Mississippi Statehood: December 10, 1817, and Its Flag

Mississippi became the 20th state on December 10, 1817. President James Monroe signed the resolution admitting it to the Union. Its current magnolia flag belongs to a much later chapter: voters approved the new design in November 2020, and the legislation enacting it was signed in January 2021.

When is Mississippi's state birthday?

Mississippi's statehood anniversary is December 10. The date marks admission in 1817, not the establishment of the earlier Mississippi Territory or adoption of the modern flag. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History's statehood account identifies it as the nation's twentieth state.

How did Mississippi become a state?

An enabling act signed on March 1, 1817, authorized the western portion of Mississippi Territory to form a state government. The eastern portion became Alabama Territory. Delegates gathered at Washington, near Natchez, in July and adopted Mississippi's first constitution on August 15.

The Archives and History department's territorial history traces this division and Monroe's December 10 approval. It also explains that slavery was central to the territory's economy and early state development. A statehood anniversary marks a political milestone, not the beginning of the region's history or equal freedom for all its residents.

Was the present flag adopted in 2020 or 2021?

Both years describe important steps. After retiring the 1894 flag in 2020, Mississippi established a commission to choose a replacement. Voters approved the proposed magnolia design on November 3, 2020. Governor Tate Reeves signed the legislation enacting the new design on January 11, 2021.

The department's January 2021 announcement documents the distinction. For a timeline, label 2020 as voter approval and January 11, 2021, as enactment of the new flag law rather than treating them as competing dates for the same step.

What do the magnolia and stars represent?

The design centers a magnolia blossom, surrounded by twenty white stars and a separate gold star. The twenty stars reflect Mississippi's admission order, while the gold star recognizes Indigenous peoples. The words “In God We Trust” appear beneath the blossom. The Mississippi Official and Statistical Register explains the design and its symbolism.

Which Mississippi flag belongs in a modern birthday display?

Use the magnolia design for a current state-flag display, and check the actual image rather than relying on a product name alone. If discussing the retired 1894 flag, identify it as historical. Neither design should be presented as a flag adopted on Mississippi's admission day in 1817.

Explore Mississippi flags and other state birthdays

For a statehood display, compare the sizes, materials and mounting options in our Mississippi state flag collection. For more anniversary dates, visit the U.S. state birthday calendar.

Sources and further reading

• Mississippi Archives and History: Icons of Statehood
• Mississippi History Now: Territorial Years, 1798–1817
• Mississippi Archives and History: State Leaders Raise New Flag
• Mississippi Official and Statistical Register 2020–2024: General Information