Facts about Mississippi

This week I am working in Greenville, MS but staying in Cleveland, MS. The reason I am working and staying in separate areas (about 30 miles apart) is because Greenville does not have a Hilton Family Hotel and I like my hotel points (I plan on taking a huge trip next year and don't want to pay for it). Both towns however are very small farming towns that do not have websites that offer much in way of fun facts about their town. Therefore, I will supplement this with some facts about Mississippi in general.

• They produce very attractive Miss USA contestants (see picture)
• Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, has been called "Where Flowers Healed A Nation"? On April 25, 1866 the ladies of Columbus, Mississippi decided to decorate both Confederate and Union soldiers' graves with garlands and bouquets of beautiful flowers. As A direct result of this kind gesture, Americans celebrate what has come to be called MEMORIAL DAY each year?


• The Old Spanish Fort Museum in Pascagoula, Mississippi has the honor of displaying the world's largest shrimp.


• Greenville, Mississippi, is called the "Towboat Capital of the World."


• Root Beer was invented in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1898 by Edward Adolf Barq, Sr.


• The world's oldest Holiday Inn is located in Clarksdale.


• Mississippi has more churches per capita than any other state.


• Oh yeah...Greenville, MS does not have a Hampton Inn


• Greenville has many hole in the wall Mexican restaurants

Hopefully this increased your knowledge about Mississippi and when your friends say, "Man, there is nothing interesting about Mississippi" you can correct them.

--Source: Mississippi Local History Network

Fun Facts About Jacksonville

Since I travel most every week, I thought I would start doing a little research and find out some facts about the city that I call home for that week. Since I have a blog...yall get to share in my education. Here are some fun facts that I learned about Jacksonville:

• The City of Jacksonville ranks as the 14th largest city in the United States in population with more than 800,000 residents


• Jacksonville covers 841 square miles


• Home to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars


• Duval County (Jacksonville's county) had 82 murders last year


• The settlement that became Jacksonville was founded in 1791 as Cowford, because of its location at a narrow point in the river across which cattle were once driven


• The most famous person I could find that is from Jacksonville...David Duval


• The water here smells like sulfur


• The Hilton Garden Inn in Orange Park is pretty nice...I recommend it


• The average low for December is 44 degrees

Thanks to coj.org and wikipedia.com for helping me out.