Mississippi Almanac: Facts and Figures

Quick Facts and Figures on the State

Mississippi Almanac furnishes quick facts and figures on the state, its geography, climate and weather, elevation, land area, bordering states, electoral votes, number of senators and representatives to the US Congress, and other statistical data. Use this almanac of Mississippi for information on local issues, politics, events, celebrations, people and business pertaining to the state of Mississippi that can be found online.

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Mississippi is one of the East South Central states of the US. Mississippi economy was mainly agricultural until the middle third of the 20th century, when manufacturing became the dominant economic sector; service industries have become increasingly important in recent decades.

Mississippi Almanac
Official Name	Mississippi
Capital	Jackson
Nick Name	Magnolia State
Motto	Virtute et Armis (By valor and arms)
Location & Region	32.32050 N, 090.20759 W			South
Constitution Ratified	1890
Statehood	December 10, 1817			20th state
Population	2,697,243	60.64 sq mi.		31st
Largest City (by population)	Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Greenville
Bordering States	North: Tennessee East: Alabama South: Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana (Pearl River forms part of the Southern boundary) West: Louisiana and Arkansas (Mississippi River forms almost all of the Western boundary)
Number of Counties	82 Counties in Mississippi
Largest County (by population)	Hinds County	250,800		569 sq mi.
Electoral Votes	6 (as of the 2004 Presidential Election)
US Congress	2 Senators; 5 Representatives (4 Representatives as of the 2002 election)
Time Zone	Central Standard Time
Mississippi Climate and Weather
Mississippi has hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters. Winter temperatures run 31 to 60 F/-1 to 15 C, though they can drop to 32 F/0 C or lower on occasion, even as far south as the Gulf. Though mild, winter has the most rainfall. High humidity and temperatures of 90 F/32 C and higher are common in summer. Biloxi, though farthest south, is cooled by breezes from the Mississippi Sound and has fewer days of high heat. Spring and fall the temperatures and humidities are most comfortable then. Expect March-May to provide temperatures from 43 to 85 F/6 to 29 C, with humidity running in the 54% to 85% range (humidity levels tend to decrease in the midday and afternoon hours in the South). Fall is drier, with clear, sunny days and temperatures similar to those in spring. Lows may be a bit lower, but not substantially so. The weather is normally more stable in the fall; spring can have some severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes.
Highest Temperature	115 degrees July 29, 1930 - Holly Springs
Lowest Temperature	-19 degrees January 30, 1966 - Corinth
Avg Temp: High - Low	92.5 degrees		34.9 degrees
Mississippi Highest, Lowest, and Mean Elevations (Feet)
Mean Elevation	300
Highest Point	Woodall Mountain			806
Lowest Point	Gulf of Mexico			Sea level
Mississippi Land Area (Square Miles)
Geographic Center
Total Area	48,430.19			32nd
Land Area	46,906.96			96.86%
Water Area	1,523.24			3.14%
Forested Land Area			61.9%
Dimensions (Length - Width)	340 miles		170 miles
Source:(US Census, April 1, 2000)

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Almanac: Facts and Figures

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