Top 10 Fun Facts About Mississippi

Whether you’re a proud Mississippian or you’re planning a trip to the magnolia state, anyone can enjoy learning a few fun facts about Mississippi. Check out these ten fascinating state facts.

The State Was Named After the River

Most people assume that the Mississippi River was given its name because it runs through the state of Mississippi, but it was actually the other way around - the state was named after the river. The Mississippi River’s name comes from the word “messipa,” the French pronunciation of the Ojibwa tribe’s word for “big river.”

We Can Thank Mississippi for Elvis

“The King,” Elvis Presley, was a native of Mississippi. He was born in Tupelo in 1935.

Mississippi Hosted the First Lung Transplant

Lung transplants are commonly performed today, and we largely have Mississippi to thank for it. The first human lung transplant was performed by Dr. James Hardy in 1963 at the University of Mississippi Hospital.

Mississippians Are the Most Religious in the US

This may not come as a surprise to those who live in Mississippi, but the state has been deemed to be the most religious of any state in the US. A Gallup poll categorized people as “very religious” based on certain factors and found that Mississippi had the highest percentage of its residents in the “very religious” category: 59%. Utah came in second at 57% followed by Alabama at 56%.

Want to See Cacti? Go to Mississippi!

When people think of cacti, they think of states like Arizona and New Mexico. Edwards, Mississippi, though, is home to what is believed to be the world’s only cactus plantation.

Mississippi Houses the Catfish Capital of the World

While there are a few other cities that have vied for the title, Belzoni, MS claims to be the Catfish Capital of the World thanks to its abundance of catfish farms. In fact, about 60% of all farm-raised catfish in the US are raised in Belzoni or within 65 miles of the town.

Kermit the Frog is a Mississippi Native

Mississippi has been hailed as the birthplace of the legendary Kermit the Frog because it’s the state where Kermit’s creator Jim Henson was born. Henson was born in Greenville, MS, and his company later created the Birthplace of Kermit the Frog Museum in Leland, MS.

Mississippi Is the Birthplace of Barq’s Root Beer

If you’re a fan of Barq’s, you have Mississippi to thank. Edward Charles Edmond Barq, Sr. invented Barq’s root beer in Biloxi in 1898. This wasn’t the first root beer, though - the first version of this popular drink was invented in 1875 by Charles Hires.

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Mississippi Has a Mini Washington Monument…with Great Cell Service

Ridgeland, MS is the proud home of a unique cell tower that was made into a replica of the Washington Monument. While it’s smaller than the original monument, of course, it’s a far more picturesque alternative to the traditional ugly cell tower.

Mississippi is a Forestry Wonderland

Mississippi has more forests than most people realize. In fact, about 65% of the state is covered in forestry.

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5369 State Park Road, Durant, MS
The beautiful hardwood forests of Holmes County State Park are home to an abundance of wildlife, and provide the scenic backdrop for a variety of o... Read More
2149 Hwy 13 S, Morton, MS
Roosevelt State Park conveniently located between Meridian and Jackson, Mississippi. Roosevelt State Park offers an abundance of outdoor recreation... Read More
209 Black Jack Road, Choctaw, MS
Geyser Falls Water Theme Park is a 23 acre family amusement center featuring 12 major waterslides, an enormous wavepool, a lazy river and activity ... Read More
6810 Highway 413, French Camp, MS
About Us:The Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is an educational ministry of French Camp Academy. It was an outgrowth of the desire to apprecia... Read More
1152 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS
Operated by the Mississippi Sports Foundation, Inc. (MSF), a non-profit corporation established in June 1992, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame a... Read More
121 Paul Truitt Lane, Pearl, MS
1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS
Mission:Historically, our American lifestyle, economy, and work ethic were immersed in agricultural and forestry industries. Today, while these ind... Read More
2145 Museum Boulevard, Jackson, MS
Our Mission:The mission of MCM is to create unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning.The museum accomplishes t... Read More
2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS
Mission Statement: The mission of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is to promote understanding and appreciation of Mississippi's biologic... Read More
1109 Pinehurst Street, Jackson, MS
For 76 years, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty lived and wrote in her Jackson home at 1119 Pinehurst Steet. Her parents finished construc... Read More
124 Forest Park Road, Flora, MS
Our History:The existence of this Petrified Forest has been know since the middle 1800’s, but only within the past four decades has it been d... Read More
823 North Jefferson Street, Jackson, MS
Mission Statement: The Oaks is owned by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Mississippi and operated by the Oaks ... Read More
528 Bloom Street, Jackson, MS
A once in a lifetime opportunity awaits you inside the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. Located a stone's throw from the State Capitol b... Read More
380 South Lamar Street, Jackson, MS
About Us: The Mississippi Museum of Art has been a community-supported institution for more than 100 years, and was at its former location since t... Read More
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