M any people think of Mississippi when they think of the South. Perhaps the most beloved of Southern trees, the magnolia serves as Mississippi s state tree and flower. And Mississippi s official bird, the mockingbird, is the most popular state bird in the South.
People often think of the South as a place that is slow and peaceful.
With few large cities, much of Mississippi is quiet. Hot, humid summers may make people feel sluggish. Mississippi lies along the Gulf Coast between Texas and Florida. Its neighbor to the east is Alabama, while both Louisiana and Arkansas border it to the west. Except for the extreme northwestern corner of the state, Mississippi lies wholly within the Gulf Coastal Plain.