Mississippi, USA

Mississippi is a state in the Deep South, bordered by Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and the Gulf of Mexico. Jackson is the capital and largest city, while the state includes 82 counties and regions ranging from the fertile Delta to pine forests and a short Gulf Coast. The Mississippi River forms much of the western boundary and has shaped trade, settlement and the state’s name. Mississippi entered the Union in 1817 after periods of Indigenous, French, British, Spanish and territorial rule. Agriculture, manufacturing, energy, transportation, health care and tourism are important parts of its economy.