Information obtained from infoplease.com
Capital: Montgomery
State abbreviation/Postal code: Ala./AL
Governor: Bob Riley, R (to Jan. 2011)
Lieut. Governor: Lucy Baxley, D (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Jeff Sessions, R (to Jan. 2009); Richard C. Shelby, R (to Jan. 2011)
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Beth Chapman, R (to Jan. 2011)
Treasurer: Kay Ivey, R (to Jan. 2011)
Atty. General: Troy King, R (to Jan. 2011)
Organized as territory: March 3, 1817
Entered Union (rank): Dec. 14, 1819 (22)
Present constitution adopted: 1901
Motto: Audemus jura nostra defendere (We dare defend our rights)
State symbols:
| flower | camellia (1959) |
| bird | yellowhammer (1927) |
| song | “Alabama” (1931) |
| tree | Southern longleaf pine (1949, 1997) |
| salt water fish | fighting tarpon (1955) |
| fresh water fish | largemouth bass (1975) |
| horse | racking horse (1975) |
| mineral | hematite (1967) |
| rock | marble (1969) |
| game bird | wild turkey (1980) |
| dance | square dance (1981) |
| nut | pecan (1982) |
| fossil | species Basilosaurus Cetoides (1984) |
| official mascot and butterfly | eastern tiger swallowtail (1989) |
| insect | monarch butterfly (1989) |
| reptile | Alabama red-bellied turtle (1990) |
| gemstone | star blue quartz (1990) |
| shell | scaphella junonia johnstoneae (1990) |
Nickname: Yellowhammer State
Origin of name: May come from Choctaw meaning “thicket-clearers” or “vegetation-gatherers”
10 largest cities (2005 est.): Birmingham, 231,483; Montgomery, 200,127; Mobile, 191,544; Huntsville, 166,313; Tuscaloosa, 81,358; Hoover, 67,469; Dothan, 62,713; Decatur, 54,909; Auburn, 49,928; Gadsden, 37,405
Land area: 50,744 sq mi. (131,427 sq km)
Geographic center: In Chilton Co., 12 mi. SW of Clanton
Number of counties: 67
Largest county by population and area: Jefferson, 657,229 (2005); Baldwin, 1,596 sq mi.
State forests: 21 (48,000 ac.)
State parks: 22 (45,614 ac.)
Residents: Alabamian, Alabaman
2005 resident population est.: 4,557,808
2000 resident census population (rank): 4,447,100 (23). Male: 2,146,504 (48.3%); Female: 2,300,596 (51.7%). White: 3,162,808 (71.1%); Black: 1,155,930 (26.0%); American Indian: 22,430 (0.5%); Asian: 31,346 (0.7%); Other race: 28,998 (0.7%); Two or more races: 44,179 (1.0%); Hispanic/Latino: 75,830 (1.7%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.7; 65 and over: 13.0; median age: 35.8.
Selected famous natives and residents:
- Hank Aaron baseball player;
- Ralph Abernathy civil rights activist;
- Tallulah Bankhead actress;
- Hugo L. Black jurist;
- George Washington Carver educator, agricultural chemist;
- Nat “King” Cole entertainer;
- Marva Collins educator;
- Kenneth Gibson first black mayor of major eastern city (Newark);
- Lionel Hampton jazz musician;
- W. C. Handy composer;
- Courtney Cox-Arquette actress;
- Helen Keller author and educator;
- Coretta Scott King civil rights leader;
- Harper Lee writer;
- Joe Louis boxer;
- Willie Mays baseball player;
- Jim Nabors actor;
- Jesse Owens athlete;
- Rosa Parks civil rights activist;
- Wayne Rogers actor;
- Tascaluza Choctaw chief;
- George Wallace governor;
- William Weatherford (Red Eagle) Creek leader;
- Heather Whitestone Miss America (1995).
- Hank Williams singer and songwriter.