Alabama

Alabama is the only state to have an official state seal that contains a map of the state as part of the design.

Alabama's official state motto is (translated from the Latin), "We dare defend our rights."

In 1702, the French established Alabama's first permanent European town: Fort Louis de Mobile.  The French then established Mobile, a colony of settlers near Ft. Louis, for the purpose of producing sugar, rice and indigo.  The French then enslaved 600 Africans and brought them to Mobile in 1719 to work the crops: the beginning of slavery in the South.  By 1860, slaves were almost half of Alabama's population.

The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta is the 4th largest river system in the US and the 2nd largest delta system.
Alabama has no large natural lakes.   

Alabama ties with Oklahoma for the most EF5 tornadoes in the US, and Alabama has more tornado fatalities than any other state.  Alabama is one of the few places in the world with a secondary tornado season: the main one in the spring, but also a second in Nov. and Dec.


The State of Alabama has at least 9 state-recognized Native American tribes and declared Columbus Day to be celebrated as American Indian Heritage Day.

The state Legislature meets for 30 days each year.  The members of both the Senate and House of Representatives in Alabama are elected to 4-year terms, and these terms don't overlap, so the entire Legislature stands for reelection every four years.

Alabama's constitution dates to 1901 and has been amended many times, making it one of the longest in the US.

Alabama is the 6th largest producer of pecans in the US and the 2nd largest producer of peanuts.  The area around Dothan produces one-fourth of all peanuts in the US.

Alabama ranks 2nd in the US in catfish farming, 3rd in broiler production, and 5th in sweet potato yields.

Mobile is one of the largest ports in the US, and about 200 shipping companies have their headquarters there.

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, now in Montgomery, is the world's 5th largest.

Pine Burr quilt

Alabama has an official state American folk dance (the square dance), an official state quilt (Pine Burr Quilt), and an official state drama ("The Miracle Worker" by William Gibson).