Named for the Mississippi river which forms the state’s western boundary. According to the State of Mississippi’s “About Mississippi” page, the name means “Father of Waters,” roughly translated from Native American folklore. The translation comes from the Chippewa (or Ojibwa) words “mici zibi” meaning “great river” or “gathering in of all the waters” and the Algonquin word “Messipi.”
Historical Sites
Pre-Civil War mansions, Vicksburg National Military Park, Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield, Tupelo National Battlefield, and part of Natchez Trace National Parkway
Points of Interest
Bienville, Delta, Desoto, Holly Springs, Homochitto, and Tombigbee Nation Forests; Gulf Coast
Bordering States
Mississippi borders Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
Flag
Follow these links to read articles about Mississippi from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:
Mississippi Historical Society http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/mississippi-historical-society/18/ Here is the homepage for the Mississippi State Historical Society.
Here is the homepage for the Mississippi State Archives.
Mississippi State Parks http://www.ms.gov/ms_sub_sub_template.jsp?Category_ID=40 Here is the homepage for Mississippi State Parks.
Visit Mississippi.org http://www.visitmississippi.org/ Here is the official state tourism website for Mississippi.
Other State Links
50states.com: Mississippi http://www.50states.com/mississi.htm The site provides a wealth of information about Mississippi. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
Things To Do in Mississippi http://www.thingstodo.com/states/MS/index.htm ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Mississippi’s entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state’s interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
Roadside America: Mississippi Attractions http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ms.html Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of “weird sites along the highway” in Mississippi.
FedStats: MapStat: United States: Mississippi http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/28000.html Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on “economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more” in Mississippi.
The Mississippi state tree is the Magnolia, state bird is the Mockingbird, state stone is Petrified wood, state fish is the Largemouth o r black bass, state insect is the Honeybee, state shell is the Oyster shell, state water mammal is the Bottlenosed dolphin or porpoise, state fossil is the Prehistoric whale, state land mammal is the White-tailed deer, state waterfowl is the Wood duck, and the state beverage is Milk.
Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, discovered the Mississippi River in 1540. Spain did not relinquish its claims on the Mississippi region until 1798.
Although cotton is the most important crop in Mississippi, corn, peanuts, pecans, rice, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, soybeans, food grains, poultry, eggs, meat animals, dairy products, feed crops and horticultural crops are all important to the state’s economy.
Nearly 60% of Mississippi is covered by forests, and more than 100 species of trees are found in the state.
Some Famous People from this State
Elvis Presley (1935 – 1977), popular rock-and-roll singer.
Tennessee Williams (1911 – 1983), playwright, received Pulitzer prizes for A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Hiram R. Revels (1822 – 1901), clergyman, first African American to sit in the U.S. Senate (1870 – 1871).