GET TO KNOW YOUR STATE

ALABAMA

OUR STATE SEAL Today’s seal was originally designed by the first

governor of Alabama, William Wyatt Bibb. He believed the seal should show Alabama’s Rivers and the territories (states now) surrounding it. Although a different seal was used for 71 years, in 1939 a law was passed to restore the original seal.

OUR STATE FLAG In 1895, the Alabama Legislature authorized the state

flag to be a crimson cross of St. Andrew on a white background.

Under an Act approved September 26, 1923, the flag of the State, as well as the flag of the United States, is required to be displayed every day on which school is in session, at all schools in the State which are supported even in part by public funds.

OUR LAND Alabama is 330 miles long and 190 miles

wide at its most distant points. It covers 52,423 square miles, making it the

30th largest of the 50 states. Freshwater is one of Alabama's greatest

assets. Few states can match Alabama's surface

freshwater resources. At least one-sixth of the surface area of Alabama is comprised of lakes, reservoirs, ponds, wetlands, estuaries, and flowing rivers and streams.

OUR COUNTIES Alabama currently has sixty-seven counties. The oldest county, Washington, was created on June

4, 1800, when what is now Alabama was then part of the Mississippi Territory. The newest county is Houston, created on February 9, 1903

OUR STATE CAPITAL

Since 1817, Alabama has had five capitals, as a territory and as a state.

In 1817, Saint Stephens, in southwest Alabama, was the temporary seat of government.

The first Constitutional Convention assembled in the north Alabama town of Huntsville in 1819, where the first session of the General Assembly was held in the same year.

In 1820, Cahaba was designated as the temporary seat of government in the Constitution, which expressly gave the 1825-26 legislature the power to decide upon a permanent site. That session of the General Assembly took the opportunity to select Tuscaloosa for the new capital, deserting the oft-flooded and unhealthy Cahaba site.

OUR STATE CAPITAL

In 1846, Montgomery, on the Alabama River, became the final city for the state capital.

Andrew Dexter, one of the founders of the town, had held on to a prime piece of property in long anticipation of the capital's eventual move to Montgomery. It is sometimes called "Goat Hill" for its use as a pasture before it became the capital.

OUR HISTORY In 1817, the Mississippi Territory was divided

into the area that later became the state of Mississippi, and the remainder became the Alabama Territory.

In 1819, Alabama was admitted as the 22nd state to the Union. The state became a center of slave plantations growing cotton in the Black Belt, with subsistence farmers (with few slaves) barely making a living on poorer lands.

OUR PEOPLE Alabama has a diverse culture of people.

From entertainment, to sports, to activism, Alabama’s people make our great state as unique as our land itself.

KATHERINE TUCKER WINDHAM

June 2, 1918 – present Born and continues to live in Selma, Alabama Author of 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey

NELLE HARPER LEE

April 28, 1926 – present Born and continues to live in Monroeville,

Alabama. Wrote To Kill a Mockingbird

HANK WILLIAMS September 17, 1923-January 1, 1953 A native of Mount Olive, Alabama, but spent

his childhood in Montgomery, Alabama Songs include Your Cheatin’ Heart, Hey Good

Lookin’, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

ALABAMA Band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama Members include Randy Owen, Jeff Cook, Ted

Gentry, Mark Herndon Songs include Dixieland Delight, If Your

Gonna Play in Texas

HANK AARON February 5, 1934 – present Born in Mobile, Alabama In his 23 years of playing baseball, he passed

Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs with a record that stands at 755

JESSE OWENS September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980 Born in Danville, Alabama In the 1936 Olympics, Jesse set new records in the 200

meter, the broad jump, as part of the 400 meter relay team, and tied the record in the 100 meter.

In 1976 he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

WILLIE MAYS May 6, 1931-present Born in Birmingham, Alabama Playing organized baseball for 24 years, he played in

24 All-Star Games and 4 World Series. Sporting News named him Baseball Player of the

Decade (1960- 1969). He is third in career home runs behind Hank Aaron

and Babe Ruth.

PAUL “BEAR” BRYANT

September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983 Born in Kingsland, Arkansas 24 years Bryant's Crimson Tide won six national

championships (61-64-65-73-78-79) In 1981 he became football's winningest coach with

315 victories. He finished his career with 323 victories.

BO JACKSON November 30, 1962 – present Born in Bessemer, Alabama Played for Auburn University in 1982. In 1985 he received the highest honor in college

football, the Heisman Trophy. Drafted by both the NFL and Major League Baseball,

he signed to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals. In 1987 he also signed with the Los Angeles Raiders and became a two sport star.