2) Before achieving statehood, it was named as Mississippi Territory. The state was admitted to the Union on December 10, 1817 and turned into the 20th state of the country.
4) The state shares its borders with Tennessee, Arkansas, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, and Louisiana.
5) Belzoni is nicknamed as the Catfish Capital of the World.
6) In 1963, the first human lung transplant in the world was performed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This medical center is also famous for conducting the first cardiac transplant operation.
7) The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States. It is also called the Old Man River.
8) The official motto is "By valor and arms".
9) The official tree is the Magnolia. The scientific name is Magnolia Grandiflora.
10) The official anthem of the state is "Go, Mississippi". It was written and composed by Houston Davis.
11) The state houses 29 state parks that are prime tourist attractions. Some of the popular parks include Natchez National Historical Park, Jackson Zoological Park, and Vicksburg National Military Park.
12) Jackson, Gulfport, and Biloxi are the three biggest cities in the state.
13) In the beginning, Mississippi was a French settlement and it served as a division of Louisiana. The British Army overpowered the French and subsequently, the area was taken over by the Spanish settlers. It was relinquished to the U.S. in 1783.
14) The official bird is the Mockingbird.
15) The official animal is the Red Fox.
16) The state insect is the Honeybee.
17) The tallest point in the state is the Woodall Mountain and its elevation is 806 feet.
18) The official fish is the Black Bass or Largemouth Bass.
19) The state mammal is the White-Tailed Deer and butterfly is the Spicebush Swallowtail
. 20) Famous residents of the state of Mississippi include John Grisham, James Earl Jones, Elvis Presley, and Oprah Winfrey.
