state has become renowned for its work and advancements in organ transplants. Mississippi was where the first human heart and lung transplants happened.[4]