Mississippi

One of the southeastern States. In shape it is rectangular. Its area is 46,810 sq. m. The surface is very level; the greatest elevation, near the n.e. part, is scarcely 500 ft. above sea level, while considerable areas are le than 100 ft. Except a strip along the Gulf coast and the Yazoo bottoms near the Mi i ippi, it consists of upland, heavily forested, except where cut away. Its only navigable river is the M., along the w. border, and to a small extent the Yazoo. Its geological structure is simple, the oldest formation being the Cretaceous, which occupies an area in the n.e. part. W. and s. of it are Eocene beds, followed still further s. by Neocene. The Yazoo bottoms and the low coast country are of Quarter nary deposits. The primary industry is the raising of cotton: in no other State is this carried on so exclusively or is the return better. The product in 1890 was 1,154,406 bales and in 1895 ab. 1,200,000. The value of the farms, implements and machinery in 1890 was $133,392,022 and the value of agricultural products $73,342.995. M. was a part of the territory originally claimed by La Salle for France. Between 1699 and 1763 several colonies were established under grants from France; most of these met with misfortunes and reverses, the Natchez Indians being among the afflicting elements. In 1763 France ceded to England all her po e ions e. of the M. except the island of New Orleans, ceded to Spain. The province acquired by England was called e. and w. Florida, the w. portion including the s. half of the present State. In 1783 England ceded w. Florida to Spain, which afterward relinquished the M. portion to the U. S. The n. boundary was extended, and the Territory, with its present boundaries, admitted to the Union 1817. M. seceded 1861, and was the seat of some of the most important conflicts of the Civil War. It was prostrated by the results of the war, and has but recently begun to regain regain its prosperity. Pop., 1890, 1,289,600, more than half colored.