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Alabama Facts For Kids

Alabama is located in the southeastern region of the United States.

It was the 22^nd state in the nation and is the 30^th largest state by area.

Related: Alabama State History

The state is known for its iron and steel natural resources, Southern hospitality, sweet tea, and football—especially the fierce rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Key Facts

• Capital: Montgomery
• Population: 5 million
• Nickname: The Yellowhammer State, Cotton State, Heart of Dixie
• Key Cities: Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville
• Postal Abbreviation: AL
• Major Industries: Automotive, chemicals, information technology, forestry, aerospace

History

How did Alabama get its name: The state was named after the Alabama River, which got its name from the Indian tribe that lived in the territory.

The name “Alabama” comes from a combination of two Choctaw words: “Alba,” meaning vegetation or plants and “Amo,” meaning gatherer or picker.

The Alabama Indians cleared and farmed the land, so “vegetation gatherers” is an accurate description of the tribe.

Date admitted to the Union: Tuesday, December 14, 1819.

Geography

• Size: 52,419 sq. miles
• Lowest point: Gulf of Mexico at sea level
• Highest point: Cheaha Mountain at 2,407 feet
• Counties: 67
• Famous locations: Vulcan Statue, USS Alabama (BB-60), U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Famous People from Alabama

• Nat “King” Cole – entertainer
• Henry Louis (Hank) Aaron – baseball player
• Helen Keller – author and activist
• Rosa Parks – Civil Rights activist

• Channing Tatum – actor
• Terrell Owens – football player

Fun Facts About Alabama

The southern longleaf pine is the state tree

The southern Longleaf Pine tree is scientifically known as Pinus Palustris; it is the official state tree of Alabama. This tree species has played an important role in the history of Alabama. It was once used for shipbuilding due to its straight trunk and durability. Today, the Southern Longleaf Pine Tree is a significant source of timber for the state’s forestry.

“Sweet Home Alabama” became an unofficial state anthem.

The Song Sweet Home Alabama was released in 1974 by the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and it became very hit by making record number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. And the song Sweet Home Alabama become an unofficial state anthem. The lyrics of “Sweet Home Alabama” honor the state of Alabama and its southern heritage, referencing landmarks and events that are unique in the state.

The Apollo 11 rocket was made in Alabama.

The rocket launched into space, “The Apollo 11 mission,” in which astronauts Mr.Neil Armstrong and Mr.Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon, was made in Alabama, and it is one of the most significant achievements in human history.

Alabama is very biodiverse.

Alabama is known for its incredible biodiversity. The state boasts a wide range of ecosystems.

Alabama is home to a wealth of animal species. The state’s rivers and streams are filled with fish, including bass, catfish, and trout, while its forests are home to several species of birds, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

There were 40 Native American tribes in Alabama.

Alabama has a rich history of Native American cultures, with over 40 different tribes inhabiting the region at various times in history. These tribes include the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole.

The Native American tribes of Alabama were diverse in their cultural practices, languages, and beliefs. While the European explorers and settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries significantly impacted the Native American tribes of Alabama. Today, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians is one of the most recognized tribes in the state of Alabama, operating several businesses and initiatives to promote their culture and improve the lives of their people. 

Tribes, such as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, maintain a presence in Alabama, continuing to celebrate their unique histories and traditions.

State Symbol

Alabama has a rich history and culture, and several iconic symbols represent its identity. Some of them are-

• The Yellowhammer
• The Camellia
• The Sweet Potato
• The Confederate Flag
• The Alabama Crimson Tide
• The Space Rocket

Some More Interesting Alabama Facts

• In Creek Indian language, the name Alabama means “tribal town“.
• In 1886, Montgomery introduced the world’s first electric trolley system.
• In 1861, the Confederate flag was developed and flown for the first time in Alabama.
• Washington County is Alabama’s oldest county.
• Alabama’s lowest mean elevation point is 500 feet above sea level.
• Alabama’s official nut is the pecan.
• The first rocket to put humans on the moon was built at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
• In 1836, Alabama became the first state to recognize Christmas as an official holiday.
• It was also the first state in the nation to celebrate Veteran’s Day, with the first Veteran’s Day Parade taking place in Birmingham, Alabama in 1947.
• Alabama’s state constitution has over 300,000 words and over 775 amendments. That makes it longest state constitution and the most amended state constitution in the world! Related: US Constitution
• In Aniston, Alabama, you can visit the World’s Largest Office Chair. It’s made from 10 tons of steel—probably about three times the weight of your family’s car!

• Alabama is home to the United States’ largest snail population. Believe it or not, 43% of all snails in the United States live in Alabama.
• The last all-water mail route in the United States is in Magnolia Springs, Alabama.
• Magnolia Springs is the only city in the United States where the mail is delivered completely by boat.
• Wrestling a Bear is a crime in Alabama. Selling, purchasing, possessing, or training a bear for bear wrestling is unlawful in Alabama. In Alabama, bear wrestling bouts used to be a big deal. They were so popular that Alabama passed a legislation prohibiting “bear exploitation” which specifically prohibits anyone from participating in bear wrestling competitions.
• Alabama is the only state in the United States with an official alcoholic beverage.
• Alabama is known as the Yellowhammer State, the Heart of Dixie, and the Cotton State, but no official nickname has been assigned to it.
• The first 911 call in the United States happened in Alabama.
• Alabama is where windshield wipers were first invented. On the winter of 1903, Alabaman Mary Anderson visited New York and observed how the driver had to exit the vehicle and clear the snow and sleet. So Anderson devised a swinging arm with a rubber blade that the driver could employ inside the vehicle.
• In 1703, Alabama was the first state to hold a Mardi Gras celebration.
• You can go entirely by boat from Alabama to the Great Lakes. To get to Chicago, one can travel 1,300 miles via the interior waterways, passing through a variety of rivers and locks.
• In Alabama around 400 million pounds of peanuts are farmed every year, with most of them grown within just a 100-mile radius of Dothan. With 900+ farms, Alabama is the 2nd largest producer of peanuts in the United States.
• Alabama was not only a major player in the Civil War, but it was also where it all began. Confederate Secretary of War Leroy Pope Walker transmitted the telegraph from Montgomery that sparked the Civil War.

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