Mississippi Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.ms.gov/

Income

The population of Mississippi in 2002 was 2,866,733. Its rank was 31st in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Mississippi had a per capita personal income of $22,550. This per capita personal income ranked 51st in the United States and was 73 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 2.7 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Mississippi was $14,559 and ranked 51st in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Mississippi had a total personal income of $64,645,075. This total personal income ranked 33rd in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Mississippi was $38,198,685 and ranked 33rd in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.0 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Mississippi. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 62.9 percent of total personal income (compared with 65.0 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 15.5 percent (compared with 15.5 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 21.6 percent (compared with 19.5 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 1.6 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.2 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.8 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.1 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 5.4 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.5 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Mississippi increased from $43,171,687 in 2001 to $44,040,103 in 2002, an increase of 2.0 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $27,065,640 to the 2002 estimate was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Mississippi ranks 32nd among the states in size, with a total area of 125,060 sq km (48,286 sq mi), including 2023 sq km (781 sq mi) of inland water and 1531 sq km (591 sq mi) of coastal waters over which it has jurisdiction. It has a maximum length, from north to south, of about 530 km (about 330 mi) and a maximum width of about 290 km (about 180 mi). Its mean elevation is about 90 m (about 300 ft).

Climate - The climate of Mississippi is characterized by long, hot, and humid summers and generally mild winters. The higher lands in the northeast are usually cooler than other areas of the state. Average January temperatures range from about 6° C (about 42° F) in northeastern Mississippi to about 12° C (about 54° F) along the Gulf Coast. No part of the state is entirely free from freezing temperatures, but prolonged periods of extreme cold rarely occur. Temperatures more than 15° C (30° F) below freezing have on occasion been recorded throughout the north and in much of the southwest. July average temperatures range from about 26° C (about 78° F) in the northeast to about 24° C (about 75° F) in the northwest. Days are generally hot and oppressive, with daytime highs often in the mid 30° C (high 90°F). Nighttime temperatures afford little relief from the heat and rarely fall below 21° C (70° F). However, sea breezes provide more tolerable conditions along the coast. Annual precipitation, or rainfall and snowfall, ranges from less than 1200 mm (48 in) in a few northwestern areas to more than 1500 mm (60 in) in most of the south. Most precipitation is in the form of rain. Snow falls occasionally but rarely remains on the ground for more than a few days. Ice storms, though relatively rare, do occur in the state and are extremely damaging to the economy. In February 1994 a layer of ice, up to 15 cm (6 in) deep in some areas, coated north and western parts of the state, destroying millions of dollars worth of trees and leaving some people without electricity and water for several weeks. The state is also affected by thunderstorms, lightning, hail, fog, and droughts. In the late summer and the fall, the state is occasionally struck by hurricanes moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi is also struck by tornadoes, especially during the period from February to May.

State Flag

State Flower - Magnolia

State Capitol - Jackson
Mississippi has had four state constitutions, adopted in 1817, 1832, 1869, and 1890. To be adopted, a proposed amendment to the constitution must be approved by two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature and by a majority of the voters who vote on it in a general election. The legislature may also call a constitutional convention to revise the constitution.

Famous People

B. B. King guitarist, Itta Bena
Barry Hannah author, Clinton
Beth Henley playwright, actress, Jackson
Bo Diddley guitarist, McCombs
Brandy Norwood singer,actress, McComb
Brett Farve football, Kiln
Charles Evers civil rights leader, Decatur
Charley Pride country singer, Sledge
Conway Twitty country music, Friars Point
Craig Claiborne columnist, restaurant critic, Sunflower
Elizabeth Lee Hazen inventor,
Elvis Presley singer, actor, Tupelo
Eudora Welty author, Jackson
Faith Hill singer, Jackson
James Earl Jones entertainer, Arkabutla
Jerry Rice football player, Starkville
Jim Henson puppeteer, Greenville
Jimmy Buffett singer, songwriter, Pascagoula
Lance Bass singer, Laurel
LeAnn Rimes country music, Jackson
Leontyne Price soprano, Laurel
Medgar Evers civil rights leader, Decatur
Muddy Waters singer, guitarist, Rolling Fork
Oprah Winfrey talk-show host, Kosciusko
Red Barber sportscaster, Columbus
Richard Ford author, Jackson
Richard Wright author, Natchez
Sela Ward actress, Meridian
Shelby Foote historian, Greenville
Simbi Khali actress, Jackson
Tammy Wynette country music star, Tupelo
Tennessee Williams playwright, Columbus
Walter Payton football player, Columbia
William Cuthbert Faulkner author, New Albany
William Grant Still composer, Woodville
William Raspberry columnist, Oklaona
Willie Morris writer, Jackson