Alabama Facts

51 Alabama Facts

1. Alabama is one of the 50 states of the United States of America.
2. Alabama was the 22nd state to join the United States on December 14, 1819.
3. Alabama is in the southern region of the United States.
4. Alabama is the 30th largest U.S. state, covering a total of 52,420.07 square miles or 1.38% of the total area of the United States.
5. Alabama's 52,420.07 square miles is 96.61% land and 3.39% surface water.
6. Alabama is ranked 30th with the most land area in the United States, with 50,645.33 square miles of land area.
7. Alabama is ranked 23rd with the most water area in the United States, with 1,774.74 square miles of water area.
8. Alabama is the 24th most populated U.S. state with a population of 5,024,279 or 1.52% of the total population of the United States.
9. The state capital of Alabama is the city of Montgomery.
10. Alabama is divided into 67 counties statewide.
11. Jefferson County is the most populated county in Alabama
12. The most populated city in Alabama is Huntsville with an estimated 215,006 residents.
13. The five most populated city in Alabama are Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.
14. A native or resident Alabama is called a Alabamian or Alabaman.
15. Alabama's average elevation statewide is 500 feet.
16. Alabama's highest elevation point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,413 feet.
17. Alabama's lowest elevation point is the Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet.
18. Alabama is all in the Central Time Zone (CT).
19. The two letter abbreviation for Alabama is AL.
20. The ISO 3166 code for Alabama is US-AL.
21. Alabama is called the Cotton State and the Yellowhammer State.
22. The estimated median household income in Alabama is $51,734.
23. Alabama is the 46th most expensive U.S. state to buy a home with an estimated median home price of $138,975.
24. Alabama is ranked 48th on the cost of living index out of all 50 U.S. states.
25. Alabama has the 19th oldest population in the United States with a median age of 39.5.
26. Alabama's average temperature is 62.68°F making it the 7th warmest state in the United States.
27. Alabama on average has 56.00 inches of precipitation per year, making it the 3rd wettest U.S. state.
28. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Alabama was 112 °F on Sunday, September 6, 1925, in Centerville, AL.
29. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Alabama was -27 °F on Sunday, January 30, 1966, in New Market 2, AL.
30. The largest lake in Alabama is Guntersville Lake with 69,100 acres of surface water.
31. The largest river in Alabama is the Tennessee River stretching across 652 miles of the state.
32. Alabama has around 23 million acres of forest, covering around two-thirds of the state.
33. Huntsville, Alabama is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The launch vehicles for the Apollo program were developed here, along with various parts of the Space Shuttle program. Huntsville is known as the rocket capital of the world.
34. The Great Lakes are over 700 miles away from Alabama. You can take a trip to them entirely by boat by traversing 1,300 miles of waterways.
35. In 1820, the University of Alabama was established. Today, it’s the largest university in the state of Alabama.
36. In 1836, Alabama became the first U.S. state to make Christmas an official holiday. That’s four years before the United States made it an official national holiday.
37. In 1861, Alabama and four other states voted to succeed from the United States, a prelude to the American Civil War.
38. In 1886, the world’s first electric trolley system was introduced in Montgomery, Alabama.
39. In 1901, Alabama ratified its sixth state constitution. The Constitution of the State of Alabama is 51 times longer than the United States Constitution and 12 times longer than the average U.S. state constitution with 388,882 words.
40. In 1910, the Wright Brothers opened their first flying school called the Wright Flying School in Montgomery, Alabama.
41. In 1955, Alabama became a part of the American Civil Rights Movement. On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This paved the road to the Montgomery bus boycott and last for almost an entire year.
42. In 1968, Alabama was the location of the first 911 phone call. On February 16th, 1968, the first 9-1-1 call was made by Rankin Fite (Alabama Speak of the House) to Tom Bevill (U.S. Representative) in Haleyville, Alabama.
43. In 2011, the Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado caused $2.91 billion (2022 USD) in damages, 64 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries. The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado is ranked as the 2nd costliest tornadoes in history.
44. Singer, songwriter, and musician Hank Williams was born in Mount Olive, Alabama.
45. Novelist Harper Lee, best known for writing “To Kill a Mockingbird”, was born in Monroeville, Alabama.
46. Professional boxer Joe Louis, one of the greatest boxers of all time, was born in LaFayette, Alabama.
47. Disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
48. Alabama's official state motto is "Audemus jura nostra defendere" (Latin: We dare to defend our rights").
49. Alabama's official state bird is the Yellowhammer  (Colaptes auratus).
50. Alabama's official state tree is the Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris).
51. Alabama's official state flower is the Camellia (Camellia japonica).

Pictures of Alabama, USA

The state of Alabama and its regional area on a Map of the United States of America.

The official state flag of Alabama waving in the wind on a flag pole.

The official state seal of Alabama that is used by the state's government.

Montgomery the capital city of Alabama.

Huntsville, Alabama, United States of America.

Gulf Coast Beach