Mississippi General Information Nickname: Magnolia State State bird: Mockingbird State flower: Magnolia Blossom Capital: Jackson Date of admission to the Union: 10th Dec 1817 Population: 2,844,658 (2000) Population density: 22.7/sq km 2000 total overseas arrivals: Under 50,000 Time: Central (GMT - 6). Daylight Saving Time is observed. The State: The beautiful ‘Magnolia State’ is a land of great variety, with wide-open spaces, white sand beaches, bustling cities, quaint little towns and a real feel of the Deep South. This is the State where the key battle of the American Civil War was fought (at Vicksburg in 1863) and where racial strife erupted with terrifying force in the 1960s. It is also the State whose geographical beauty and rich atmosphere has inspired a wealth of artistic talent, from William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and Tennessee Williams to Elvis Presley, Jimmie Rodgers and B B King. As well, the mighty Mississippi River, thousands of acres of lush parkland and the Gulf of Mexico coastline combine to make Mississippi a popular outdoors destination. Travel - International AIR: International airports: Jackson International Airport (JAN) (website: www.jmaa.com) lies to the east of the city. Domestic airports: There are further airports at Greenville, Gulf Coast (Biloxi), Hattiesburg, Meridian and Tupelo. RIVER: The Delta Queen Steamboat Company of New Orleans, Louisiana (tel: (800) 543 1949 (toll free); website: www.deltaqueen.com), runs scheduled paddlewheel cruises up and down the Mississippi River, stopping at several Mississippi cities, and travelling as far upriver as Ohio. A similar journey is available on a European-style hotel barge operated by RiverBarge Excursion Lines (tel: (888) 456 2206 (toll free); website: www.riverbarge.com). RAIL: Two Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245 (toll free); website: www.amtrak.com) lines traverse Mississippi: the ‘City of New Orleans’ passes through Jackson (tel: (601) 355 6350) on its way north to Chicago, and the ‘Crescent’ cuts through the southeast corner of the State on its way from New Orleans to Atlanta, Washington, DC and New York City. Approximate rail travel times: From Jackson to New Orleans is 4 hours 30 minutes, to Memphis is 4 hours 30 minutes, and to Chicago is 10 hours 25 minutes. ROAD: The speed limit on interstate highways in Mississippi is 70mph (112kmph) unless otherwise stated. Approximate bus travel times: From Jackson to Memphis is 4 hours, to New Orleans is 4 hours, to Montgomery is 7 hours, and to Dallas is 10 hours. Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424 (toll free); website: www.greyhound.com) is the major service provider. URBAN: Jackson Transit System (JATRAN) runs buses throughout the city. Bus schedules and maps are posted at most bus stops and are available at JATRAN headquarters, 1025 Terry Road, Jackson (tel: (601) 948 3840). Introduction NORTH MISSISSIPPI: Starting at the State’s northeastern corner, the historic Natchez Trace Parkway winds 640km (400 miles) through Mississippi, ending up at Natchez in the southwest and, as one writer put it, is ‘what God meant a highway to be’. Free of billboard advertising and commercial traffic, and with a speed limit of 50mph (80kmph), the parkway provides a scenic introduction to the delights of Mississippi and leads visitors down paths once trekked by buffalo, Native Americans and frontiersmen. The largest city in north Mississippi, Tupelo is best known for its native son, Elvis Presley. Visitors can stop at Elvis Presley’s Birthplace, the humble two-room house where ‘the King’ was born, and the adjacent museum Times and Things Remembered, which contains rare photos and memorabilia. To the west, Oxford is the picturesque town captured forever in the writings of William Faulkner. Faulkner’s house can be visited today and remains much as the literary giant left it, with the outline of his novel, A Fable, scrawled on his study wall. Mississippi’s vibrant blues tradition can be sampled at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. The Delta Blues Festival, held the third Saturday in September in Greenville, further south, attracts the best Blues musicians in the world. CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI: Jackson, Mississippi’s political and industrial heart, retains a small-town flavour, with a wealth of cultural attractions. At the Old Capitol Historical Museum, exhibits chronicle the Civil Rights movement, while the Smith Robertson Museum houses displays on African–American