9 Ridiculously Weird but Totally True Facts About Mississippi

Ready to brush up on your Magnolia State trivia? We've got some unique facts about Mississippi that may not seem true, but they are! From the origin of the teddy bear to the state beverage, here are some fun facts about Mississippi that you can take with you to your next trivia night.

1. Two of the Deadliest Tornadoes in U.S. History Were in Mississippi

Mississippi may not be known for tornadoes, but it takes both the #2 and #4 slots. The second deadliest tornado in United States history was in Natchez on May 6, 1840, and left 317 people dead. The fourth deadliest was in Tupelo on April 5, 1936, and killed 216. On average, Mississippi sees about 27 tornadoes a year.

2. The First Human Lung Transplant Was Performed in Jackson

Dr. James Hardy performed the procedure at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1963. According to the medical center's website, Hardy's team "transplanted the heart of a chimpanzee into the chest of a dying man." Sadly, the patient died 18 days later.

3. Mississippi Opened the First Public College for Women in the Nation

Established in 1884, it was originally called the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College for the Education of White Girls. It changed its name to the Mississippi University for Women in 1920. In 1968, the first three black undergraduates enrolled, as well as three black teachers, who became the first graduate students at the school, and are known as the Fabulous Six.

4. More Than 50 Percent of America’s Farm-Raised Catfish Comes From Mississippi

Belzoni, Mississippi, is known as the "Catfish Capital of the World," accounting for a majority of the country's catfish production. Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas make up the other 50 percent. And at one point, Des Allemands, Louisiana, tried to claim it was the "Catfish Capital of the Universe," but we know the truth.

5. The First Coca-Cola Was Bottled Right Here in the Magnolia State

This popular beverage may have been invented in Atlanta in 1886, but it was bottled up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1894. According to the Coca-Cola website, "more than 1.9 billion servings of our drinks are enjoyed in more than 200 countries each day." Die-hard Coke lovers can even visit the town's Coca-Cola Museum the next time they're in Vicksburg.

6. Jackson Is Officially Sanctioned to Host the International Ballet Competition

Jackson is one of only four cities in the entire world to have this honor. The other three cities are Helsinki, Finland; Moscow, Russia; and Varna, Bulgaria. The next competition will be held in 2027.

7. Milk Is the Official State Beverage

Weird, right? Well, 21 other states also share milk as the state beverage. According to VinePair.com, Ohio was the first state to adopt a state beverage in 1965. Ohioans chose tomato juice, so maybe we're not so weird after all!

8. The Story of How Teddy Bears Came Into Existence Has Roots in Mississippi

According to the legend, Teddy Roosevelt was on a hunting expedition in Mississippi when someone had captured a bear and tied it to a tree. They offered it to Roosevelt to shoot, who vehemently refused. It became a bit of a joke in newspapers across the country, and one candy shop in Brooklyn decided to create a stuffed toy bear out of the whole ordeal and named it "Teddy’s Bear."

9. You Have to Be Religious to Run for State Office

Well, sort of. Mississippi still has language in its constitution that says you must be religious to run for office. Specifically, those who "believe in the existence of a Supreme Being" are allowed to run for office. However, another Supreme Being (the Supreme Court) ruled it unconstitutional in 1961, so it cannot be enforced.

For more fun facts, check out this list of unique Mississippi town names. You may also not know that Mississippi was the first state to do many things!