1. On December 14, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state in the United States of America. The state was named after the Mississippi River, which flows through the western boundary of the state.

2. In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate troops under the leadership of Major General Earl Van Dorn defeated Union troops in the Battle of Parker's Crossroads. The battle took place in Henderson County, Tennessee, but Mississippi troops were a part of the Confederate army.

3. St. Mary's Basilica, located in Natchez, Mississippi, was dedicated on December 14, 1926. It is the oldest Catholic building in continuous use in the state and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

4. On December 14, 1959, the Mississippi State College Maroons (now the Bulldogs) played the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in the Sun Bowl. The Maroons won the game 7-0, earning their first bowl game victory in school history.

5. The Mississippi School for the Deaf was founded on December 14, 1854. The school, located in Jackson, provides education and support for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is one of only two schools for the deaf in the state of Mississippi.