Mississippian history and heritage. The city of Vicksburg lies on the Mississippi River west of Jackson and is a prime source of southern history. Some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place on the site of the Vicksburg National Military Park. Here, on 4 July 1863, the Union victory helped the Yankees gain control of the Mississippi River, a crucial element in winning the war. Living history demonstrations and battle re-enactments every summer provide a fascinating insight into this dramatic period. In addition, dockside casinos offer entertainment on the Mississippi River and many antebellum homes can provide bed & breakfast accommodation. The childhood of Jim Henson, creator of the Sesame Street and Muppets characters, can be remembered at Leland’s Birthplace of the Frog exhibition. SOUTH MISSISSIPPI: Perched atop the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Natchez was spared major destruction in the Civil War. Today, over 500 historic buildings still stand, including mansions, churches and public buildings, providing a wonderful glimpse of pre-war life in the Deep South. Many of these graceful mansions contain original furnishings, while a good number offer bed & breakfast accommodation. Natchez-under-the-Hill, once notorious for its riverside gambling, is now a colourful area of pubs, gift shops, restaurants and dockside gaming. The town that perhaps best typifies the Old South, Woodville is the location of Rosemount Plantation, the boyhood home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The town of Hattiesburg is famous for the All-American Rose Garden, which features 740 patented bushes. MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST: There are 42km (26 miles) of sun-drenched sandy beaches on the coast, with many points of historic interest. Biloxi is the site of many pre-war buildings, including Beauvoir, the retirement home of Jefferson Davis. Biloxi is also the point of departure for daily cruises to Ship Island, location of Fort Massachusetts, a POW camp during the Civil War. Social Profile Food & Drink: State favourites include farm-raised catfish, fried chicken, barbecues, and fresh seafood. The tiny Delta town of Belzoni claims to be the catfish capital of the world. The highlight of the year is the Catfish Festival which sees the crowning of the Catfish Queen and the catfish-eating contest. Theatre & Concerts: Jackson is the only city in the United States to host the International Ballet Competition every four years, and its symphony orchestra and opera company offer lively programmes. Nightlife: Las Vegas-style entertainment casinos abound, especially in Tunica, Greenville, Vicksburg, Natchez, Philadelphia and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Shopping: Antique shops and malls are plentiful. The Canton Flea Market, held in May and October, is ever-popular. In Port Gibson the ‘Pieces and Strings’ market runs from the last weekend in March to the end of April and features African- and European-American quilts and quilting demonstrations. Sport: Hunting and fishing are popular. For further details, contact the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks (tel: (601) 432 2400; website: www.mdwfp.com). Special Events: Every spring, over 20 cities and towns host ‘pilgrimages’, the seasonal opening of pre-Civil War and Victorian homes, featuring costumed extravaganzas and candlelit tours. Over 300 festivals take place every year, a great number of which are music-oriented. The following is a selection of annually held events: Jan 3-21 Martin Luther King, Jr Birthday Celebration and Parade, Jackson. Feb 8-9 Krewe of Phoenix Mardi Gras Parade and Ball, Natchez. Apr 6 Annual World Catfish Festival, Belzoni. Apr 13 Civil War Show of Vicksburg. Apr 19-21 Riverfest, Vicksburg; Natchez Bluff Blues Fest. May 4-5 Blessing of the Fleet (start of the shrimping season), Biloxi. May 31 B B King Homecoming Festival, Indianola. Jul Slugburger Festival, Corinth. Aug Water Valley Watermelon Carnival, Water Valley. Sep Delta Blues Festival, Greenville. Oct Mississippi State Fair, Jackson; Hog Wild in Corinth (barbecue contest), Corinth. Nov Annual Angel Show (Members of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi present hand-crafted angels), Jackson. Dec Christmas at the Old Capitol, Jackson. Climate Mississippi’s climate is moderate, with January’s temperature reaching 50°F (10°C) and summer’s sometimes stretching to 90°F (32°C). The year-round average is 64°F (18°C). Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.