Population:

31stlargest U.S. State by population, with 2,938,618 people (2009 estimate).
32nd largest state in the country by area, at 48,430 square miles.

Largest city: Jackson

Median income:$37,790 (2008 estimate)

Climate:
Yearly rainfall: 52.8 inches per year
Yearly snowfall: 3 inches per year
Temperatures (High/Low) in capital city of Jackson:
January, 55/35; July, 91/71

Foreclosures:
Foreclosure activity for 2009 increased in Mississippi over the prior year. There was a total of 5,402 properties with filings. That works out to a rate of one filing for every 232 households, which compares to the United States average of 45, and is a little less than one half of one percent of the state’s housing units.

Those figures represent a 135 percent increase over 2008 and a 2838 percent increase over 2007.

In 2008 there were about 50,400 existing homes (including condos, co-ops, and single-family homes but excluding new homes) sold in Mississippi, compared to about 59,700 sold in 2007.

Economy:
Mississippi has the lowest median household income and per capita income in the nation, making it arguably the poorest state in the country. Mississippians receive approximately $2 for every dollar they send to Washington D.C. in taxes, the second highest ratio in the country. Education, health and social services are the biggest employers in the state, followed by manufacturing and retail. Agriculture remains a major presence, particularly soybeans and cotton, which Mississippians produce at among the highest levels in the nation.

Noteworthy:
The Mississippi Blues Trail, which will be marked with important historical sites in history of blues music, is currently under construction. Many, if not most, of legendary early and mid 20th century bluesmen came from Mississippi.