Mississippi: Our State The Magnolia Sate Mississippi: Our State

Admission to Statehood: December 10, 1897 (20th State) Area: Area: 48,434 sq.mi (125,444 sq.km.), 32nd Land: 46,914 sq.mi. (121,507 sq.km.), 31st Water: 1,520 sq.mi. (3,937 sq.km.), 25th Coastline: 44 mi. (71 km.), 18th Shoreline: 359 mi. (578 km.), 22nd City: Jackson Nickname: The “Magnolia State” is named because of the abundance of magnolia flowers and trees in the state. The magnolia is the official state flower and the official state tree. Population (2013): 2,991,207; Rank: 31 of 50 FACTS ABOUT MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi’s State Flower and State Tree The Magnolia Choose a layout… Mississippi’s State Flower and State Tree

Mississippi Flag: The committee to design a State Flag was appointed by legislative action February 7, 1894, and provided that the flag reported by the committee should become the official flag. The committee recommended for the flag "one with width two-thirds of its length; with the union square, in width two-thirds of the width of the flag; the ground of the union to be red and a broad blue saltier thereon, bordered with white and emblazoned with thirteen (13) mullets or five-pointed stars, corresponding with the number of the original States of the Union; the field to be divided into three bars of equal width, the upper one blue, the center one white, and the lower one extending the whole length of the flag.

The Mockingbird The Mockingbird is Mississippi’s state bird. Found in all sections of Mississippi, the cheerful Mockingbird was selected as the official State Bird by the Women's Federated Clubs and by the State Legislature in 1944. The mockingbird can mimic the sounds of other birds and animals and can sing loudly for hours.

The Wood Duck is the state waterfowl for Mississippi. The Wood Duck was designated the state waterfowl of Mississippi in 1974. The State Water Mammal The Bottle nosed Dolphin is the state water Mammal for Mississippi. An act designating the Bottle nosed Dolphin, commonly called the Porpoise, as the state water mammal was approved in 1974. Commonly seen along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Bottle nosed Dolphins are intelligent and gregarious creatures and are often the subject of movies and TV shows.

The Largemouth Bass is the state fish for Mississippi. The Largemouth or Black Bass was designated the state fish of Mississippi in 1974. The State Insect The Honeybee is the state insect for Mississippi. The Honeybee was designated the state insect of Mississippi in 1980. The common Honeybee is one of the most celebrated insects throughout history due to the thick liquid they create-honey! Honey is harvested throughout Mississippi and is often sold at farmers markets and produce stands.

Famous Mississippian Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as “The King of Rock and Roll”. Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Timeline 1540 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto is the first European to visit the region. 1682 - Mississippi is part of Louisiana and under the control of France. 1699 - Frenchman Pierre d'Iberville builds Fort Maurepas, the first permanent settlement in Mississippi. 1798 - The Territory of Mississippi is established with Natchez as the capital. 1817 - The U.S. Congress makes Mississippi the 20th state. 1822 - Jackson becomes the capital. 1830 - The Choctaw give up their land in the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. They are forced to move to Indian Territory in the coming years. 1861 - Mississippi secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy. The Civil War begins. 1863 - The Battle of Vicksburg is fought. The Union wins and gains control of the Mississippi River. 1870 - Mississippi is readmitted into the Union. 1907 - Boll weevils appear and destroy much of the cotton crop 1969 - The segregation of public schools ends. 2005 - Hurricane Katrina strikes the coast causing severe damage.

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