Mississippi has a long history of decline and renewal. Before the Civil War, planters used slave labor to siphon fortunes out of the rich river delta soil. After the war, what was once one of the most thriving economies in the union began a steady dive toward poverty and depression.

For more than a century, the state's history of racism forced Mississippians to literally live "apart from America" in nearly every aspect of life, writes Michael Barone in the Almanac of American Politics.

Though the state still ranks low in many quality of life indicators, progress has been made. The gap between Mississippi and the rest of the nation has narrowed dramatically in recent decades. It has also made strides in the areas that have long defined it: racism and poverty. New political and civic leaders have had some success attempting to purge the ghosts of Mississippi's white supremacist history by adjusting the state's economy to new industries and improving education.

Perhaps the largest economic boost has come from gambling, which was legalized in 1989. Gambling has produced some 40,000 jobs in a state that has long struggled with a depressed agrarian economy. Although the state's most high-profile corporation, WorldCom, collapsed in scandal recently, the economic future of Mississippi seems pointed in the direction of the service industries.

In the 1990s the Clarion-Ledger, a Jackson newspaper that had been an avid proponent of segregation in the 1960s, began a series of reports that led to the reinvestigation of 20 civil rights-era killings. In 1994 state prosecutors won a conviction in the long-unsolved murder of NAACP official and civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

Since the 1970's, kindergarten has been made mandatory, the legal dropout age has been raised to 14, and spending on education has become 40 percent of the state budget.

"Most Mississippians of 50 years ago would be astonished by the physical comforts and mechanical marvels their grandchildren take for granted today: Every classroom in the state is air-conditioned and the governor wants to wire them all up to the Internet. They would be astonished as well by relations between blacks and whites," writes Barone.

However some elements of the state's past continue to spark heated disputes. In 2001 when Mississippians were given the choice of replacing their controversial state flag - which includes the "stars and bars" of the Confederate battle flag - they voted, after months of angry public debate, 64 percent to 36 percent to keep it.

A politically conservative state, Mississippi was, for much of the 20th century, a "Solid South" Democratic stronghold. When the philosophy of the national party began to be viewed as out of touch with that of its local members, politicians began changing their party affiliation. It has voted Republican in the last six presidential elections, but Democrats, the so-called Dixiecrats, have maintained dominance over the legislature.

But Mississippi's slow economic growth and minimal population increase cost it politically as well. In the 2000 Census, Mississippi lost a U.S. House seat. Therefore in November, 4th District incumbent Ronnie Shows, a Democrat, will square off against 3rd District Republican incumbent Charles "Chip" Pickering.

The candidates have traded barbs over social security, healthcare, and corporate responsibility issues. Experts have said the race could be one of the most competitive of this election cycle.

--By Jason Manning, Online NewsHour