Mississippi elevation
Mississippi runs from sea level (Gulf of Mexico) to 806 ft at Woodall Mountain, with an average of about 291 ft.
Highest point: Woodall Mountain
806ft
246 m above sea level
Woodall Mountain, Tishomingo County · NGVD 29 (the older U.S. vertical datum)
- Lowest point: Gulf of Mexico
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 291 ft (89 m)
- Mean of 225 USGS points about 24 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
Mississippi places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Jackson279 ft
Mississippi elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Woodall Mountain | 806 ft (246 m) | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Lowest point: Gulf of Mexico | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 806 ft (246 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 291 ft (89 m) | USGS 3DEP, 225 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 805 ft (246 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Jackson | 279 ft (85 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 46,925 sq mi (121,534 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 291 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (291 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 99 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- At or below 1,000 ft, use the standard USDA sea-level times.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in Mississippi
- Southaven313 ft
- Jackson (capital)279 ft
- Hattiesburg164 ft
- Gulfport20 ft
- Biloxi20 ft
Largest places in Mississippi
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | 279 ft (85 m) · pop. 141,449 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Gulfport | 20 ft (6 m) · pop. 74,621 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Southaven | 313 ft (95 m) · pop. 57,493 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Hattiesburg | 164 ft (50 m) · pop. 48,522 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Biloxi | 20 ft (6 m) · pop. 48,144 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Mississippi?
Woodall Mountain at 806 ft (246 m), from USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001).
What is the lowest point in Mississippi?
Gulf of Mexico, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of Mississippi?
About 291 ft (89 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 225 points on a regular grid about 24 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which Mississippi city on this site is highest?
Jackson, at 279 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in Mississippi?
At 291 ft, water boils at about 211.5 °F (99.7 °C) and standard air pressure is 29.61 inHg (1,003 hPa), so each breath holds about 99% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because Mississippi spans 806 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made