Mississippi (State)

Mississippi is a state in the southern United States. Its name comes from the Mississippi River, which forms a natural border with neighboring Louisiana. It is also popularly known as the Magnolia State. Magnolias are plants known for their beautiful white flowers. Trees of this plant are quite common in the Mississippi landscape. Mississippi has a population of roughly three million. The capital of the state is Jackson. Jackson is also the only city with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

The Mississippi area is mostly flat plain. There are only a few hills in the northeast. Summers in Mississippi are often hot, but also rainy. Winters are fairly mild and dry with no snowfall. Another major river in the area is the Yazoo River, which joins the Mississippi near the city of Vicksburg. In the past, numerous paddle steamers sailed the Yazoo, transporting local trade goods like cotton to New Orleans and St. Louis.

Mississippi residents are mostly of Western European descent, but there is also a large community of African Americans. The indigenous people, who mainly include the Choctaw and Chickasaw, make up only a small part of the population. Most Christians in the area belong to the Baptist religious community. Mississippi is one of the poorest states in the USA. An important source of income in the area besides agriculture is gambling. Mississippi is known as the birthplace of many famous musicians, including the “King of Rock 'n' Roll” Elvis Presley.