Mississippi Information

Here is some general information about Mississippi:

Recommended Reading

State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide

This guide contains information about the symbols, mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, and even license plates for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories.

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Name
Offical Name	State of Mississippi
Nicknames	The Magnolia State
Abbreviations	MS, US-MS
Origin of Name	"Great River" in Ojibwe Indian language

Government
Official Language	English
Admission to Union	10 December 1817
Time Zone	Central
Official Web Site	www.mississippi.gov

Population
Capital	Jackson
Largest City	Jackson
Population	2,844,658 (as of 2000 census)
Economy	Agriculture: cotton, corn, soybeans, rice, fishing Industry: oil, textiles, electronic equipment, transportation equipment

Geography
Area	48,434 square miles (125,443 km²)
Major Rivers	Big Black River, Pearl River, Yazoo River, Mississippi River
Major Lakes	Arkabutla Lake, Grenada Lake, Sardis Lake, Ross Barnett Reservoir
Highest Point	Woodall Mount - 806 feet (246 meters)
Bordering States	Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama
Bordering Country	None
Bordering Body of Water	Gulf of Mexico

Symbols
Flag
Motto	"Virtute et Armis" - By Valor and Arms
Song	Go, Mississippi
Patron Saint	Our Lady of Sorrows
Land Mammals	Red Fox, White-tailed Deer
Water Mammal	Bottlenose Dolphin
Bird	Mockingbird
Waterfowl	Wood Duck
Insect	Honeybee
Butterfly	Spicebush Swallowtail
Fish	Largemouth Bass
Shell	Oyster
Fossil	Zygorhiza Kochii
Flower	Magnolia
Wildflower	Coreopsis
Tree	Magnolia
Beverage	Milk
Stone	Petrified Wood
Soil	Natchez
Dance	Square Dance