Entered Union December 10, 1817 (20th state)
Mississippi (2,961,306), Jackson (153,705)
The limestone and granite capitol was originally completed in 1903 using the designs of Theodore C. Link. It is located on Mississippi Street at Congress Street. Interstate Highway 55 is eight blocks east of the capitol. The Capitol is designed in Beaux Arts style. The only major supporting structure is the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals building in Jackson. The state was officially created as the 20th state on December 10, 1817 from Native American lands, West Florida, and the Mississippi Territory. Natchez was the capital until 1821 when Jackson assumed the role. The state’s name comes from the river which is the Native American word meaning “great river.” Jackson is named for General Andrew Jackson leader at the Battle of New Orleans. Woodall Mountain in Tishomingo County is the highest point and the lowest point is at sea level at the Gulf of Mexico.
Mississippi government, in the Executive, consists of a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Agriculture Commissioner, and Insurance Commissioner. There are 52 Senators and 122 Representatives in the Legislative. Nine Supreme Court Justices serve Mississippi in the Judicial. Mississippi is located in the south central part of the United States on the Gulf of Mexico. The geographic center is in Leake County 8 miles west southwest of Carthage. The state is surrounded clockwise by Tennessee, Alabama, the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
The area is 48432 square miles. It is 32nd largest state in the country. It is the 34th most populated state in the country. It has a density of 61.1 persons per square mile making it 33rd in the country. Its major rivers are the Mississippi, the Pascagoula, the Pearl, the Yazoo, the Leaf, and the Big Black. Jackson is located in the southwest quarter of the state.
Click here to link to the Mississippi county slideshow
Click below to link to a Mississippi county page