Geography And Climate Of Mississippi
Bordered by Tennessee, Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico, the Magnolia State, Mississippi, is named for its eponymous river that separates the state from Louisiana and Arkansas. Heavily forested, the state is a lush and leafy region of the U.S. with over half of its area covered by wild trees such as elm, pine, cottonwood, oak, hickory and tupelo. A humid subtropical climate keeps Mississippi’s winter cool and rainy, but its summers hot and muggy. The state’s annual rainfall depends on the region, but thunderstorms are very common, with about 50 inches in the north and 61 inches near the Gulf.
Mississippi is a very flat state, with the lowest point at sea level along the Gulf coast and the highest point at Woodall Mountain in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains. These low hills are part of the Coastal Plain composition, while the northern regions of the state, including the Mississippi Delta, have very fertile soil, which led to the state’s role as an agricultural powerhouse in the 1800s. This rich soil comes from the silt deposited by the Mississippi River’s floodwaters, which occurs from December through the spring.
The name Mississippi comes from a Native American word for Great River. Big Black River, the Yazoo River and the Pearl River are just a few of Mississippi’s numerous rivers and streams. Ross Barnett Reservoir, Sardis Lake, Arkabutla Lake and Grenada Lake are the state’s major lakes. Sandy beaches and warm temperatures characterize the Gulf coast, which spans 90 miles along the southern border of Mississippi. Large bays, such as the ones at Bay St. Louis and Biloxi, sit along the coastline, while several small islands, including Deer Island, Ship Island and Cat Island are scattered close enough to the shore.
Late summer and fall are considered hurricane season and the state has been deeply affected by disastrous hurricanes that move north from the Gulf of Mexico. Tornadoes in the northern area of the state have also caused damage. Furthermore, flooding is an important part of Mississippi’s history, from their affect during the Civil War to the Great Flood of 1927, which devastated property, crops and stock.
History Of Mississippi
Paleo-Indians originally inhabited the area referred as the South, whose descendants evolved into the Chickasaw and Choctaw Native American tribes of the Mississippian culture. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto became the first to pass through Mississippi in 1540 during a European expedition, while Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville was the first to settle at what is now known as Ocean Springs in 1699. After the reorganization of territory and purchasing of land, Mississippi was admitted as a state in 1817.
Before the Civil War, Mississippi was one of the nation’s richest states due to fertile soil and high cotton prices that led to a plantation economy. Planters relied on slave labor, while a disparity in wealth among whites were part of the political agenda to secede from the Union. After their defeat in the Civil War, around 90 percent of Mississippi’s land was still frontier, attracting tens of thousands of migrants to the area for farming. However, agricultural depression lowered prices, forcing many African-American to sell their newly acquired land.
The passing of the Jim Crow laws in the early 1900s and the recreation of a new constitution disfranchising African-Americans and poor whites created an inequality crisis that would not be reversed until the 1960s. In the meantime, African-Americans migrated in record numbers to northern cities such as Chicago, New York, Detroit, St. Louis and Philadelphia to look for employment. Nearly half of a million people left Mississippi between the Great Depression and the 1970s. As the Civil Rights Movement brought racism and segregation to the nation’s attention, Mississippi garnered a reputation for being a reactionary state due to the vehement terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan and the resistance of white politicians.
Mississippi has a long tradition of music and literature. Jazz, blues, R&B, rock and roll, gospel and country music were either invented or further developed by musicians from Mississippi, particularly in the Delta region of the state. Nobel Prize-winner William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Richard Wright, Alice Walker and Eudora Welty all hail from Mississippi.
Two major hurricanes have ravaged the Gulf Coast in the past 50 years. Hurricane Camille hit the coast in 1969, killing 248 people and causing $1.5 billion in damages. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina inundated the region with massive rainfall and violent winds. Katrina, one of the nation's largest natural disasters, killed 1,836 and swept away another 705 missing persons. The category five storm caused $81.2 billion in damages and obliterated many of the Gulf's scenic beachside towns.
