Mississippi ACLS Certification and Recertification

MISSISSIPPI ACLS CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION

About Mississippi

Mississippi became the 20th state in 1817. The state capitol of Mississippi is Jackson with a population of 177,977 people (2005 Census). Jackson is also the largest city in the state, with the second largest being Gulfport with 72,464 people (2005 Census). The total population of Mississippi is 2,967,297 people (2010 Census). Mississippi is comprised of 46,907 square miles of delta between the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers, forest and prairie for much of the state, coastline along the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and rolling hills in the north.

The state flower is the magnolia bloom. The state bird is the mockingbird. The state insect is the honeybee, and the state butterfly is the spicebush swallowtail. Hernando de Soto was the first explorer to visit Mississippi, and is the one to discover the Mississippi River in 1540. France later claimed the area and in 1699 established a settlement near what is now Ocean Springs. In 1763 Great Britain regained control of the area after the French and Indian Wars. The area was ceded to the United States in 1783 following the Revolution. Spain kept ties to the area until 1798, which led the United States to annex West Florida from Spanish control in 1810, which included southern Mississippi.

Mississippi has always been a primary contributor to the cotton trade of the United States. From early in its foundation, through the Great Depression and forward nearly one hundred years, the state was considered the “king” of the cotton. Recent years have brought a shift toward industrialization from the states roots in agriculture. Mississippi is the United States second largest producer in cotton still, however now there is more of a focus on soybeans, corn, poultry and dairy, etc. Mississippi is also known for its farm (pond) raised catfish, and remains the world’s leading producer of the popular southern fish. Mississippi is among the states that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In Harrison County, hundreds of people lost their lives due to the ferocity of the storm. Tourism is still very high however in the state, and much of the coastline has been repaired and improved since the storm.

Mississippi is rich in history surrounding the Civil War. Numerous battlefields and parks give tourists the opportunity to look back in time at how things were in days gone by. Natchez and the Natchez Trace are both historical and offer a unique glimpse into the antebellum style that was so popular pre Civil War in the south. The Natchez Trace is a popular motorcycle route due to its beauty and elegance, and winding way through the southern United States. Prominent historical figures and famous people from Mississippi include Jimmy Buffet, William Faulkner, Brett Favre, John Grisham, Jim Henson, James Earl Jones, B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Jerry Rice, Tennessee Williams, and others.