Mississippi has a population of around 3 million people, with Jackson as its capital city. It has a majority white population of 61.4% and a significant black population of 36.3%. While it has recently trended Republican in presidential elections, it has competitive partisan makeup overall. Mississippi was once one of the wealthiest states due to cotton plantations and slavery, but suffered economic collapse after the Civil War. It remains one of the poorest states today, relying on federal subsidies and industries like casinos and cotton. Mississippi had an extremely troubled past with race relations, including violent incidents and lack of black political representation, and still has issues with racial inequalities today.

1. Mississippi By Caley Turner, Steven Weeks, Erica Walker, and Dustin Davis

2. Basic Facts Capital City: Jackson Population in 2005: 2,921,088 Number of Counties: 82 Percentage White: 61.4 Percentage Black: 36.3 Governor: Haley Barbour (R) Lieut. Governor: Phil Bryant (R) Senators: Thad Cochran (R) & Roger Wicker (R) Secy. Of State: Delbert Hosemann (R) Attorney General: Jim Hood (D) Median Household Income: ~32,000 http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108232.html

3. Partisan Makeup of Mississippi Two Party Competitive 2008 Election Results Senate Seats: 27 D/25 R House Seats: 74 D/48 R In recent Presidential elections, the state has trended Republican (in 2004, there were 46 R counties vs. 18 D. counties) Polls show that on a local level, however, citizens identify with Democratic ideals; In 2008, Democrats held an advantage, by only about 1% http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president

4. Economics Pre Civil War: --5th wealthiest state in the nation --Cotton plantations --Slaves as property --Low population Post Civil War: Drop in Wealth; $500 million (43% slave value) to $177 million in total assets Collapse of Cotton (Lost value, Lost crops due to floods and drought, Labor migration)

5. Economics Today Poorest state In the nation; reliant on Federal subsidies Still somewhat reliant on cotton; Map shows cotton production in US and Mississippi Gulf and River Casinos Before Katrina Miss. had 2nd largest Industry (just after Nevada) Continuously expanding http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/fact-sheets/fs.022-98.fig.1.gif

6. Past Race Relations -Mississippi has had one of the most notorious pasts concerning race -In 1900 the population of Mississippi was 59%black was black however they were unable to make their voices heard politically -The 1960 census stated that Mississippi had a population of 2,178,141 of which 915,743 African Americans even so there were no black representation at a local level -The riot at Ole Miss in 1962 concerning the admittance of James Meredith, the murder of 14 year old Emmett Till, the murder of NAACP chairman Medgar Evers all were shining examples of the poor race relations in Mississippi

7. Demographics of Mississippi Total Population according to 2000 Census White 62.37% Black 36.66% America Indian or Alaska Native 0.69% Asian 0.82% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.07% Hispanic 1.44%

8. Race Today -African Americans make up 36 percent of the population but constitute 75 percent of the prison population -Blacks are still today among the poorest, according to the 2000 census per capita income of black Mississippians is 51 percent that of their white counterparts - While things are better there is still work to be done concerning race relations