On December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state admitted to the Union.

Mississippi is nicknamed the "Magnolia State" because of its beautiful magnolia trees. The southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is Mississippi's official state tree and the blossom of the magnolia is Mississippi's official state flower.

Jackson is both the state's capital and largest city. It is named after General Andrew Jackson, who was honored for his role in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 and would later serve as U.S. president.

After twice capturing the city, Union forces burned Jackson to the ground in 1863. It was called "Chimneyville" because only the chimneys of houses were left standing.

Medgar Evers was assassinated in 1963 by Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the White Citizens' Council in Jackson, Mississippi. This group was formed in 1954 in Mississippi to resist the integration of schools and civil rights activism. As a veteran, Evers was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His murder and the resulting trials inspired civil rights protests across the country.

Mississippi has more churches per capita than any other state in the country, and they're not just buildings taking up space. A recent Gallup poll found that people in the state actually go to church more frequently than residents of any other state.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is noted for its colorful description of people and places along the Mississippi River. Set in a Southern antebellum society that had ceased to exist over 20 years before the work was published, Mark Twain's classic novel is an often scathing satire on entrenched attitudes, particularly racism.

One of U.S. history's strangest crimes was a streak of sneaky haircuts that took place in 1942 Mississippi. The Pascagoula criminal was nicknamed "The Phantom Barber" for his creepy habit of cutting locks of hair off young girls while they slept.

Known for seafood, sailing, and 24-hour casinos, Biloxi has come to be called "The Playground of the South" and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is sometimes called the "Poor Man's Riviera".

The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is known for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, "many-tongued thrush". It can sing up to 200 songs, including the songs of other birds, insect and amphibian sounds, cats and dogs, and even an occasional car alarm.