So, you're thinking about attending a college or university in Mississippi?

Considered part of the Deep South, Mississippi takes its name from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Arkansas and Louisiana to the west.

The highest point in Mississippi is Woodall Mountain, which is only 806 feet above sea level. Overall, the state is relatively flat, mostly made up of low hills. Over half the state's total acreage is heavily forested by wild trees. This has led to the lumber industry being very prevalent within Mississippi.

The state of Mississippi has generally long summers and short, mild winters. The temperatures average around 82°F in the summer and 48°F in the winter. Annual precipitation usually increases as you travel from the north to the south. It ranges from about 50 inches in the northwest to about 61 inches in the south. While snow is not unheard of in the southern part of the state, generally it only falls in small amounts in the northern and central sections of Mississippi,

In terms of extreme weather, Mississippi is often affected by hurricanes coming out of the Gulf of Mexico. This includes the occasional major hurricane strike, which can be fairly devastating for coastal communities. Thunderstorms are common throughout the state, though more so in the southern areas. Mississippi has around 27 tornadoes, on average, per year, with the northern part of the state being more vulnerable earlier in the year while the southern part becomes vulnerable a little later on.

Figures done in 2005 give Mississippi an estimated population of 2,921,088. This includes the highest African-American population of any U.S. state, standing at approximately 37% of the population. More than 98% of the white population in Mississippi are native born. According to recent numbers, the state of Mississippi also leads the country in the growth of immigrants.

Mississippi is considered one of the more conservative states in the U.S., in terms of social issues. Religion often plays a large role in the state's political views. Liquor laws are very strict, but variable from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In 2004, 86% of Mississippi voters voted to amend the state constitution to ban any legal rights for same sex couples, which is the highest amount of support any initiative of this type has received thus far in the nation.

The state of Mississippi levies income tax in three different brackets, ranging in rates from 3% to 5%. The sales tax in the state is 7%, though local sales taxes are also collected on top of this.

Although Mississippi ranks as one of the poorest states in the United States, the cost of living is also one of the lowest in the country. After a decision to legalize casino gambling along the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast in 1990, the state became the second largest gambling state in the U.S.

There are a number of colleges and universities to pick from when considering a school in Mississippi. Included in these are:

• Mississippi State University

• Mississippi College

• Alcorn State University

• The University of Mississippi

To find more information about universities and colleges in this area, visit the Online College Degrees page on this website.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mississippi".

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