State Of Alabama Etymology, History, Geography, Demographics, Language, Religion, Economy, Agriculture, Industry, Tourist Attraction, Education

State Of Alabama

The City of Alabama

Alabama is a state in the southeastern region of the United States Of America. It’s bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. The 30th largest in Alabama by area and the 24th-most populous of the U.S. states, Alabama has among the most of any state with a total of 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of inland waterways.

The nickname of Alabama is the Yellowhammer State after the state bird and also known as the “Heart of Dixie” and the “Cotton State”. The longleaf pine is the state tree, and the state flower is the camellia. Alabama’s capital is Montgomery. Birmingham is the largest city by population, which has long been the most industrialized city. Huntsville is the largest city by land area and the oldest city is Mobile, founded by French colonists in 1702 as the capital of French Louisiana.

In the American Civil War until World War II, Alabama, like many states in the southern U.S., suffered economic hardship, in part because of its continued dependence on agriculture. Similar to other former slave states, Alabamian legislators employed Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise and otherwise discriminate against African Americans from the end of the Reconstruction Era up until at least the 1970s. Even if the growth of urban centers and major industries, white rural interests dominated the state legislature from 1901 to the 1960s. During the time, urban interests and African Americans were markedly under-represented. Following the World War II, the state’s economy grew and changed from one primarily based on agriculture to one with diversified interests and In the 21st century, the main state economy was automotive, finance, management, manufacturing, aerospace, mineral extraction, healthcare, education, retail, and technology.

State Of Alabama Etymology

Part of the entrances to Russell Cave in Jackson County.

The Alabama people derived the naming of European-Americans and the Alabama River, a Muskogean-speaking tribe whose members lived just below the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers on the upper reaches of the river. In the language, word for a person lineage is Albaamo (or variously Albaama or Albàamo in different dialects; the plural form is Albaamaha). They suggest that “Alabama” was borrowed from the Choctaw language is unlikely. The word’s spelling varies significantly among historical sources. The first usage came out in three accounts of the Hernando de Soto expedition of 1540: Garcilaso de la Vega used Alibamo, while the Knight of Elvas and Rodrigo Ranjel script Alibamu and Limamu, respectively, in transliterations of the term. Early in 1702, the French called the tribe the Alibamon, with French maps identifying the river as Rivière des Alibamons. Other spellings of the name have included AlibamuAlabamoAlbamaAlebamonAlibamaAlibamouAlabamaAllibamou.

Sources disagree on the word’s meaning. Few scholars suggest the word comes from the Choctaw alba (meaning “plants” or “weeds”) and Amo (meaning “to cut”, “to trim”, or “to gather”). The meaning may have been “clearer’s of the thicket” or “herb gatherers”, referring to clearing land for cultivation or collecting medicinal plants. The state has various place names of Native American origin. Eventho, there are no correspondingly similar words in the Alabama language.

In 1842 the article of Jacksonville Republican suggested it meant “Here We Rest.” This notion was popularized in the 1850s through the writings of Alexander Beaufort Meek. Experts didn’t find any evidence to support such translation in the Muskogean languages.

State Of Alabama History

In 1819 Alabama was joined in the union as the 22nd state, is located in the southern United States and nicknamed the “Heart of Dixie.” The region that became Alabama was occupied by aboriginals as early as some 10,000 years ago.  Europeans reached the area in the 16th century. During the half of the 19th century, cotton and slave labor were central to Alabama’s economy.  They played a key role in the American Civil War; its capital, Montgomery, was the Confederacy’s first capital. Following the war, segregation of blacks and whites prevailed throughout much of the South. In the mid-20th century, they were at the center of the American Civil Rights Movement and home to such pivotal events as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In the early 21st century, the state’s economy was fueled in part by jobs in aerospace, agriculture, auto production, and the service sector.

Pre-European settlement

 

The Moundville Archaeological Site in Hale County

Tribe of various cultures lived in the area for thousands of years before the advent of European colonization. They traded with the northeastern tribes by the Ohio River began during the Burial Mound Period (1000 BC-AD 700) and continued until European contact. From 1000 to 1600 AD the agrarian Mississippian culture covered most of the state, with one of its major centers built at what is now the Moundville Archaeological Site in Moundville, Alabama. The second massive complex of the classic Middle Mississippian era, after Cahokia in present-day Illinois, which was the center of the culture. Analysis of artifacts from archaeological drill hole at Moundville was the basis of scholars’ formulating the characteristics of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (SECC). Contrary to popular belief, the SECC looks to have no direct links to Mesoamerican culture but developed independently. The Ceremonial Structure represents a major component of the religion of the Mississippian peoples; it is one of the primary means by which their religion is understood.

One of the historical tribes of Native American people who lived in the present day at the time of European contact were the Cherokee, an Iroquoian language people; and the Muskogean spoken Alabama (Alibamu), Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Koasati. Although part of the same large language family, the Muskogee tribes developed distinct cultures and languages.

