Portal:Mississippi

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The Mississippi Portal

Mississippi (/ˌmɪsəˈsɪpi/ ^ⓘ MISS-ə-SIH-pee) is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the southwest, and Arkansas to the northwest. Mississippi's western boundary is largely defined by the Mississippi River, or its historical course. Mississippi is the 32nd largest by area and 35th-most populous of the 50 U.S. states and has the lowest per-capita income. Jackson is both the state's capital and largest city. Greater Jackson is the state's most populous metropolitan area, with a population of 591,978 in 2020. Other major cities include Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Olive Branch, Tupelo, Meridian, and Greenville.

The state's history traces back to around 9500 BC with the arrival of Paleo-Indians, evolving through periods marked by the development of agricultural societies, rise of the Mound Builders, and flourishing of the Mississippian culture. European exploration began with the Spanish in the 16th century, followed by French colonization in the 17th century. Mississippi's strategic location along the Mississippi River made it a site of significant economic and strategic importance, especially during the era of cotton plantation agriculture, which led to its wealth pre-Civil War, but entrenched slavery and racial segregation. On December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state admitted to the Union. By 1860, Mississippi was the nation's top cotton-producing state and slaves accounted for 55% of the state population. Mississippi declared its secession from the Union on January 9, 1861, and was one of the seven original Confederate States, which constituted the largest slaveholding states in the nation. Following the Civil War, it was restored to the Union on February 23, 1870. Mississippi's political and social landscape was dramatically shaped by the Civil War, Reconstruction era, and civil rights movement, with the state playing a pivotal role in the struggle for civil rights. From the end of the Civil War to the 1960s, Mississippi was dominated by socially conservative and segregationist Democrats dedicated to upholding white supremacy.

Despite progress, Mississippi continues to grapple with challenges related to health, education, and economic development, often ranking low in national metrics for wealth, health care quality, and educational attainment. Economically, it relies on agriculture, manufacturing, and an increasing focus on tourism, highlighted by its casinos and historical sites. Mississippi produces more than half of the country's farm-raised catfish, and is a top producer of sweet potatoes, cotton and pulpwood. Others include advanced manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and health services. Mississippi is almost entirely within the east Gulf Coastal Plain, and generally consists of lowland plains and low hills. The northwest remainder of the state consists of the Mississippi Delta. Mississippi's highest point is Woodall Mountain at 807 feet (246 m) above sea level adjacent to the Cumberland Plateau; the lowest is the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi has a humid subtropical climate classification.

Mississippi is known for its deep religious roots, which play a central role in its residents' lives. The state ranks among the highest of U.S. statesinreligiosity. Mississippi is also known for being the state with the highest proportion of African-American residents. The state's governance structure is based on the traditional separation of powers, with political trends showing a strong alignment with conservative values. Mississippi boasts a rich cultural heritage, especially in music, being the birthplace of the blues and contributing significantly to the development of the music of the United States as a whole. (Full article...)

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Gerolmo began writing the script in 1986 after researching the 1964 murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. He and producer Frederick Zollo presented it to Orion Pictures, and the studio hired Parker to direct. The writer and director had disputes over the script, and Orion allowed Parker to make uncredited rewrites. The film was shot in a number of locations in Mississippi and Alabama, with principal photography from March to May 1988.

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  Image 1From left to right, Chief Wesley Johnson, Thomas B. Sullivan, Culberson Davis, James E. Arnold, and Emil John. (from Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians)
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  Image 2Biloxi streetcar, early 20th century (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 3Memorial "commemorating the service of the 1st and 3rd Mississippi infantry regiments, and all Mississippians of African Descent who participated in the Vicksburg Campaign" (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 4Before 1945, times were good when the price of cotton was above 20 cents. (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 5A proposed route for the de Soto Expedition, based on Charles M. Hudson map of 1997 (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 6A poster showing the members of the 1890 Mississippian state constitutional convention. The members were overwhelmingly white Democrats; the only black member was a man who was allowed into the convention for his willingness to support black disenfranchisement. (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 7Group of Mississippi Choctaw males in the late 50s or early 60s. Photograph by Bob Ferguson. (from Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians)
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  Image 8Map of Old Choctaw country in Mississippi before removal. (from Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians)
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  Image 9The legislature of the State of Mississippi in 1890 (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 10Newton Knight, Unionist leader of "The Free State of Jones" in Jones County, Mississippi (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 11Location of Mississippi Choctaw Indian Reservation (from Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians)
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  Image 12Holly Bluff site, located in Yazoo County, Mississippi (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 13A Choctaw family in traditional clothing, 1908 (from Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians)
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  Image 14Mississippi map from Indian Land Cessions in the United States (1899) by Charles C. Royce (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 15Confederate lines, Vicksburg, May 19, 1863. Shows assault by US 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 16Mt. Zion Church state history marker near Philadelphia, Mississippi (from Freedom Summer)
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  Image 17Battle of Brice's Crossroads (from History of Mississippi)
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  Image 18Winterville Mounds, near Greenville, Mississippi (from History of Mississippi)

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Old Vicksburg, Mississippi courthouse, circa 1860.

WikiProjects

Hello! As a past or current member of WikiProject Mississippi, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Mississippi, you are cordially invited to edit, assess, and improve our coverage of all things Mississippi on Wikipedia!

Regions: Golden Triangle - Mississippi Plain - Mississippi Delta - Mississippi Gulf Coast - Natchez District - Pine Belt - Tennessee Valley

Cities: Biloxi - Clarksdale - Clinton - Columbus - Greenville - Gulfport - Hattiesburg - Jackson - Meridian - Olive Branch - Pascagoula - Pearl - Ridgeland - Southaven - Starkville - Tupelo - Vicksburg

History: State of Mississippi

Geography: Rivers - Lakes - Mountains - National forests - Islands - Wilderness areas - Natural disasters - Parks - State Parks

Education: Elementary schools - Middle schools - High schools - UIL

People: Actors - Writers - Musicians - Native American Tribes

Industries: Agriculture - Oil

CDPs: Byram - Diamondhead - Kiln - Lyman - Pearlington - Saucier - Shoreline Park - West Hattiesburg

Metros: Gulfport‑Biloxi - Hattiesburg - Jackson - Memphis - Pascagoula

Statistics: Population

Lists: Mississippi-related lists

Categories

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Symbols of Mississippi

Nickname	The Magnolia State
Motto	Virtute et armis (Latin) transl. By Valor and Arms
Flower	Magnolia
Rock	Petrified wood
Toy	Teddy bear
Other	Mississippi Symbols for more

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Here are some tasks awaiting attention: Assess : Unknown-importance Mississippi articles Cleanup : Mississippi articles needing attention Featured article candidates : * No results were found. Featured list candidates : * No results were found. Featured sound candidates : * Project Content template contains the following errors: No content type parameters found Unable to generate results. See documentation for help Good article nominations : * Chapel Hart John S. McCain Sr. Geographical coordinates : Mississippi articles missing geocoordinate data Infobox : Mississippi articles needing infoboxes Map : Requested maps in Mississippi Photo : Requested photographs in Mississippi Stubs : Stub-Class Mississippi articles, Category:Mississippi stubs Unreferenced : Unreferenced Mississippi articles Other : Top Importance Stub Articles, Top Importance Start Class Articles

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