Mississippi is a state located in the deep south of the country. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Ojibwe word "Great River." The state is heavily forested outside of the Mississippi Delta area. The state symbol is the magnolia tree. The Jackson metro area is in the central region of the state that covers five counties: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, and Simpson. The Jackson-Yazoo City combined is just slightly more populated.