The southern state of Mississippi gets its name
from the famous Mississippi River, which flows along its western
boundary. The state capital and largest city is Jackson and
other major cities include Tupelo, Vicksburg, Gulfport,
Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Meridian, Southaven, Greenville, Clinton,
and Olive Branch. Mississippi is the 32nd largest state in area
and the 31st most populated in America with about three million
people.
Mississippi is a heavily-forested state and also
contains some major rivers, lakes, bays, and lowlands. Part of
the state’s southern border lies on the Gulf of Mexico. There
are some great outdoor areas to enjoy and some of the best of
these include the Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site,
the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the Natchez National
Historical Park, the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, the
Natchez Trace Parkway, the Tupelo National Battlefield, and the
Vicksburg National Military Park and Cemetery.
The weather is pretty cooperative in
Mississippi, allowing you to spend some quality time outdoors as
the summers are generally long and hot while the winters are
short and quite mild. The region was inhabited
thousands of years ago by Native Americans and the first
Europeans discovered it in 1540, but didn’t settle there until
1699. The land was ruled throughout the years by the British,
French, and Spanish, and became a part of the USA after the
American Revolution. There is still a sizable French Creole
population near the Gulf coast.
Getting in and around the state to see the
countryside and sites is quite easy due to the number of
interstates and main U.S. routes. You can also get there by
train as the Amtrak service stops in places such as Meridian,
Laurel, Hattiesburg, Picayune, and Jackson. If you’d prefer to
fly in, you can land at the main airports in Gulfport/Biloxi,
Jackson, Bay St. Louis, and Pascagoula. There are also dozens of
smaller airports scattered around the state.
Culturally, Mississippi is well known for its
love of music and literature as well as other art forms. The USA
International Ballet Competition takes place in Jackson every
four years and it attracts some of the most talented young
ballet dancers on the planet. The Magnolia Independent Film
Festival, which is held in Starkville is also very popular ever
year.
The area is pretty significant when it comes to
the development of music such as the blues, jazz, and countr.
And of course, the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley was born
in Tupelo. There are quite a few historic sites to visit when it
comes to music, especially in Clarksdale. These include the
Riverside Hotel, the Delta Blues Museum, and clubs such as
Madidi and Ground Zero.
Although there aren’t any major league pro
sports in the state, there’s a few minor-league pro teams to
check out in baseball, hockey, soccer, and basketball.
The local cuisine in Mississippi is excellent as
it features traditional southern dishes along with seafood and
Creole plates down near the Gulf of Mexico. International
restaurants can also be found throughout the state.
Accommodations are easy to find as there are motels, hotels, and
lodges in all price ranges.
The towns and cities of Mississippi offer a
great opportunity to view the way of life in the southern USA
and there are plenty of historical sites and outdoor activities
to keep you hopping.
About Mississippi