Mississippi State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#47 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Known for Huckleberry Finn, the Mississippi state is an excellent place to live for those who love the countryside and the heat. The river of the same name, for example, is known as a symbol of freedom. In addition to this advantage, of course, there are other metrics to consider when understanding where to move. Below, readers can find all the info they require to know whether MS (Mississippi’s abbreviation) is a good match or not.

Updated: April 26, 2021
  • Area
    48,430 sq mi
  • Capital
    Jackson
  • Population
    2,976,149
  • Income
    $43,529
  • Home Value
    $134,125
  • Crime
    8,272
  • Unemployment
    6.6%
  • Education
    21.3%
  • Medicine
    49
  • Poverty
    19.8%
  • Environment
    37
  • Infrastructure
    6.00%

Mississippi is located in the south of the American country and has borders with several states. These include Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mexico. What gives its name is the Mississippi River, one of the largest in the United States. The biggest metropolitan area (where most people live) is called Greater Jackson

MS became a state of the union back in 1817, so it’s one of the oldest provinces. During the times of the Civil War, this was a slave state. The weather and the conditions were favorable regarding plantations, so nobody wanted to abolish the system. They fought on the side of the Confederation and lost. They were restored to the country in 1870 and held a great majority of African Americans as part of the Mississippi population. 

As of that decade, it became the center of the Civil Rights movement, which fought for desegregation and equality. Today, most of the region comprises large areas of agricultural lands and rural towns with a low number of inhabitants. The capital of Mississippi is Jackson, the biggest city in the region.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In

To discover the best places to reside in, we carried out extensive research. While it can be relatively easy to find the median wages per state, the median income is more complex. It combines a lot of factors such as taxes which are also crucial to people’s lives. So, we compiled many official sources such as the FBI report or the latest 2019 census to analyze the most critical metrics and decide which are the best states to live in

Mississippi Rankings

  • Population
    #34
    Population
    Data: 2,976,149

    The population density is a bit low, although not so much as in Alaska or other deserted places. There are some reasons for this population decline, mainly because there are plenty of rural plains with very few people inhabiting the region. The most populated city on the map is Jackson, according to the 2019 census.

  • Median Income
    #38
    Income in $
    Data: $43,529

    The income per house is on the lowest side. For instance, richer provinces such as Massachusetts or California make twice as much, for example. In terms of taxes, they are not great either. The government property tax for individuals is around 0.65%, while the sales tax amounts to 7%.

  • Home Value
    #49
    Home Value
    Data: $134,125

    Houses and apartments in MS are almost the cheapest in the whole territory. People here only need to have around $130,000 to afford their own home. Among the cheapest regions are Aberdeen, Clarksdale, and Saltillo, while the cities of Madison, Ridgeland, and Pass Christian are the most expensive here as of 2021.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #32
    Unemployment
    Data: 6.6%

    The Mississippi unemployment is decent, although it could improve. It’s way better than the indicator for other Southern states, such as Louisiana. Most unemployed people here are the black population. Here, there are many more professional opportunities for those who work in the financial or energy sector.

  • Poverty
    #50
    Poverty
    Data: 19.8%

    MS is the worst state when it comes to poverty. Almost 20% of the population cannot make ends meet or live in a home with adequate accommodation. Even if people here have some new job, they do not earn enough money to support themselves or their children. The ones more at risk are single women with small kids.

  • Education
    #49
    Education
    Data: 21.3%

    The education indicator is quite lacking. Only 21% of the inhabitants hold a bachelor’s degree. The rest have only been educated up to secondary school. Of course, this limits the new job opportunities they can access, and the amount of money they earn is low, falling below the poverty line.

  • Medicine
    #50
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 49

    The medicine rate is the lowest in the country. First, because most of the people here end up relying on the public system only, they don’t have a good job to pay for their expenses in case of long medical treatments. In the case of children, this indicates their parents cannot pay for their medical insurance either.

  • Crime Rate
    #23
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 8,272

    In terms of security, this metric could improve. Violent crime is abundant and amounts to 277 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Instead, there are 11 murders per the same number of people here. Some dangerous cities to avoid include Gautier, Pass Christian, and West Point.

  • Natural Environment
    #15
    Environment
    Air: 37

    The nature of the water and air is some of the tops in the country. The air has a few violations, 37, so people can breathe it safely. The water is a bit worse, with 108 violations but still good to drink from the tap in most cities. Hazardous waste, in addition, is low, with 36 occurrences, while other states like Indiana have almost 300.

  • Infrastructure
    #34
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 6.00%

    The infrastructure rate is quite good when it comes to roads and highways. Only 6% of them are deteriorated and need some kind of reparation. In the case of bridges, some of them are in poor conditions, such as the Old Vicksburg Bridge due to heavy usage. The mean travel time here is 24 minutes for commuting to work.

Mississippi Facts

  • The nickname of MS is the Magnolia State because of the number of flowers there. 
  • Of course, the state flower is the magnolia, while the mockingbird is the state bird.
  • The native American tribes have inhabited the region for more than 10,000 years. These tribes include the Biloxi, the black Chickasaw, and the Choctaw. 
  • The first European in history who ever landed in this region of the map was of Spanish origin.
  • Most of the geography is made up of plains that make it a good place to grow different plantations. 
  • In terms of wildlife, people can find a lot of fauna and flora, such as armadillos, eagles, turkeys, and more. 
  • Almost 65% of the area is covered by forests
  • The Mississippi flag is red, yellow, and blue, with a magnolia right in the middle.
  • There are more than 134 zip codes today, according to the latest census.

Mississippi in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • Where Is Mississippi?

    MS is located right in the Southern part of the United States of America. Due to its history and being near Mexico, the region has many Spanish speakers and African Americans living there. It has borders with the Gulf of Mexico and other American states like Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama.

  • What Time Zone Is Mississippi in?

    It is in the general time zone GMT-4. Due to daylight savings, the province moves the time one hour during spring and summer. Thus, in those seasons, the whole territory is under GMT-5 instead.

  • What to Do in the Magnolia State?

    This region is located right in the the south of the United States and has a lot of attractions and things to do:

    • Visit the beautiful beaches in the Gulf Islands and have a nice day by the sea.
    • Those who love cars can go to the Tupelo Automobile Museum and discover models that had existed before.
    • In case people like marine animals, they can attend the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.
    • Have a look at the Museum of Natural Science.

  • What Is MS Known for?

    It is known for many reasons, namely:

    • It’s one of the hottest places in the United States and also one of the most humid.
    • There are 82 MS counties, and some of them have more tourist attractions than others, such as the Madison bridge or the Gulf Islands Seashore.

    People can enjoy their time in nature in one of the many state parks.

  • Where Does the Mississippi River Start?

    This river is the second-longest one in the whole North American continent. It has more than 2,300 miles. As such, it starts at Lake Itasca, which originates in the center of the American country. Plus, it is deeply connected with the Missouri River.

  • Why Is MS so Poor?

    This happens because of a combination of factors that have to do with its background and history.

    • There’s a lack of investment after the Civil war. The state depended largely on plantations and cattle, and it’s not industrialized.
    • Most African Americans were discriminated against and received little support from the government.
    • This resulted in not obtaining a good education. Then, they don’t have access to good-paying jobs or nice living conditions, even today.