European settlement

In the 16th century, Spanish were the first Europeans to reach Alabama, The Hernando de Soto undertaking group passed through Mabila and other parts of the state in 1540, More than 160 years later, in 1702 the French found the first European settlement at Old Mobile and in 1711 the city was moved to the current site of mobile. 1702 to 1763 the area was claimed by French as part of La Louisiane.

Seven years of war after the British won against the French, it became part of British West Florida from 1763 to 1783. After the victory of the United States in the American Revolutionary War, the territory was divided between the United States and Spain. The belonging retained control of this western territory from 1783 until the surrender of the Spanish garrison at Mobile to U.S. forces on April 13, 1813.

Thomas Bassett was one of the earliest white settlers in the state outside Mobile. In the early 1770s, he settled in the Tombigbee District and the boundaries were roughly limited to the area within a few miles of the Tombigbee River and included separation of what is today southern Clarke County, northern Mobile County and most of Washington County. In 1783 Mobile and Baldwin became part of Spanish West Florida, The Republic of West Florida got there independent in 1810 and was finally added to the Mississippi Territory in 1812.

State Of Alabama Geography

Climate

The annual average temperature in Alabama is usually 64 °F (18 °C). Tend temperatures in the southern parts of the State are warmer with its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, while the Appalachian Mountains in the northern parts are tended to be slightly cooler. Alabama has very hot summers and mild winters with copious of rain, snow, or sleet throughout the year. Among the hottest states in the U.S. is Alabama with an average temperature over 90 °F (32 °C) throughout the summer. Alabama is also suffering from tropical storms and hurricanes. Mostly many thunderstorms are reported in Southern Alabama, thunders are reported between 70 and 80 days per year which leaves people homeless and causes death. Alabama is ranked ninth in the number of deaths from lightning.

State Of Alabama Demographics

Cities/Population and County

Birmingham – 210,710 – Jefferson Shelby

Montgomery – 199,518 – Montgomery

Huntsville – 194,585 – Madison Limestone

Mobile – 190,265 – Mobile

Tuscaloosa – 100,287 – Tuscaloosa

Hoover – 84,920 – Jefferson Shelby

Dothan – 68,202 – Houston

Auburn – 63,973 – Lee

Decatur – 54,405 – Morgan Limestone

Madison – 48,861 – Madison Limestone

Florence -39,852 – Lauderdale

Phenix City – 36,219 – Russell

Prattville – 35,498 – Autauga

Gadsden – 35,409 – Etowah

Vestavia Hills – 34,291 – Jefferson Shelby

Language

95.1% Population in Alabama spoke English at home.

Non -English languages spoken percentage in Alabama

Spanish – 2.2%

German – 0.4%

French – 0.3%

Chinese, Japanese, and Italian – 0.1%

Religion

In the United States of America, Alabama has been identified as one of the religious states with about 58% of the population attending church regularly. Alabama is a location in the middle of the Bible belt. The majority of people in Alabama are identified as Evangelical Protestants. In

Christian – 86%

Protestant – 78%

Evangelical Protestant – 49%

Mainline Protestant – 13%

The black church – 16%

Catholic – 7%

Mormon – 1%

Unaffiliated – 12%

Nothing in particular – 9%

Agnostic – 1%

Atheist – 1%

Non-Christian faiths – 1%

Jehovah’s Witnesses – 0.1%

Eastern Orthodox – 0.1%

Other Christian – 0.1%

Jewish – 0.2%

Muslim – 0.2%

Buddhist – 0.2%

Hindu – 0.2%

Other Non-Christian faiths – 0.2%

Don’t know/refused answer – 1%

Economy

The state invests in a lot of things like education, health care, aerospace, banking, and heavy industries that include steel production, extraction of minerals, fabrication, and manufacturing of the automobile. In Alabama, crop and animal production was most valued in 2006 at $1.5 billion and also developers bought lands for timber companies, and large farming conglomerates.

In 2008 non-agricultural employment was 71,750 in business and financial operations; 116,250 in training, education, and library services; 53,230 in personal care and services; 224,110 in production; 32,260 in social and community services; 154,040 in food preparation and serving; 27,840 in design, art, and media occupation; 121,110 in healthcare; 76,650 in building, maintenance and grounds cleaning; 120,155 in mining, oil extraction, gas, and construction; 20,510 in fishing, forestry, and farming; 167,160 in material moving and transportation; 121,800 in management occupations; 44,200 in mathematical occupation and computer-related; 12,410 in physical, social sciences and life; 44,750 in law enforcement, security, and fire fighting; and 106,280 in maintenance, installation, and repair.

In 2008 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, total gross state production was $170 billion.

