Moving to Mississippi?
A rich and vibrant history permeates throughout the state of Mississippi. The teddy bear was created in Mississippi because of President Teddy Roosevelt’s refusal to kill a captured bear. There are many more interesting facts about the state of Mississippi, such as the fact that present-day Liberia, Africa, was created by a group of slaves who once lived in Mississippi.
The Mississippi River is the largest river in the United States and is nicknamed “The Old Man River.” The largest and the longest man-made beach is the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Biloxi to Henderson point. Mississippi also has more farms than any other state in America.
If you’re moving to Mississippi, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to Mississippi
Mississippi Climate
Mississippi has a warm climate with short winters and long humid summers. The summer temperatures vary from one part of the state to another. The average temperature in Biloxi on the Gulf Coast is 82 F and in the north-central part of the state the average temperature is 80 F. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the state of Mississippi is 19 F which was recorded on January 30, 1966 and the highest temperature ever recorded was 115 F which was on the 29th of July in 1930. The precipitation in Mississippi tends to increase as you move from north to south.
Registering your Car
Upon your arrival in Mississippi after moving to the state permanently, you have a total of 30 days to update your registration and have your vehicle registered in the state before you may be required to pay a $250 penalty.
Obtaining a Mississippi Driver’s License
A Mississippi Driver’s License can be obtained at any Mississippi DMV location. The state requires new Mississippi residents to update their license from their previous state to a Mississippi driver’s license. If you fail to update your driver’s license you may have to pay a fine. To apply for a driver’s license if you are already in possession of an out-of-state license, you must provide proof of domicile in the state of Mississippi as well as proof of registration and insurance.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, Mississippi was ranked 17th out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 20 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
The top five agricultural products in terms of the revenue generated in Mississippi are soybeans, broilers, cotton, aquaculture (including farm-raised catfish), and cattle and calves. Furniture production is the state’s second-ranking manufacturing sector and the state leads in the production of upholstered products. Government services such as the operation of public schools, hospitals, and military establishments also contribute to the economy of Mississippi.
Employment Statistics
As of early 2012, the state of Mississippi had an unemployment rate of 9.0 percent, which is higher than the national average of 8.2 percent.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of Mississippi is $37,881, while the average per capita income for the state is $19,977.
Moving and Storage
If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything, you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in Mississippi is $208,092, while the median sales price is just over $82,700. The Mississippi Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Mississippi.
Major landmarks and attractions
Historic Downtown Natchez; Historic Bay St. Louis Depot District; Port Gibson Battlefield; Biloxi Lighthouse; Friendship Oak; Longwood House,; Springfield Plantation.
Largest Cities: Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Meridian ,Tupelo, Greenville
Schools
The Mississippi board of education has come up with a lot of goals for all its students in order to improve the quality of education and to enable each student to have bright future careers. Some of the goals of the Mississippi Board of Education are to mobilize resources and support to help ensure that all students exit third grade reading at the grade level by 2020. The next goal is to reduce the dropout rate to 13% by 2013 and to reach the national average on national assessments by 2013. The board of education has also come up with a lot of strategies to accomplish these goals. Some of the major institutes of higher learning located in Mississippi are The University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
National Parks
Natchez National Historic Site
Tupelo National Battlefield
Vicksburg National Military Park
State park System
The state park system of the Mississippi has a huge range of parks which have many facilities for everyone to have fun in the state. Some of the state parks in Mississippi are Buccaneer State Park, Carver Point State Park, Golden Memorial State Park, Gulf Marine State Park, Natchez State Park, Paul B Johnson State Park, Percy Quin State Park, Tombigbee State Park, Wall Doxey State Park, Winterville State Park. These parks provide many opportunities to appreciate the natural wonders of Mississippi by hiking, fishing, biking and hunting.
Major Airports
Jackson International Airport
Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport