Mississippi is a U.S. state which is located in the southern part of the country. The state capital is Jackson, which is also the state's largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which forms its western boundary. The state, apart from the coastal region and delta, is heavily forested, and its catfish farms produce most of the farm-raised catfish eaten in the United States.Mississippi is bordered on the north by Tennessee, on the west by Louisiana and Arkansas, and on the east by Alabama. The southern part of the state lies next to the Gulf of Mexico, and is a major population center and tourist destination. It is home to many white sandy beaches and recently, gambling casinos.

The Gulf Coast of Mississippi provides ample opportunity for hunting and fishing, beach activities, and sight seeing of Antebellum homes. Some of these historic homes were heavily damaged or destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, although most have been repaired or rebuilt.The climate of Mississippi is generally mild for most of the year, with the summers being the most extreme in terms of temperature and weather. The summer takes place during hurricane season, and the state is not infrequently affected by these storms, particularly the coastal regions.Given its small size, Mississippi's culture has had a disproportionate impact on the United States, particularly in the area of music. It has either invented outright or heavily contributed to the blues, gospel music, rock and roll, and country.

The state is currently developing the Mississippi Blues Trail, which will have various markers detailing historical sites instrumental to the development of blues music. Clarksdale is home to the Delta Blues Museum, a worldwide tourist destination. Morgan Freeman, famous actor and Mississippi native, owns a blues club there called Ground Zero.Mississippi is the birthplace of a number of famous celebrities. In music, there is Elvis Presley, B.B King, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Bo Diddly, and Charley Pride. Famous Mississippi actors include Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones, and Oprah Winfrey. Athletes include Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, and Monta Ellis. It is also know for many famous authors, such as William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, and John Grisham. The state was one of key battlegrounds during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, Mississippi boasts some of the best race relations in the country, a diverse and skilled workforce, and citizenry.