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Oxford,
Mississippi
In the rolling hills of northern Mississippi,
Oxford entices with its literary culture, collegiate vibe and
creative mystique. Throw in a reasonable cost of living and
a low crime rate and Oxford is a great retirement spot,
indeed.
The State of Mississippi
Mississippi has a population of almost three million people and was first explored by Spanish explorer De Soto in 1540 (at which time he discovered the Mississippi River). France later claimed the newly found land, and in 1699 a permanent settlement was built by them near Ocean Springs. Great Britain took over in 1763 but then ceded it to the U.S. after the American Revolution. This was all well and good, but the Spanish did not let go until 1798. The U.S. annexed West Florida from Spain in 1810, and incorporated it with today's southern Mississippi.
Up through the Great Depression, cotton was king of Mississippi's agricultural economy. The state has since diversified into industrial industries. Soybeans had the most acreage for 40 years, but cotton brought in more money. More cotton was planted in 2001 and Mississippi became the 2nd biggest producer in the U.S. Texas remains number one. From the state's rich farmlands, pecans, corn, peanuts, sugar cane, rice, sweet potatoes, along with eggs, poultry, dairy products, meat animals, feed and horticultural crops, are produced. The state has the distinction of being the world's biggest grower of pond-raised catfish.
There are many historical landmarks in this state, including Vicksburg National Military Park, Tupelo National Battlefield, Brice Cross Roads (a national battlefield site) and Natchez Trace National Parkway. Many stately mansions date from before the Civil War -- in Oxford, Columbus, Natchez, Jackson, and Vicksburg. Mississippi is coming back after tragic losses of both life and property during Hurricane Katrina.
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