Mississippi - State Symbols, Facts, Photos, Visitor Info

"But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above... let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God."

(1776)

Patriot

Joseph Storey

"Christianity becomes not merely an auxiliary, but a guide, to the law of nature; establishing its conclusions, removing its doubts, and evaluating its precepts."

(Harvard Law School Founder)

Supreme Court
1811-1845

Fisher Aimes

“Should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure, its examples, captivating and noble. In no book is there so good English, so pure and so elegant; and by teaching all the same book, they will speak alike, and the Bible will justly remain the standard of language as well as of faith.”

Author of First Amendment

Patrick Henry

"Whether this [new government] will prove a blessing or a curse will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us."

Patriot

Entered the Union: Dec. 10, 1817 (20)	Capital: Jackson
Origin of Name: From an Indian word meaning “Father of Waters”
State Nicknames: Magnolia State
State Motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
State Bird: Mockingbird	State Tree: Magnolia
State Flower: Magnolia	State Mammal: White-tailed Deer
State Waterfowl: Wood Duck	State Song: “Go, Mississippi"
National Forests: 3 • State Parks: 24
Famous for: Mississippi River Boats, pre-Civil War mansions
Famous Mississippians: Bo Diddley (guitarist), William Faulkner • John Grisham (novelists), Jim Henson (puppeteer), James Earl Jones (actor), B.B. King (blues guitarist), Brett Favre, • Steve McNair • Walter Payton • Jerry Rice (football), Elvis Presley (singer, actor), Jimmy Buffett • Jimmie Rodgers • Tammy Wynett (singers) Tennessee Williams (playwright), Oprah Winfrey (TV host)
Native Animals and Birds: Click on photos of the animals and birds on this page to find out more about them and to hear the sounds they make.

State Fair: Jackson












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Mississippi National Forests

Mississippi State Parks

Mississippi Historic Sites

Mississippi Attractions

Fishing in Mississippi

Hunting in Mississippi

Mississippi Photo Gallery

Mississippi Butterfly Gallery

Listen to Mockingbird Song

Mississippi Homeschooling

Mississippi Resorts

Mississippi RV Parks

Mississippi Hotels & Reviews

Mississippi Restaurants & Reviews

Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, discovered the Mississippi River in 1540. The region was later claimed by France. In 1699, a French group established the first permanent settlement near present-day Ocean Springs. Great Britain took over the area in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars, ceding it to the U.S. in 1783 after the Revolution. Spain did not relinquish its claims until 1798, and in 1810 the U.S. annexed West Florida from Spain, including what is now southern Mississippi.

The Mississippi River is the largest in the United States and is the nation's chief waterway. Its nickname is Old Man River.

In 1902 while on a hunting expedition in Sharkey County, President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt refused to shoot an exhausted and possibly lame bear. News of this spread across the country, and a New York merchant capitalized on this publicity by creating a stuffed bear called "Teddy's Bear."

Natchez was settled by the French in 1716 and is the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River. Natchez once had 500 millionaires, more than any other city except New York City. Natchez now has more than 500 buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Nearly 60% of Mississippi is covered by forests, and more than 100 species of trees are found in the state.

Mississippi has a larger percentage of black residents than any other state.

Mississippi is the world's leading producer of pond-raised catfish and is the nation's second leading producer of cotton.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast, from Biloxi to Henderson Point, is the largest and longest man-made beach in the world.

The world's only cactus plantation is located in Edwards with more than 3,000 varieties of cacti.

Mississippi has more tree farms than any other state.

Mississippi has more churches per capita than any other state.

The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the Blues, which preceded the birth of Jazz, the only other original American art form.

Since 1979, the only place in the U.S. to see the International Ballet Competition has been in Mississippi.

H.A. Cole in Jackson, MS, developed the cleaning product Pine-Sol.

The 4-H Club began in Holmes County in 1907.

On April 25, 1866, women in Columbus decorated the graves of Confederate and Union soldiers in Friendship Cemetery. This gesture became known as Decoration Day, the beginning of what we observe as Memorial Day.

Hat Maker John B. Stetson learned and practiced hat making in Dunn's Falls.

The International Checkers Hall of Fame is in Petal.

Captain Issac Ross of Lorman freed his slaves in 1834 and arranged for their passage to the west coast of Africa. They founded the country of Liberia.

The Natchez Trace Parkway extends from Natchez to just south of Nashville, Tennessee. The Trace began as an Indian trail more than 8,000 years ago.

In 1894, Coca-Cola was first bottled by Joseph A. Biedenharn in Vicksburg.

Mississippi's Ethnic Roots: African 28.3%, American 14%, Irish 6.9%, English 6.1%, German 4.5%

Religion in Mississippi: 86.7% Christian (82% Protestant, 4.7% Catholic), 10.8% No Religion, 2% Other Religions, 0.5% LDS

Belzoni is the Catfish Capital of the World. Approximately 70 percent of the nation's farm-raised catfish comes from Mississippi.

Peavey Electronics, in Meridian, is the world's largest manufacturer of musical amplification equipment.

April Fool's Day

April 1
April Fool's Day
is celebrated in various countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes or sending someone on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.
Read more in our forum.

Arbor Day

April 26, 2013
Arbor Day is a national holiday enacted in 1872 to encourage people to plant trees and appreciate all the things trees give us.

National Day of Prayer

May 2, 2013
National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting all Americans to pray for our nation. It as created in 1952 by Congress and Pres. Harry S. Truman.
Read more in our forum.

Mothers Day

May 12, 2013
is Mother's Day! It is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in May to honor mothers and motherhood. In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson made this an official holiday in the USA.
Read more in our forum.

Armed Forces Day

May 18, 2013
Armed Forces Day
is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who serve in the five military branches of the United States' armed forces.
Read more in our forum.

Pentecost

May 19, 2013
Pentecost
is the day the Christian church was born. On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, he sent the Holy Spirit to fill his disciples with the empowerment of God's presence.
Read more in our forum.

Memorial Day