Mississippi

Mississippi is located in the Southern United States and features a warm climate and fertile soil. These conditions allowed cotton to dominate its economy for many years. After World War II, Mississippi’s agricultural economy underwent a revolution driven by crop diversification, mechanization, and consolidation. Poultry and eggs now constitute the largest agricultural outputs from the state. The Mississippi economy has recently seen increased industrial activity, although major areas such as food processing are still closely tied to its agricultural products.  Several businesses have moved to Mississippi due to its business-friendly tax policies, proximity to primary products, and weak standing of labor unions. Due in part to its slow modernization and lack of thriving urban economic regions, Mississippi has the lowest median income of any American state.