"What can you tell me about it as far as being a place to raise a family, climate, soil, growing conditions, hunting & fishing, availability of land / hobby farm /homestead type properties"
Most all of Mississippi is rural. Even the few "big" towns are less that 200,000 population. It is the best place I have lived and a great place to raise a family. There are churches on every corner and traditional values permeate everything. Here, even those that are corrupt by nature can be shamed. Thievery is small time. We homeschool without hassle from the State.
Sales taxes are about 8 percent and are applied to everything. Property taxes are cheap and there is a decent homestead exemption. Local communities still run themselves here. Local elections are important. Cops are your neighbors.
Philadelphia is a decently kept-up small town (not so small for Mississippi). The nearby Choctaw indian reservation has gambling which is bringing in bucks and industry into the area. Winters are very mild with light frosts (usually), usually enough to kill the bugs. Spring seems to quick and variable, Fall is about right. Summer - well, its the south. Hot and humidm especially July and August. Rain, probably about 50 inches or less per year in Philadelphia. Erratic drought some years for say August-September. I treat July and August like winter elsewhere - you work inside. Soil varies alot but doesnt seem to determine as much what you can grow. The summer heat is a killer for some crops more common up north. The hunting and fishing is the best anywhere I've ever been. Mostly restricted to bass, crappie (in the bigger lakes) bream and catfish. There are too many deer. Turkey have become plentiful again. Not much quail (too much forests nowadays), some dove. There is an open season on northerners (joke).
Land and property are widely available. Best prices are had by living in a place awhile and getting to know local people who will sell to you are better prices.