1. On December 29, 1817, Mississippi was officially admitted as the 20th state of the United States. It was the second state to be admitted to the Union from the area that was formerly known as the Mississippi Territory.

2. The American Civil War played an important role in Mississippi's history, and on December 29, 1862, Confederate forces under the command of General John C. Pemberton engaged in battle against Union forces under the command of General William T. Sherman in the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou near Vicksburg. The battle ended in a Union victory and was a significant setback for Confederate efforts to hold onto the city.

3. In 1934, on December 29, the Mississippi River Flood devastated large portions of the state and caused widespread destruction and loss of life. The flood was one of the most severe natural disasters in the history of the United States.

4. One notable Mississippian born on December 29 was Robert "Bob" Pearce, who was born in 1905 in the town of Forest. Pearce went on to become a highly successful racehorse trainer, and his list of victories included a win in the famed Kentucky Derby in 1947.

5. On December 29, 1999, Mississippi was hit by a tornado outbreak that caused significant damage and claimed several lives. The tornadoes were part of a larger outbreak that affected several states across the Southeastern United States.