30. Mississippi

In an absolute shocker to everyone, Mississippi is up this high!

I want to have the opportunity to defend Mississippi for a second. I feel like almost everyone would put Mississippi down at the very bottom of the list and say something along the lines of “the best part about it is how you spell it”. Yes, the state places poorly on nationwide rankings in almost every category from education quality to crime. But, I think Mississippi is more than meets the eye, and more than just some data points on a list.

One of the best movies to show why much of Mississippi is charming. Highly recommend!

Mississippi feels real, and that’s what sets it apart from neighboring Alabama. Mississippi isn’t trying to make itself seem like it’s better than it is. There is a lot of poverty in the state, usually because the government is taking advantage of its most vulnerable.

Mississippi is one of the very reasons why I don’t want to let politics play as much of a role in my rankings. The same people keep winning and keep bleeding the state dry, especially in its largest city, Jackson. But, this is not through the fault of its people. The poor populations have been so badly treated, because the government knows that it can best take advantage of its people if they don’t give them any power to stop it. It is such a shame, and I see a lot of parallels between what the country could turn into if the country keeps heading down its current direction.

While that is what the state is economically, once you go outside of that, there is a lot to appreciate. I’ve been to the state a few times, but never really spent any considerable time there. But I’ve really learned a lot of how much there is to care about from my friend who has lived there a few years. 

Downtown Oxford, Mississippi

I would argue that impoverished communities are often where we see real culture shine. Culture is molded through hardships. And the state does have an incredibly problematic history through the Confederacy, slavery, and so much more. But the state also has the largest black population in the country. And many communities have built themselves in rural areas and are largely self-sustaining. These communities survive despite everything the government has done to try and stop them.

Now is the state the most pleasant place to live or to visit. Of course not, and there’s a reason why it still is on the lower half of the list. But while the stereotypical gun toting, confederate belt buckle having people are there, the state has much more than that. Mississippi is flawed, very much so, but it is a state with more character than almost anyone gives it credit for. So please give it a visit before you judge! I know I will soon!