The State Flag | Alabama | 
The State Seal |
State Bird
Yellowhammer | 
State Tree
Longleaf Pine | 
State Flower
Camellia |
State Fruit
Blackberry | 
State Butterfly
Tiger Swallowtail | 
State Gem
Blue Quartz |
Alabama is the 22nd State (admitted to the United States of America on December 14, 1819).
The word Alabama is believed to have originated from the Choctaw language and was later adopted by the Alabama tribe as their name. The word comes from the Choctaw words alba (meaning "plants" or "weeds") and amo (meaning "to cut", "to trim", or "to gather"). It may refer to the clearing of land for the purpose of planting crops or to the collection of medicinal plants by medicine men.
Where is Alabama located? It is in the southern region of the United States.
What other States does Alabama touch? ANSWER: Mississippi (West), Georgia (East), Tennessee (North), and Florida (South).
Alabama is unofficially nicknamed the Yellowhammer State, which is also the name of the state bird. Alabama's official Mascot and State butterfly is the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Alabama is also known as the "Heart of Dixie". The State tree is the Longleaf Pine, the State flower is the Camellia. Alabama's State fruit is the blackberry.
The State song is, "Alabama." Alabama's State Motto is, "We Dare Maintain Our Rights."
A complete list of Alabama symbols and emblems can be found here.
The capital of Alabama is Montgomery, and the largest city by population is Birmingham. The largest city by total land area is Huntsville. The oldest European settler (French) founded city is Mobile (1702). The people who were already living in the area that became Alabama when European settlers arrived were the Alabama (Alibamu), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Koasati, and Mobile.
Alabama's main industries today are aerospace, agriculture, education, health care, banking, automobile manufacturing, mineral extraction, steel production and fabrication. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center/U.S. Space Camp is located in Huntsville. Alabama's early industry was heavily based on agriculture (growing cotton, for example) and depended on slavery. All the slaves were freed by 1865. One hundred years later, the Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement.
In 1861 Alabama declared its secession from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. While few battles were fought in the state, Alabama contributed about 120,000 soldiers to the Civil War. Following Reconstruction, Alabama was restored to the Union in 1868.
Summers in Alabama are among the hottest in the United States and southern Alabama reports more thunderstorms than any part of the U.S. Winters are generally mild.
Famous people from Alabama include Hank Aaron, Tallulah Bankhead, Charles Barkley, Hugo L. Black, Paul W. (Bear) Bryant, Jimmy Buffett, Bo Bice, George Washington Carver, Nat King Cole, Courteney Cox Arquette, Zelda Fitzgerald, William C. Handy, Taylor Hicks, Bo Jackson, Kate Jackson, Helen Keller, Coretta Scott King, Harper Lee, Joe Louis, Willie Mays, Jim Nabors, Randy Owen, Jesse Owens, Satchel Paige, Rosa Parks, Wilson Pickett, Condoleezza Rice, Lionel Richie, Bart Starr, Ruben Studdard, George Wallace, Booker T. Washington, and Hank Williams.
If you are planning to visit Alabama, a good place to start looking for information would be Alabama's official tourism website. The Encyclopedia of Alabama is also a very large resource for information on the State.
Other fun things to do and interesting things to learn about Alabama can be found at these places:
EnchantedLearning.com has many resources and fun activities (including printables) on the State of Alabama. Fun for kids and a fantastic resource for parents and teachers.
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