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 of Mississippi State: Jackson
Date of Statehood: December 10, 1817
Mississippi State Population: 2,921,088 (US Census 2005 estimate)
Current Weather/Time:
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.
Mississippi State Nickname: The Magnolia State
Mississippi State Motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms.)
Mississippi State Flower:
Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)(Legislation of 1952)
Enlarge flower
Mississippi State Tree: Magnolia (Legislation of 1938)
Mississippi State Bird:
Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)(Legislation of 1944)
Enlarge Bird
Mississippi State Fish: Largemouth or Black Bass (Legislation of 1974)
Mississippi State Insect: Honey Bee (Legislation of 1980)
Mississippi State 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
Mississippi State Postage Stamp:
From the 2002 United States Postal Service Greetings from America series.
Enlarge Postage Stamp
Mississippi State License Plate:
Photo under license from collector Jim Moini ©2011.
Enlarge License Plate
