Mississippi
The Magnolia State
Climate
Warm and humid, with long hot summers and short mild winters. Summer highs reach about 92F (33C), with heavy rain and a risk of storms off the Gulf.
Main industries
Grows cotton, soybeans, and corn, and raises chickens and farm-raised catfish. Forestry and shipbuilding on the coast are important too.
Top places for tourists
The Mississippi Delta, home of blues music; the beaches and casinos of the Gulf Coast; and old riverside towns like Natchez and Vicksburg.
Places of interest
The Vicksburg battlefield from the Civil War, the birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, and the crossroads where blues music was born.
A little history
Mississippi became the 20th state in 1817. It grew cotton along the great river, and later became famous as the birthplace of the blues.
Fun fact
Mississippi is the birthplace of the blues, and the singer Elvis Presley was born in the town of Tupelo.