45 Interesting Facts About Mississippi

Last updated on September 24th, 2022

41. Are you ready for a surprising fact about Oxford, Mississippi? Well, Alice from Alice in Wonderland was a real girl, Alice Liddel, living in Oxford with her father, Christ Church’s Dean. He has a friend named Charles Dodgson, also known as Lewis Carrol. Lewis spent much time with Alice and her family. Therefore he based a leading character of his novel in 1865 on that girl. Interesting, isn’t it?

42. Natchez is home town of Black-Swan, the pseudonym of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield. She was the first African American singer of Classic music. She was known as the best concert singer at that time. In October 1851, she gave an astounding performance in Buffalo, New York. Her appearance caused a great buzz since it was the first time in the history that a black singer appeared in a concert. A reporter from the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser dubbed her as the “Black Swan – that name stayed with her till her death.

43. Clarksdale is all about blue music and rhythm. No matter if you go to a nearby club or a famous venue, blue-music artists are always ready to entertain you. However, if you are looking for something authentic and serious kind, then just head straight to Red Lounge- where lots of famous artists and aspiring stars surprise you with their fascinating performance. You will miss a great deal of rhythm and fun if you don’t go there.

44. If you think that Corinth is all about history and war, it’s time to add a twist into your thoughts since this city has romantic and breathtaking scenes that convince you to stay in this small town even longer than you planned. Couples who are looking for a perfect wedding venue should book the gardens of Greek Revival style Verandah-Curlee House.

45. Fans of Star Trek have a special place in their hearts for Canton as they know that this place is an alternative location for the Millenium Gate. Just when this city got featured in Star Trek: Voyager, fans started asking about this futuristic biosphere’s alternative location. This town was built at the site where the home of an ancestor of Voyager’s Captain- Kathryn Janeway was located.

About the Flag of Mississippi

1. Design and Symbolism

The flag of Mississippi has five vertical bands of various widths: red at the edges, blue at the center, and gold in between. The middle features a white magnolia blossom surrounded by 21 stars and the motto “In God We Trust.”

The flower represents the hospitality of the citizens and the state’s sense of hope and rebirth. Magnolias often bloom more than once. They also have an extended blooming season.

The 20 white stars are a nod to Mississippi’s designation as the 20^th state admitted to the Union. It happened on December 10, 1817. The lone golden star is larger than the rest. It represents the indigenous Native American tribes who first inhabited the land.

The central blue field is the same hue as in the US flag. It is a symbol of justice, vigilance, and perseverance. Meanwhile, the red bands signify valor and hardiness. The gold borders point to the rich cultural history of the state.

2. Adoption

The current flag of Mississippi is one of the newest in the United States. It became official on January 11, 2021, replacing a controversial Confederacy-based flag. The designers were Rocky Vaughan, Kara Giles, Micah Whitson, Sue Anna Joe, and Dominique Pugh.

3. Technical Details

The proportion of the width to the length is 3:5. The design is free to download from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

4. History

The First Flag

Mississippi had no official flag before 1861. When the state declared secession, they had to improvise by raising an old Bonnie Blue flag to assert independence. People paraded on the streets under this banner.

A special committee designed a flag with a white field and a magnolia tree in the center. At the upper left, a blue square has a lone white star. Official adoption came on March 30, 1861. However, it was not as popular as the Confederate flags. After the Civil War, a new constitutional convention nullified several ordinances, including the one about the state flag.

The Second Flag

It took almost three decades before they could replace the old Magnolia flag. The second state flag passed in the legislature on February 7, 1894. Edward Scudder designed a tricolor banner with horizontal bands: blue, white, and red. On the upper left is a square bearing the Confederate battle flag. It has 13 stars to represent the original states of the Union. Unfortunately, the legislature made sweeping changes in 1906 that left Mississippi without a state flag until 2001.

The 2001 Referendum

In 2001, Governor Ronnie Musgrove appointed an independent commission to develop a replacement. They suggested a tricolor banner with a blue square and 20 white stars. A referendum asked voters to choose between the 1894 design and the new design, with the former winning 64% to 36%.

5. Current Flag

Replacement Drive

In 2015, a racially motivated church shooting by a white supremacist renewed calls to take down Confederate battle flags across southern states. The flag of Mississippi was under fire. Public universities, cities, and counties refused to use it. Some called for another flag referendum, but these did not prosper.

In 2020, a resolution to change the state flag gained bipartisan support. The public sent over 2,000 design proposals. A commission selected “The New Magnolia” flag for the referendum later that year, where it garnered 73% of the votes.

Mississippi – quick facts and state symbols