Mississippi
The Magnolia State
Quick Stats
Map
Seal & Motto
"Virtute et armis"
Additional Information
Latin for "By valor and arms."
Adopted 1894.
Population Growth
Overview
Mississippi, the 'Magnolia State,' is a land of profound cultural richness where the legendary Mississippi Delta gave birth to the blues and shaped American music forever. Its fertile river delta, Gulf Coast shores, and deep historical significance make it a unique cornerstone of Southern identity and resilience.
Historical Significance
Mississippi officially joined the Union on December 10, 1817, as the 20th state. Its history is both complex and transformative — from its role as a plantation economy, to its pivotal place in the Civil War at Vicksburg, to becoming the birthplace of the blues and a central stage of the American Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century.
Top Cities & Hubs
Jackson
Population: ~143,000The state capital and cultural heart of Mississippi, a major hub for government, healthcare, and media, and a city working to reclaim its role as a vibrant Southern center.
Gulfport
Population: ~72,000A major port city on the Gulf of Mexico and a regional tourism center, known for its beaches, growing casino industry, and status as the state's second-largest city.
Southaven
Population: ~54,000A rapidly growing suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, located in the DeSoto County corner of Mississippi, one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire Southeast.
Hattiesburg
Population: ~48,000Home to the University of Southern Mississippi, a vibrant college city that serves as the commercial and educational hub for pine belt Mississippi.
Biloxi
Population: ~46,000A storied Gulf Coast city famous for its white sand beaches, seafood culture, historic lighthouse, and a thriving casino resort industry that makes it Mississippi's top tourist destination.
Key Landmarks & Economy
Did You Know?
- Mississippi is the birthplace of the blues, a music genre born in the Delta cotton fields that became the foundation of all modern American popular music.
- The state is the nation's top producer of farm-raised catfish, with the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta region accounting for the vast majority of U.S. catfish production.
- The teddy bear was partly inspired in Mississippi — President Theodore Roosevelt famously refused to shoot a bear near Onward, MS in 1902, inspiring the first stuffed teddy bears.