100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Mississippi (MS) lies in the southern United States, the state is known for its rich musical history focused mainly on the blues. Agriculture is important to the state’s economy, with cotton as the most significant crop. The capital and largest city is Jackson. Mississippi was the first U.S. state to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution on January 7, 1918, which banned the production and the sale of alcohol.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Mississippi Abbreviation MS Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson (Population: 143 709) Current time 7:47 Time zone CST (UTC-6), state observes daylight saving time CDT (UTC-5) Population 2,961,306 (#34 most populous US state) Area 48,433.59 mi² (#32 largest US state) Admitted to the Union December 10, 1817 (#20 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Mississippi
The capital of Mississippi is Jackson, which was founded for this purpose in 1821. It was named in honor of the war hero from the Battle of New Orleans and later seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. Jackson became the capital in 1822.
🏙️ Largest City in Mississippi
The largest city in Mississippi is Jackson, with a total of 143,709 residents in 2023. The second most populous city is Gulfport with 72,823 people, and third is Southaven with a population of 56,851.
🕒 Time in Mississippi
The current time in Mississippi is 7:47. The entire state observes Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) and switches to daylight saving time from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Mississippi
According to 2023 data, Mississippi had a total of 2,961,306 inhabitants, making it the 34th most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Mississippi
The total area of Mississippi is 48,433.59 mi², of which 46,952.51 mi² is land and 1,521.24 mi² is water. Mississippi is the 32nd largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About Mississippi
🧩 Which States Border Mississippi
Mississippi borders four U.S. states. To the southwest is Louisiana, to the northwest Arkansas, to the north Tennessee, and to the east Alabama. It also has a 44.00 mi coastline along the Gulf of Mexico to the south.
📅 Date of Mississippi Statehood
Mississippi entered the Union on December 10, 1817 as the 20th state, preceded by the Mississippi Territory.
📛 Mississippi State Nickname
Mississippi is nicknamed “The Magnolia State” after the state’s official flower, the magnolia. The white and pink blossom is a traditional element on license plates of cars registered in Mississippi.
A commonly used nickname, “The Hospitality State,” points to the characteristic friendliness of Mississippi’s residents.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Mississippi
The highest point in Mississippi is Woodall Mountain at 807.00 ft, located on the northeastern edge of the state. The summit was named after Zephaniah Woodall, the sheriff of Tishomingo County, who purchased it along with the surrounding land in 1884.
🏞️ Rivers in Mississippi
The longest river in the state is the Mississippi River, with a total length of 2,340.08 mi. It is followed by the Tennessee River (651.82 mi), the Pearl River (444.28 mi), the Big Black River (329.33 mi), and the Hatchie River (237.99 mi).
🎓 Universities in Mississippi
The largest university is Mississippi State University, founded in 1878, with around 23,000 students. The second largest, University of Mississippi, has approximately 22,000 students, and about 13,500 attend the University of Southern Mississippi.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Mississippi
Mississippi is assigned the ZIP code range 386xx–397xx. You can read more in the article ZIP Codes in the USA, and you can find a ZIP code for any address on the USPS website.
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Weather in Mississippi
The best time to visit Mississippi is fall, when temperatures are more bearable than in summer and there are fewer rainy days.
Spring in Mississippi tends to be relatively warm and humid. In the largest city, Jackson, March usually brings 45 °F to 70 °F, and by May temperatures more often range from 63 °F to 82 °F. Heavy rainfall is common throughout spring, and Mississippi is also threatened by severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Summer in Mississippi is hot and rainy, with most days from June through August falling between 70 °F and 90 °F. High humidity can make it feel even warmer, and there is also a higher chance of storms and hurricanes in summer.
Fall in Mississippi brings cooler weather, with October temperatures around 57 °F to 66 °F. There are fewer rainy days than in summer, so September and October are the best months for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Winter in Mississippi is mild, with most January and February days ranging between 37 °F and 55 °F. Snow cover is rare in this state, although there are plenty of rainy days in winter.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Mississippi
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What to See in Mississippi
1️⃣ Tishomingo State Park
Tishomingo State Park lies at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northeastern Mississippi. The park is known for its sandstone formations, which are suitable for rock climbing. Several hiking trails wind through beautiful scenery, where you can see historic bridges and cabins, most of which were built during the Great Depression.
2️⃣ Natchez Trace Parkway Scenic Drive
Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444.00 mi scenic drive that connects the city of Natchez in Mississippi and Nashville in Tennessee. The route passes through forests, wetlands, and historic sites, tracing an ancient trade path used by Native Americans and settlers. In several places you will find overlooks or archaeologically interesting locations near the road, which are well worth a stop.
3️⃣ Elvis Presley Birthplace
Elvis Presley’s birthplace and museum are located in the city of Tupelo in the northeast of the state, where the famous singer was born in 1935. Visitors can tour the tiny house where Elvis grew up, along with a museum full of objects related to his life and music. The grounds include the Assemblies of God church, where Elvis Presley first sang gospel.
4️⃣ Biloxi Lighthouse
The lighthouse in the city of Biloxi on the Gulf of Mexico was first lit in 1848, which makes it one of the oldest cast-iron lighthouse towers in the United States. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and remains the main symbol of Biloxi to this day.
Over its long history it has survived a number of hurricanes, including the devastating Katrina in 2005. Visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy panoramic views of the entire gulf.
