Tips For Moving To Mississippi

A guide to some basic information new residents to Mississippi should have at hand.

If you're moving to the state of Mississippi or pondering whether to relocate to the region, you should get acquainted with your new home. Mississippi has variety. The state's regions are unique and each has its' own flavor to savor. The northern part of the state beside the mighty Mississippi River is called The Delta and the region is famous for cotton and catfish. A large percentage of the commercial catfish found in stores (and restaurants) across the U.S. originates in the Mississippi Delta. The region's other product is the blues. The rich sound came from the cotton fields and wandered into nearby Memphis where the blues found a home on Beale Street.

Lower Mississippi is coastal with Gulf Coast Beaches and the Gulf Islands. Tourists flock to Biloxi and Gulfport each year to enjoy the sugar white sands, fabulous sunsets, and ocean view. Shrimp is a major product from the region along with tourism. Gambling casinos have joined the rank of traditional pursuits for visitors in recent years. As the Mississippi River meanders toward the Gulf, the Civil War is far from forgotten in towns like Vicksburg and Natchez. Both are found along the river and both have a history rooted deep in the Civil War. At Vicksburg, the battlefield is now preserved as a national park but other monuments and historical sites also remember The War Between The States, a conflict that seems far from ancient history here. State holidays here include General Robert E. Lee's birthday is observed on January 3 (or first Monday) and the Confederacy's only president's birthday is remembered on June 1 (or the first Monday. The Natchez Trace ambles from near Nashville to Natchez along a very old trace. First traveled by Native Americans more than 8,000 years ago, the Natchez Trace became a pathway home for boatmen who took flat keels down to New Orleans. Inns and other businesses once lined the route. Historical markers line the parkway of this modern two-lane road that follows the old route. Between Vicksburg and Natchez, the trace includes a look at the ruins of at least one plantation. Antebellum homes dating from before the Civil War are a poignant reminder of a way of life that has vanished.

Don't think that Mississippi is only about the past. Cities like the capital city of Jackson are modern and vibrant. The minimum age for drivers is sixteen and seat restraints are required for children under age 4. Gamblers must be at least 21 and helmets for motorcycles are required. Fishing is a popular sport throughout the state and the Holly Springs National Forest offers a lush look at the state before industry robbed many forests of their trees. Winters are generally mild with January averages of near 60. Summers are warm with average July highs around 90.

Hurricanes are a major natural threat during the season and tornadoes can also wreak havoc. Heavy rain showers in coastal areas are common. Any Chamber of Commerce will be more than happy to provide full information about their city and area. Mississippi has also produced many notable sons and daughters include Elvis, Ophrah Winfrey, Eudora Welty, Faulkner, Kermit the Frog, and Jimmie Rodgers.

Author: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

About Author: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy is a freelance writer and familiar with Mississippi