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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Civic Brief • Us State

Mississippi

Mississippi is a state in the southern United States.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Mississippi is a state in the southern United States, known as the Magnolia State. It became the 20th state in 1817, with Jackson as its capital and largest city.

History

Mississippi was organized as a U.S. territory in 1798 and admitted to the Union in 1817. Its history includes Indigenous communities, European colonization, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and later civil rights activism.

Geography

Mississippi lies in the southeastern United States. Its western border is defined by the Mississippi River, and the state also borders the Gulf of Mexico along its southern edge. It is bordered by Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Culture and Economy

Mississippi is widely associated with the Magnolia State nickname and with the Mississippi Delta’s musical heritage, especially blues. Agriculture, forestry, and related industries have long been important parts of the state economy.

In short

  • Mississippi became the 20th U.S. state on December 10, 1817.
  • Jackson is both the capital and largest city.
  • The state is named after the Mississippi River, meaning “great river” in a Native American language.
  • The Mississippi River forms the western border; the Gulf of Mexico lies to the south.

Quick questions

What is Mississippi?
Mississippi is a state in the southern United States.
What is the capital of Mississippi?
Jackson is the capital of Mississippi.
When did Mississippi become a state?
Mississippi entered the Union on December 10, 1817.

Sources

  1. Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/place/Mississippi-state
    Supports: State identity, capital, borders, area, population, and admission to the Union.
  2. National Geographic Kidshttps://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/states/article/mississippi
    Supports: State nickname, name origin, and geographic borders.
  3. Fact Monsterhttps://www.factmonster.com/us/states/mississippi
    Supports: Territorial organization date, statehood date, constitution adoption, nickname, abbreviation, and motto.