Mississippi State
Information
Mississippi State Symbols, Facts & Info
The United States of America accepted Mississippi as the 20th state to enter the union. Below, you will find the official state symbols and interesting facts about Mississippi.
State Name:
Mississippi
Abbreviation:
MS
Capital:
Jackson
Date of Statehood:
December 10, 1817
Population:
2,921,088 (US Census 2005 estimate)
Primary Agriculture:
Most of Mississippi's acreage is devoted to soybeans but cotton is the largest cash crop. Mississippi ranks third in the nation in cotton production. The state's farmlands yield important harvests of corn, peanuts, pecans, rice, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and food grains as well as poultry, eggs, meat animals, dairy products, feed crops, and horticultural crops.
Primary Industry:
Mississippi remains the world's leading producer of pond-raised catfish. Mississippi boasts 100,000 of the 140,000 total acres nationwide of catfish ponds.
Nickname:
The Magnolia State
Motto:
Virtute et armis (By valor and arms.)
Flower:
Magnolia (Legislation of 1952)
Tree:
Magnolia (Legislation of 1938)
Bird:
Mockingbird (Legislation of 1944)
Enlarge Bird
Fish:
Largemouth or Black Bass (Legislation of 1974)
Insect:
Honey Bee (Legislation of 1980)
Gemstone:
Petrified Wood (Legislation of 1976)
Official State Seal:
Enlarge Seal
Official State Flag:
Enlarge Flag
State Commemorative Quarter:
From the 1999-2008 United States Mint 50 State Quarters® Program
Enlarge Quarter
State Postage Stamp:
From the 2002 United States Postal Service Greetings from America series.
Enlarge Postage Stamp