"To understand the world you must first understand a place like Mississippi"-William FaulknerI absolutely love this quote. To me this quote epitomizes Mississippi, which if many of you know is a very complicated place. If anyone is unfamiliar with Mississippi let me give you a brief rundown of the diversity of the different regions of MS.
1. Delta- Ahh the Delta. Some of the larger cities in this region include Greenwood, Greenville, Clarksdale, and Cleveland. Some love it, some hate it but you have to admit there is not a place in the US as unique as the Mississippi Delta. The Delta has a mystique about it that cannot be explained unless you have visited there. They have musical heritage that is second to none. This is the region that gave us Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Morgan Freeman, and James Earl Jones. The people there are diverse, but a caste system still exists. The social structure is still divided by the races, although not as much as it was at one time. The Delta is probably one of the last regions in the US that is a flashback to the antebellum south. The African American culture is one that people travel from around the world to see. It is rich with history and sorrow(hence the Blues). They are still a socially repressed people and poverty is rampant. It is one of the poorest places in the US.
2. Hills region- This is the region that gave us Elvis, Tammy Wynette, and William Faulkner. This is an area that is steeped with tradition and old ways. Cities in this region include Tupelo, Corinth, Oxford, and Starkville, and Columbus. This area is home to Mississippi State as well as Ole Miss. This region is very industrialized. The people in this area are fairly flamboyant. They like nice things and like for people to know it. They love keep southern traditions alive, but with a flair..example-tailgating in the Grove at Ole Miss.
3. Capital/River Region - Cities in this area are Jackson, Natchez, and Vicksburg. This area is home of the capital of Mississippi, the site of one of the most decisive battles of the Civil War, cities that epitomize the phrase "antebellum south", as well as home to some of the most cutting edge medical technology, and several multi-national corporations. This area is what I would call the "heart" of Mississippi. This area is home of Willie Morris, Eudora Welty, Lance Bass, LeAnn Rimes, and Faith Hill. The people here are a very unique bunch, and this area is where social hierarchy is at its best(or worst). Jackson is where the Old and New South meet. You have places in this region that did not even celebrate the 4th of July until after WWII(Vicksburg). Cities that were hot spots for Civil Rights Movements (Jackson), and cities that just long for the lazy days of old (Natchez).
4. Piney Woods Region - This region of Mississippi is a little different than the rest of Mississippi in the since that it is not as old, and does not have the antebellum history of the rest of the state. But don't think for one second that this area is not steeped in its own traditions. Cities in this area are Meridian, Laurel, and Hattiesburg. This is the area that built Chicago after the great Chicago fire. This is the region that gave us Jimmy Rodgers, Dizzy Dean, Sela Ward, and Mississippi Burning. This is the home of the University of Southern Mississippi. People in this area are a little different make-up than the rest of the state. They are fiercely religious, with most of the counties in this area being dry. They have a little more of the pioneering spirit, rather than the good time spirit of the rest of the state.
5. The Coastal Region -The coast. Cities in this region include Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis, and Pascagoula. This is the region that was recently almost wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. This is the oldest region in the Mississippi Valley. The first capital of Louisiana was Biloxi settled in 1699. This is probably the most progressive area of Mississippi. The coast is a melting pot of many, many different cultures. Racism is not as bad here as other parts of the state. You see less of the Old South and more of the New South here. There is a heavy French influence here. I would consider this area more similar to New Orleans, and Moblie than the rest of Mississippi. This is the area that gave us Jimmy Buffett, Trent Lott, Brett Farve, and Chris Ledoux. This area is heavily industrialized with companies such as Northrop Grumman (previously Ingalls), Trinity Yachts, the seafood industry, one of the busiest ports in the South, the port of Gulfport, and lets not forget the casinos. This is the fastest growing part of Mississippi with an estimated growth of 150,000 in the next 5-10 years. This area has a rich culture, with a heavy Creole, and Slavic background.
Well that's Mississippi for you in a nutshell, actually that didn't even break the surface. Mississippi has one of the most unique histories of any state in the union. From the settlement of the French, to the republic of West Florida to the antebellum period, the War Between the States, reconstruction, our musical heritage, the Civil Rights movement, to Camille and Katrina. We love to relish the past while at the same time lead others into the future.