Largest employers in Alabama

The three employers that hired the most employees in April 2011 were;

1.Employer – (Redstone Arsenal) – Employees – (25,373)

2.Employer – (The University of Alabama at Birmingham) – Employees – (18,750)

3.Employer – (Maxwell Air Force Base) – Employees – (12,280)

Agriculture

Alabama is also known as “The Cotton State”, cause it is ranked between eighth and tenth in national cotton production according to various reports, with top three including; Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas. Alabama agricultural production includes cotton, cattle, vegetables, fish, milk, grain, soybeans, sorghum, peanuts, eggs, peaches, and plant nursery items.

Industry

Industrial production in Alabama includes cars and trucks; apparel; mining coal; paper; plastic products; iron and steel products lumber, and wood products. Mostly in the Huntsville area, they produce electronic and aerospace products. Since the 1990s Alabama economic has grown and enlarged due to the state’s expanding automotive manufacturing industry.

The top five industries in Alabama are:

1.Technology

Technology companies are used to create products such as cybersecurity, data centers modeling and so much more. Information technology is incredibly widespread in Huntsville/Madison County area of the state, with more than 300 international and domestic corporations operating in that area and manufacturing of technology hardware is to make radars and sensors for advanced missile systems.

2.Forestry

Alabama is the third largest timberland production in the United States, forestry is the state’s second largest manufacturing industry, with $13 billion products produced once a year.

3.Aeronautics

The aerospace industry was started by the Wright brothers more than 100 years ago and was established in a civilian flight school in 1910. Alabamians were exhibiting rights about helping the first man to land on the moon. The location of NASA building of the Saturn V rocket was in Huntsville, which was the first rocket to put humans on the moon.

4.Chemicals

Alabama chemical manufacturing industries make substances such as chlorine, oxidants, light stabilizers, and many more. More than 200 companies are located in the state, including Eastman chemical company, Harcros Chemicals, Service Chemical industries and many more.

5.Automotive

The state of Alabama became an important center for building cars and was ranked fifth in the U.S. car and light truck production, building 918,000 vehicles throughout 2013. Cars that were built include Mercedes, Hyundai, Honda, and Mazda-Toyota

Photo of Honda Manufacturing company in Alabama

Tourist Attraction

Over 20 million tourists visit Alabama each year and over 100,00 from other countries.

15 Top-Rated Places Tourist Visit In Alabama

1. U.S. Space and Rocket Center

2. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

3. Birmingham Museum of Art

4. Montgomery Museum of Fine Art

5. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Civil Rights Historic District

6. Gulf State Park

7. Mobile Bay

8. W.C. Handy Home and Museum

9. University of Alabama

10. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

11. Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum

12. National Voting Rights Museum and Institute

13. McWane Science Center

14. Montgomery Civil Rights Landmarks

15. Civil Rights Memorials of Montgomery

Education

List Of Colleges And Universities In Alabama And Location

1. Alabama A & M University

2. Alabama Southern Community College

3. Alabama University

4. Amridge University

5. Auburn University

6. Auburn University at Montgomery

7. Bevil State Community College

8. Birmingham Southern College

9. Bishop State Community College

10. Brown Mackie College Birmingham

11. Central Alabama Community College

12. Chattahoochee Valley Community College

13. Columbia Southern University

14. Concordia College Selma

15. Enterprise State Community College

16. Faulkner University

17. Fortis College-Mobile

18. Fortis College Montgomery

19. Gadsden State Community College

20. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan

21. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville

22. George C Wallace State Community College Selma

23. H Councill Trenholm State Technical College

24. Heritage Christian University

25. Herzing University Birmingham

26. Huntingdon College

27. Huntsville Bible College

28. J F Drake State Technical College

29. Jacksonville State University

30. James H Faulkner State Community College

31. Jefferson Davis Community College

32. Jefferson State Community College

33. John C Calhoun State Community College

34. Judson College

35. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus

36. Lurleen B Wallace Community College

37. Marion Military Institute

38. Miles College

39. Northeast Alabama Community College

40. Northwest-Shoals Community College-Muscle Shoals

41. Oakwood University

42. Prince Institute of Professional Studies Inc

43. Reid State Technical College

44. Remington College-Mobile Campus

45. Samford University

46. Selma University

47. Shelton State Community College

48. Snead State Community College

49. Southeastern Bible College

50. Southern Union State Community College

51. Stillman College

52. Spring Hill College

53. Talladega College

54. The University of Alabama

55. Tri-State Institute

56. Troy University

57. Tuskegee University

58. The University of Alabama at Birmingham

59. The University of Alabama at Huntsville

60. University of Mobile

61. University of Montevallo

62. University of North Alabama

63. University of Phoenix Birmingham Campus

64. University of South Alabama

65. University of West Alabama

66. Virginia College Huntsville

67. Virginia College-Mobile

68. Virginia College Montgomery

 

 

 

 

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