5️⃣ Stuckey’s Bridge
The old Stuckey’s Bridge from 1901 ranks among the most haunted places in all of Mississippi. According to legend, an inn owned by a gangster named Stuckey once stood nearby, where he robbed and murdered his guests. He then buried their bodies on the riverbank. The story claims Stuckey was caught after killing 20 people and was hanged from the bridge.
Stuckey now haunts anyone who tries to cross the bridge after dark. The bridge is a popular spot for ghost hunters.
6️⃣ USS Cairo Museum
The ironclad USS Cairo was built at the start of the American Civil War in 1861. The vessel served on the Union side, and in June 1862 it helped capture Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River. It did not remain in service for long, however, as it was sunk in December 1862 while clearing mines.
Its fate remained unknown for a long time. The wreck was not discovered until 1956, and today visitors can see it in a museum in the city of Vicksburg. The exhibit includes items found on the ship, including sailors’ personal belongings.
7️⃣ Windsor Ruins
This site listed on the National Register of Historic Places consists of 23 Corinthian columns, which are the remains of the largest antebellum residence. The mansion was part of a plantation and was built by enslaved people between 1859 and 1861 for Smith Coffee Daniell II, who had grown wealthy as a cotton planter.
The entire mansion burned down on February 17, 1890, and the only things left are the columns. The ruins are easy to reach and make a good short stop.
8️⃣ Vicksburg National Military Park
This military park preserves the site of the Siege of Vicksburg, one of the most important events of the American Civil War. The siege lasted from March 29 to July 4, 1863 and ended with the city’s surrender. Monuments in the park honor soldiers from both the Confederacy and the Union. One of the main exhibits is the reconstructed gunboat USS Cairo, which was sunk on December 12, 1862 on the Yazoo River.
9️⃣ Gulf Islands National Seashore
The protected Gulf Islands coastline includes several islands in the Gulf of Mexico that are a popular place to relax. The area offers several hiking trails, and conditions are excellent for kayaking and fishing. An interesting historic site is Fort Massachusetts, built between 1859 and 1866 to bolster defenses against potential threats in the period leading up to the Civil War.
🔟 Mississippi Petrified Forest
The Mississippi Petrified Forest is one of the few places in the United States where visitors can see petrified wood that is millions of years old. A hiking trail runs through the park and ends at a museum where visitors can learn more about the area’s geology.
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Largest Cities in Mississippi
The table lists the ten largest cities in Mississippi in 2023. The data source is the federal agency, the United States Census Bureau, whose main task is the census.
City County Population 1 Jackson Hinds, Madison, Rankin 143,709 Map of Jackson 2 Gulfport Harrison 72,823 Map of Gulfport 3 Southaven DeSoto 56,851 Map of Southaven 4 Hattiesburg Forrest, Lamar 48,414 Map of Hattiesburg 5 Biloxi Harrison 48,235 Map of Biloxi 6 Olive Branch DeSoto 47,029 Map of Olive Branch 7 Tupelo Lee 37,675 Map of Tupelo 8 Meridian Lauderdale 33,551 Map of Meridian 9 Pearl Rankin 28,117 Map of Pearl 10 Madison Madison 27,987 Map of Madison -
Sports Teams in Mississippi
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
No team from Mississippi plays in the NHL.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
There is no NFL team from Mississippi.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Mississippi has no representation in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There is no team in Mississippi that plays in MLB.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
There is no MLS team from Mississippi.
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Mississippi State Symbols
The following symbols are only a selection of the official ones defined by law.
Flag of Mississippi
The current flag has been in use since January 11, 2021, and its central motif is a white magnolia blossom on a dark blue field. The flower is surrounded by 20 white stars, a reminder that Mississippi became the 20th member of the Union. The gold emblem above the magnolia alludes to Native Americans, and “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the USA. The flag is framed by a red and a gold stripe on both sides. The old Mississippi flag, which featured a Confederate symbol, was rejected in a 2020 referendum.
Great Seal of Mississippi
The Great Seal has been used in its current form since July 1, 2014. The main motif is an eagle with outstretched wings, bearing a shield with stars and stripes on its chest. In its talons the eagle holds an olive branch as a symbol of peace and a quiver of arrows, representing the determination to wage war.
State Song
The official state song since 1962 is Go, Mississippi, written by composer and music teacher William Houston Davis. The lyrics were written specifically for the state of Mississippi, celebrating its people and symbolizing pride and loyalty.
State Flower
Since 1900 the official flower of Mississippi has been the magnolia, which in the United States symbolizes stability.
State Bird
Mississippi’s bird symbol since 1944 is the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), found in all parts of the state.
State Fish
A law passed in 1974 added the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to the list of state symbols, a species commonly found in the Mississippi River.
State Mammal
Mississippi has two symbols, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The deer is abundant across the state and is a popular game animal, added to the symbols in 1974. The fox became a symbol in 1997 and can also be seen in local forests.
State Marine Mammal
The state marine mammal of Mississippi since 1974 is the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), which is widespread in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
State Reptile
The state reptile since 1987 is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), which lives in Mississippi’s swamps and wetlands. The alligator population in this state is among the largest in the USA.
State Insect
Since 1980 the symbol of Mississippi has been the honey bee, considered a representation of diligence and cooperation. It was chosen as a form of support for the important agricultural sector.
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