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First explored for Spain by Hernando de Soto, who
discovered the Mississippi River in 1540, the region was later
claimed by France. In 1699, a French group under Sieur
d'Iberville established the first permanent settlement near
present-day Ocean Springs.
Great Britain took over the area in 1763 after the French and
Indian Wars, ceding it to the U.S. in 1783 after the Revolution.
Spain did not relinquish its claims until 1798, and in 1810 the
U.S. annexed West Florida from Spain, including what is now
southern Mississippi.
For a little more than one hundred years, from shortly after the
state's founding through the Great Depression, cotton was the
undisputed king of Mississippi's largely agrarian economy. Over
the last half-century, however, Mississippi has diversified its
economy by balancing agricultural output with increased
industrial activity.
Today, agriculture continues as a major segment of the state's
economy. For almost four decades soybeans occupied the most
acreage, while cotton remained the largest cash crop. In 2001,
however, more acres of cotton were planted than soybeans, and
Mississippi jumped to second in the nation in cotton production
(exceeded only by Texas). The state's farmlands also yield
important harvests of corn, peanuts, pecans, rice, sugar cane,
and sweet potatoes as well as poultry, eggs, meat animals, dairy
products, feed crops, and horticultural crops. Mississippi
remains the world's leading producer of pond-raised catfish.
The state abounds in historical landmarks and is the home of the
Vicksburg National Military Park. Other National Park Service
areas are Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, Tupelo
National Battlefield, and part of Natchez Trace National
Parkway. Pre–Civil War mansions are the special pride of
Natchez, Oxford, Columbus, Vicksburg, and Jackson.
On Aug. 29, 2005, Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina,
killing hundreds, mostly in Harrison County. |
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