Demographics Of Mississippi
The estimated population for the state of Mississippi is 2,921,088. The state has 82 counties.
Given its antebellum history, it is no surprise that Mississippi’s population is approximately 37 percent African-American, the largest proportion in any U.S. state. Other significant minority groups include French Creoles, who are mainly concentrated on the Gulf Coast and Choctaw Native Americans in Neshoba County.
Economy Of Mississippi
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Mississippi’s total state product was $84 billion in 2006. Lumber, fishing and agriculture are some of the state’s top industries. In 2007, Mississippi was ranked as the poorest state in the country. It has the lowest per capita income of any state at $26,908 as well as the lowest living costs.
In 1990, the state legalized gambling along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast to help revive the economy. Since Hurricane Katrina, the casinos, along with other sources of industry, are in the process of rebuilding and expansion.
Mississippi Law And Government
Mississippi’s current governor is Republican Haley Barbour, who is serving a four-year office term, while there are 52 senators and 122 representatives in the state legislature. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, both Republicans, hold the two U.S. Senate seats for Mississippi, with four congressional representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives. The state is one of five states that elect state representatives and officials during odd numbered years.
Historically, Mississippi has supported the Democratic Party, but the term has changed since the 1960s. During the Civil Rights Movement, activists registered 80,000 African-American voters in the state as Democrats to challenge the incumbent all-white Mississippi government.
Socially, Mississippi is a conservative state with strong religious values influence political perspective. Liquor sales are banned on Sunday, while many cities and counties are dry, or only sell beer. Mississippi has also passed laws banning same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. Conversely, Mississippi has decriminalized marijuana possession and has elected more African-American officials than any other state.
Mississippi Transportation
Mississippi has 14 main U.S. Routes, with Interstate 10 running through the southern part of the state, while Interstate 55 runs through the entire state.
The Jackson-Evers International Airport has daily flights from the city’s capital, while the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport serves flights to and from the Gulf Coast area. Five other airports serve regional areas in Mississippi on commuter aircraft to Memphis or Atlanta airports.
Find out more information at the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Major Cities And Towns Of Mississippi
The capital of Mississippi is Jackson, with an estimated population of 176,614 as of 2006, is Mississippi’s largest city. Nicknamed the City of Soul, Jackson is famous for music, specifically R&B, jazz, blues and gospel genres. Currently, Jackson’s downtown is undergoing a massive redevelopment project.
Gulfport and Biloxi, with populations of 72,464 and 50,209 respectively, are seaside cities located next to the Gulf Coast. In 2005, the harrowing effects of Hurricane Katrina annihilated both cities, with powerful winds causing a storm surge over 28 feet in certain parts. The Gulf Coast area is presently under reconstruction.
Mississippi Educational System
In 2004, the American Legislative Exchange Council ranked Mississippi last among all 50 states in academic achievement. Due to the poor public education system, over 45,000 students attend private schools.
There are several groups of community colleges located across the state. Private postsecondary educational institutions include Mississippi State University, the largest in the state, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Mississippi, otherwise known as Ole Miss. All three have active Greek communities and a strong football tradition. Learn more at the Mississippi Department of Education.
Mississippi Sports Teams And Recreational Activities
While there are no major league sport franchises in Mississippi, there are an assortment of minor league ones. The Mississippi Sea Wolves ice hockey team plays in Biloxi, but was on hiatus for two years due to damage from Hurricane Katrina, while the Mississippi RiverKings, also an ice hockey team, play in Southaven. Pearl is the home of the Mississippi Braves, an AA minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, whereas indoor football team Mississippi Mudcats plays in Tupelo.
The many major rivers, lakes and streams that flow through the state have led to fishing as one of Mississippi’s pastimes. Catfish in particular are plentiful. The heavily forested scenery also makes Mississippi a great camping location.
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