Mississippi Gulf Coast Facts

The Mississippi Gulf Coast has long been one of the South's most popular seashore resort areas. Visit www.mississippirenewal.com to see how Mississippi is responding to Huricane Katrina and intending to remain the south's most popular seashore resort.

• Cost of living 5% below national average
• Lowest retiree tax burden in the Sunbelt
• 6th lowest tax burden
• Housing prices 29% below national average
• Violent crime 23% below national average
• Healthcare cost 13% below national average

Persons 65+ exempt from local property tax on primary home’s assessed value up to $60,000

What does the word Mississippi mean?
Mississippi is Choctaw for "Father of Waters, " and refers, of course, to the Mississippi River, from which the State takes its name.

The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the Blues, the only music recognized as truly original to America.

Here are a few more interesting Mississippi facts:

• First College for Women in the Nation.
• Barqs Rootbeer was invented in Biloxi in 1898.
• Catfish Capital of the World – Belzoni.
• William Faulkner - New Albany
• Elvis Presley "King of Rock and Roll," - Tupelo
• Oprah Winfrey -Kosciusko
• John Grisham - Oxford
• Jimmy Buffett - Pascagoula
• Jim Henson – Greenville (creator of the world famous Muppets)
• BB King – Itta Bena
• Charlie Pride - Sledge
• Tennessee Williams – Columbus
• Shelby Foote – Greenville
• Eudora Welty – Jackson
• Jerry Rice – Starkville
• Leontyne Price – Laurel
• “The Mad Potter of Biloxi” – George Orr
• Watler Anderson – Ocean Springs
• To name only a few…