Mississippi Details

Mississippi is a state located in the Southern United States. It is bordered on the north by Tennessee, on the east by Alabama, on the south by Louisiana and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the west by Louisiana and Arkansas.

The name Mississippi is taken from an Indian word misi-ziibi which means “father of waters”. It is known for its various water forms such as rivers and lakes. Major rivers include Mississippi River, the big Black River, the Pearl River, the Yazoo, the Pascagola and the Tombigbee. Its major lakes include Ross Barnett Reservoir, Arkabutla Lake, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake.

According to historians, Mississippi was first explored for Spain by Hernando De Soto sometime in 1540. This state was later claimed by France who sent its first settlers near present-day Ocean Springs in 1699. Mississippi was later ceded to the US in 1783 right after the French-Indian war.

The Mississippi becomes a part of the new United States after the American Revolution and the territory was organized on April 7, 1798 from territory ceded by Georgia and South Carolina. Mississippi became the 20th member of the union in December 10, 1817.

Mississippi’s economy is largely supported by its agriculture and industrial industries. Cotton is considered the king of its largely agrarian economy. Other major products include soybeans, corn, peanuts, pecans, rice, sugar cane and sweet potatoes. There are also agriculture products such as poultry, eggs, meat animals, dairy products, feed crops, and horticultural crops. Mississippi’s largest cottonwood plantation can be found in the Issaquena County.

This state, also called the Magnolia State, is rich in historical landmarks. It is home of the Vikburg National Military Park. It is also home to National Park Service areas such as 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.

Mississippi has a total land area of 46,907 square miles (121,489 sq km). Its people are called Mississippian.