Regions of Mississippi
The state has several popular land regions, including the Mississippi Black Belt, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Pine Belt, and Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Agriculture in Mississippi
Agriculture continues to be Mississippi’s top industry for revenue generated in the Magnolia State. Agriculture is in the state is an 8.83 billion-dollar industry. There are approximately 34,700 farms in the state, covering 10.4 million acres of Mississippi. The average size farm comprises 300 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 82 counties.
Mississippi’s most valuable crops are cotton and soybean. The state also grows substantial quantities of corn for grain, rice, and sweet potatoes. Most of the cropland is found in the Mississippi Delta area of the state.
Historically known for its cotton harvest, the products that now account for the state’s main agricultural output are broiler chickens, soybeans, and corn. Fun fact, Mississippi is a top 5 producer of broiler chickens along with Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, and North Carolina. Poultry is Mississippi’s largest agricultural commodity, leading as the most valuable livestock product, including eggs-layers, with sales valued at $3.1 billion.
Mississippi leads the country in catfish production. Catfish is an important commodity for the state. Mississippi’s aquaculture has risen back to the top, ranking first in the U.S. with $230.7 million in sales. Known for farm-raised catfish, Mississippi boasts 205 catfish farms with sales valued at $219.7 million (USDA, June 2021).
Wildlife
Mississippi wildlife is abundant within the state on both land and water. The dense vegetation, ample rainfall, and forage make it a wildlife mecca for land animals and fisheries alike.
Its primary wildlife includes whitetail deer, turkey, dove, ducks, and hog.
The combination of both freshwater and saltwater creates a diverse ecosystem for many fish species, including largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, perch, and bluegill. The primary saltwater species include redfish, speckled trout, blacktip shark, and cobia. With over 100 public lakes, 123,000 stream miles, and 255,000 freshwater acres, and, Gulf Coast access makes for diverse fishing opportunities across the state.
Main Rivers & Largest Lakes
Mississippi River, Pearl River, Pascagoula River, Tombigbee River, and their main tributaries: the Tallahatchie River, Yazoo River, Big Black River, Leaf River, and the Chickasawhay River.
The largest lake is Sardis Lake, and other significant lakes include Ross Barnett Reservoir, Arkabutla Lake, and Grenada Lake.
National and State Parks
Mississippi has 24 state parks and nine national parks.
National Parks
- Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
- Gulf Island National Seashore
- Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
- Natchez National Historical Park
- Natchez Trace Parkway
- Natchez Trace National Trail
- Shiloh Military Park
- Tupelo National Battlefield
- Vicksburg National Military Park
Major Lakes
Lake Sardis, the largest lake in Mississippi, is located in North Mississippi on the Little Tallahatchie River 50 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The surface area of this lake is approximately 98,520 acres (154 square miles).
Other large lakes include Grenada Lake and Ross Barnett Reservoir, which exceed 30,000 surface area acres.
| State Summary | |
| Nickname | Magnolia State |
| Neighboring States | Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee |
| Regions | Mississippi Black Belt, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Pine Belt, Mississippi Gulf Coast |
| State Flower | Magnolia |
| State Bird | Mockingbird |
| Big Game | Whitetail deer, alligator, wild hogs, coyotes, fox, bobcats |
| Small Game | Turkey, ducks, dove, rabbits, squirrels, quail |
| Freshwater Fish | Largemouth bass, Crappie, Catfish, White bass, Perch, Bluegill |
| Saltwater Fish | Redfish, speckled trout, blacktip shark, cobia, red snapper |
| Hunting Information | https://www.mdwfp.com/ |
| Total acreage | 30.9 million |
| Total public land acreage | 600,000 acres |
| Average annual rainfall | 55.9 inches |
| Farmland by acreage | 10.4 million acres |
| Woodlands by acreage | 19.2 million acres |
| Coastline | 44 miles |
| Conservation program | Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks |
| Primary Crops | Cotton, Soybeans |
| Main Rivers | Mississippi River, Mississippi River, Pearl River, Pascagoula River and the Tombigbee River |
| Largest Lake | Lake Sardis |
| Other Lakes | Grenada Lake and Ross Barnett Reservoir |
| Major Rivers | Mississippi River, Pearl River, Pascagoula River, Tombigbee River |
| Other Tributaries | Tallahatchie River, Yazoo River, Big Black River, Leaf River, and the Chickasawhay River |
Our Rural Real Estate Offices
Mossy Oak Properties Mississippi began with the goal of becoming a trusted resource for folks looking to buy or sell rural land for sale in Mississippi. Our land brokers and agents understand what people are looking for in rural property because we share the same lifestyle and love for the land as you do. We understand the importance of honor and integrity and that buying or selling land is an emotional and life-changing experience for consumers.
Only Mossy Oak Properties Mississippi can provide the powerful combination of brand strength, local expertise, quality service, and national exposure. Whether you want to buy or sell rural real estate, a Mossy Oak Properties land specialist is a must-have on your team.
Find a Mississippi land real estate agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Mississippi a valuable land market in the South?
Mississippi offers some of the most affordable country land in the South, for the quality of the land and the hunting you get. The state has massive pine forests, great Delta farmland and fantastic hunting properties that consistently cost less than similar land in Alabama and Georgia. According to the United States Department of Agriculture 2025 Land Value Report, the Delta counties along the Mississippi River have deep, rich soil and flooded bottomland woods that make up some of the best duck hunting habitats in the entire country. The hill country in the middle of the state and the pine woods down south offer very cheap options for timber and hunting. Because land prices here stay much steadier than in neighboring states, Mississippi is a true bargain for buyers.
What are typical land prices in Mississippi by region and land type?
According to the 2025 reports from the Mississippi State University Extension, prime farm land in the Delta that already has irrigation and grows great crops sells for 4200 to 7225 dollars per acre. Average non-irrigated crop land across the state goes for around 3000 to 5000 dollars per acre. If you want hunting and timber land in the north central hill counties like Grenada, Attala and Choctaw, you will pay 1200 to 2500 dollars per acre. Down south, planted pine tree farms sell for 1000 to 2000 dollars per acre. If you want a property in the Delta that is already set up to flood for duck hunting, expect to pay 2500 to 5000 dollars per acre.
What property taxes should Mississippi rural landowners expect?
Mississippi has some of the lowest property tax rates on country land in the entire South. According to the Mississippi Department of Revenue, if you grow crops or timber, the county taxes the land based on what it produces instead of what a developer would pay for it which slashes your yearly tax bill. Timberland gets a special forest use tax rate, which is incredibly cheap. The overall taxes are very low and the state does not have an estate tax. If you want to buy land to hold for a long time without paying a fortune in yearly taxes, Mississippi is a fantastic choice.
