Near the center of the state, Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city. Named for Andrew Jackson, the city is today a leading educational and medical center. Rich with history and vibrant with arts and cultural experiences, Jackson provides visitors with experiences that range from public art displays to civil rights museums to fine-dining restaurants to world class golf and equine events. Potpourri
Famous Mississippians: Elvis Presley, Jimmie Rodgers, Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, John Grisham, Barry Hannah, Jim Henson, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Shelby Foote, Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones, Walter Payton, Brett Favre, Beth Henley, Bo Diddley and W.C. Handy.
Paul B. Johnson State Park was built by German prisoners of war imprisoned at Camp Shelby during World War II.
While Mississippi has the lowest per capita income, it is also listed as the most generous state in the country by the Catalogue of Philanthropy, because state residents give a greater percentage of their income to charity than residents of any other state.