Mississippi
Mississippi is located in the South of the United States and on December 10, 1817 became the twentieth state to enter the Union. Mississippi was once a member of the Confederate States of America. The capital of Mississippi is Jackson which is also its largest city. The current governor of Mississippi is Tate Reeves, a Republican. In 2011, Mississippi was ranked the third most obese state.
| Capital | Jackson |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Magnolia State |
| Official Language | English |
| Governor | Tate Reeves, R |
| Senator | Cindy Hyde-Smith, R (202) 224-5054 [{{{s1email}}}] |
| Senator | Roger Wicker, R (202) 224-6253 Contact |
| Population | 2,980,000 (2020) |
| Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | December 10, 1817 (20th) |
|
Motto: "Virtute et armis" (By valor and arms) |
The state Constitution of Mississippi, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. It says:
- We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking his blessing on our work, do ordain and establish this constitution.
Elected Officials
Federal
- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R)
- Sen. Roger Wicker (R)
- Rep. Trent Kelly [R, MSâ01]
- Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MSâ02]
- Rep. Michael Guest [R, MSâ03]
- Rep. Mike Ezzel [R, MSâ04]
Statewide
- Governor Tate Reeves (R)
- Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R)
- Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R)
- Secretary of State Michael D. Watson, Jr. (R)
- State Auditor Shad White (R)
- State Treasurer David McRae (R)
Economy
Although Mississippi's economy has traditionally been heavily agriculture-based, the state has experienced some industrial growth in recent years. The economy near the southern coastline of the state was severely disrupted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.[1] Mississippi is currently the most impoverished state in the Union, with 20% of the populace under the poverty line and a $36,000 median salary.[2]
Higher Education
Mississippi's public universities include:
- Alcorn State University (an HBCU)
- Delta State University
- Jackson State University (an HBCU)
- Mississippi State University (MSU)
- Mississippi University for Women (now a co-ed university)
- Mississippi Valley State University (an HBCU)
- University of Mississippi (commonly called Ole Miss, also has a law and medical school)
- University of Southern Mississippi
Private universities include:
- Belhaven College (affiliated with the conservative Presbyterian Church (PCA))
- Blue Mountain College
- Millsaps College
- Mississippi College
- Rust College
- Tougaloo College
- William Carey University
Notable people from Mississippi
- Roscoe Conkling Simmons, lifelong black GOP leader from Greenview, Missisippi
- Perry Wilbon Howard, II, Republican political leader who led the state's "black and tan" delegation in 1952 supporting Robert Taft[3]
- Ellis Bodron, member of both houses of the Mississippi state legislature from 1948 to 1984; lost U. S. House race in 1972 to Republican Thad Cochran.
- Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre is from Kiln.
- Kirk Fordice, Mississippi's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, 1992-2000
- Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate general, was from Mississippi.
- Muppets creator Jim Henson was born in Greenville.
- Erle Johnston, former director of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, journalist, and mayor of Forest, Mississippi
- Actor James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla.
- Former United States Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott represented Mississippi in the Senate from 1989 to 2007.
- James Meredith made headlines as the first African-American student at the University of Mississippi in 1962.
- H. L. Merideth was a state representative from 1960 to 1992, who introduced riverboat gambling into the state.
- Elvis Presley, leading singer of 20th century, was born in Tupelo.
- Bill Waller was the governor from 1972 to 1976 and formerly a Hinds County district attorney
- Prentiss Walker, first Republican U.S. Representative from Mississippi, 1965 to 1967
- John Bell Williams was the governor from 1968 to 1972 and U.S. Representative from 1947-1968.
- Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko.
- Wirt Yerger, state Republican chairman, 1956-1966
References
- â http://www.usm.edu/afterkatrina/Baugh.html
- â https://money.cnn.com/2010/09/16/news/economy/Americas_wealthiest_states/index.htm
- â Apple, Jr., R.W. (August 31, 2004). THE REPUBLICANS: THE CONVENTION IN NEW YORK -- APPLE'S ALMANAC; Father of the Southern Strategy, at 76, Is Here for His 11th Convention. The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2021.