In the language of the Creek Indians, “Alabama” in fact means “tribal town.” The state is considered the “Heart of Dixie,” and enjoys a long and distinguished history.
Famous natives include country singer Hank Williams, blind and deaf icon Helen Keller, baseball's Willie Mays, Olympic champion Jesse Owens, boxer Joe Louis, civil rights activist Rosa Parks, and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
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Here are seven facts you may not know about Alabama:
1. When Alabama became a state on Dec. 14, 1819, it was the 22nd to be added to the United States of America. Its motto is “We dare defend our rights.”
2. The yellowhammer is the state bird of Alabama. It was selected in memory of the Confederate soldiers who fought on behalf of the state during the Civil War and who were given this nickname because of their uniform’s yellow trimmings.
3. On Jan. 11, 1861, Alabama was the fourth state to secede from the United States of America.
The first official use of the Confederate flag was in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 4, 1861, during the inauguration of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America.
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4. At 51,705 square miles, Alabama ranks No. 30 in size of all the states. It also has more than 4 million people, making it No. 23 in U.S. population.
5. Alabama is the only state that contains all the major natural resources to make iron and steel within its borders.
6. Except for the Tennessee River, which joins the Mississippi River in Kentucky, all Alabama rivers flow south to the Gulf of Mexico.
7. Magnolia Springs in Alabama has all mail delivered by boat, which is a rare type of postal delivery in the U.S.
Alabama is steeped in history; it is also a hospitable place to visit with many cities, forests, and beaches to enjoy.
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