Towns and Cities in Mississippi, USA

Mississippi

Mississippi is a southern state bordered by Tennessee in the north, Alabama in the east, the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana in the south, and Louisiana and Arkansas in the west. The Mississippi River forms its western border. It is the 32nd largest and 34th most populous of the 50 U.S. states, with a population of 2,976,149 (in 2019). Its capital and biggest city is Jackson and its governor is Tate Reeves.

The state has received the nickname of "Magnolia State" in honor of the magnolia trees that grow there, but its name "Mississipi" meaning "big river" comes from the Ojibwe language.

People have lived on the land for at least 12,000 years. Native Americans have lived on the land for thousands of years. On December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state admitted to the Union. By 1860, Mississipi was the nation's top cotton-producing state and enslaved persons accounted for 55% of the state population.

Mississippi has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot and humid summers, and short, mild winters. Temperatures average about 81°F (27°C) in July and about 42°F (6°C) in January. Forests cover about 65 percent of the state, and so are one of its major resources.

While Mississippi has been especially known for its music and literature, (Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo), it is also known for the USA International Ballet Competition, which is held every four years. This ballet competition attracts the most talented young dancers from around the world, and The Magnolia Independent Film Festival is the first and oldest in the state.