Mississippi has consistently ranked as one of the poorest states in the country, so when its people were hit by the Great Recession, they really struggled to get back on their feet.
Each person in Mississippi accounts for roughly $29,000 of the state economy -- the lowest number in the nation. These folks are also often hardest hit by rising gas prices, because Mississippi is a vastly rural state and people drive long distances.
Construction and manufacturing of soft goods declined in 2010, but growth at auto makers and retailers helped Mississippi's overall GDP to grow 1.1%.
Read: Mississippi hardest hit by rising gas prices
