Alabama is located in the southeastern United States and borders Georgia, Tennessee, the Gulf of Mexico, and Florida. Also, its western border passes near the Mississippi River. What else should you know about this part of America, and how can it be interesting?
brief information
The state of Alabama (USA) is the 13th among all other states by its area. It also occupies the second line of the rating by the volume of inland waters in its territory. By the way, despite the fact that the state is quite large, the population there is not too large. If Alabama is in 13th place by the size of its territory, as mentioned earlier, then by population it is only 23rd. Interestingly, these places are called the "State of Oatmeal" - naturally, this is an unofficial name. This nickname is due to the fact that numerous bunting birds live in Alabama. But this is not the only name. The state of Alabama (USA) is also called the “Heart of the South”. Interestingly, the long-coniferous pine is its official tree, and camellia is the flower. The official language is English, but Spanish is also among the spoken languages. Cities in Alabama are not very large, the largest is Birmingham: about 250 thousand people live in it.
History
The beginning of the history of the state dates back to the thousandth year BC. At that time, of course, the name “Alabama” did not exist, however, in the places where it is now located, trade was actively conducted, and various peoples lived. By the way, the name of the state comes from the word Alibamu - the Muscogee tribes that inhabited these territories for centuries were called. If we talk about a relatively new time, then for some time Alabama was part of Georgia. But in 1819, it became part of the United States. During the war years: from the beginning of the Civil War until the end of World War II, Alabama experienced serious economic difficulties. This is because people here are heavily dependent on agricultural development. However, after the end of World War II, the state began to show greater interest in another kind of activity - heavy industry, technology, and, of course, education.
Economy
The economic component of state activity is a rather interesting topic. Alabama is actively investing in education, banking, medicine, and space research. The extraction of mineral resources, the manufacture of automobiles, and factory work - all this also cannot do without its financial support. The state of Alabama, I must say, in our time is quite strong and independent from an economic point of view - its total GDP a few years ago was $ 170 million! And this, by the way, is about 30 thousand per person. And this figure is only growing. So, for example, in 1999 this figure was a little more than $ 18,000. But it should be noted that taxation in Alabama is very regressive (by American standards). About five percent is charged per person, although sometimes less - it all depends on the earnings of each individual citizen. If we talk about sales tax, it is 4 percent. Its size can also vary depending on the city, for example, in Mobile it is 9%. And finally, the tax on the sale of shares is 51%. By the way, Alabama is one of the few where taxes on medical care and food are still levied. So in addition to the pros in the form of solid earnings, there are also disadvantages.
About state cities
As already mentioned, cities in Alabama are not too big. So, for example, in the city of Taskigi a little more than 11 thousand people live with an area of 40 square meters. km There are 21,000 inhabitants in Athens, 23,000 in Anniston, and 27,000 in Bessemer. Although, of course, as in any other state, there are medium-sized cities and quite large ones. In Dothan (Houston County), for example, more than 67 thousand people live. Although, despite the fact that there are not very many people and quite quiet, tourists are still happy to come to the state. For the most part, these are lovers of a relaxing holiday, which lacks the fuss in everyday life. So if you want to relax and enjoy the silence, you should come to Alabama. Photos of small and cozy cities will not leave indifferent lovers of privacy.
Capital
The center of Alabama and part of its capital is the city of Montgomery. It is located right on the banks of the river of the same name. The city was founded in 1817, and acquired urban status in 1819. By the standards of Alabama, Montgomery can be considered a metropolis, as more than 210 thousand people live here. If we talk about the national color, it should be noted that about 49% of the local population are black, about 48% are white, a little more than one percent are Asians, and very few (about 0.3%) are Indians. An interesting fact is that the capital of Alabama is the center of woodworking, as well as the cotton industry. Even in the city, computer technology is well developed - without this, in our time, nothing. In the capital, there is a major Denneli airport and a BBC base. In addition, Montgomery is a major educational and scientific city. It is here that people from all over the state go to get a good education. Prestigious universities include Huntingdon College, Troy State University Montgomery, Faulkner University, and many other universities and colleges.
Sights of the capital
The central part of the state is full of interesting places, and they should pay attention if they managed to come to Alabama. There are many of them, but I would like to note the most popular and significant. For example, the White House of the Confederation, located in the center of the capital, or the house of J. Davis. There is also a mass of entertaining museums - the name of Francis Scott Fitzgerald, or Museum of Fine Arts, which presents real works of fine art. And, of course, lovers of architecture will not leave indifferent the State Capitol.
Attractions Alabama
But not only in the capital there is something to see. If possible, you should definitely pay attention to the city of Birmingham. It is the largest in the entire state. It is there, on Red Mountain, that the monument to the God of Fire rises. This is by no means a quirk of local residents, but a tribute to history. After all, a city was founded near a mineral deposit - valuable iron ore and coal. Birmingham has something to see - Japanese and Botanical Gardens, a zoo and much more.
There is also a city like Huntsville in the state. It has a very special atmosphere. After all, Huntsville is a city of astronautics. Everyone in the space camp can experience space overload - there is all the necessary equipment and simulators for this. But if you do not want to go anywhere, study and get acquainted with history, but there is a desire to enjoy solitude with nature, then you can simply admire the local landscapes. For example, visit De Soto Park - a picturesque place located next to the Little River in the northeastern part of the state. Anyway, I must say that in Alabama there are lots of beautiful parks, reserves and beaches. It is they who attract visitors who regularly come here on vacation and leave with a mass of vivid impressions and emotions.