| |
General Information
|
Whether one is talking about the George C. Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville (affectionately called 'Rocket
City, USA'), the blast furnaces for iron and steel which set
the base for Birmingham, or the rising capital of Montgomery,
the birthplace of the Constitution of the Confederacy, Alabama
represents the bustling and exciting lifestyle of an urban
environment with the friendliness and peacefulness of a rural
environment.
Founded on December 14th, 1819 as the 22nd state in the United
States, Alabama currently boasts a population of 4.2 million
occupying more than 51,000 square miles. Major metropolitan
areas within the state include Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery
and Huntsville with the busy 'college towns' of Auburn and
Tuscaloosa rounding out the experience.
Home to 16 state colleges, 15 private colleges and more than
30 community and technical colleges, it is clear to see that
education is a priority in the state. That priority is
exhibited in two internationally known universities, the
liberal-arts focused University of Alabama and the
research-based Auburn University. Along with a network of
regionally strong institutions, Alabama's higher education
offers its students nationally competitive programs, strong
alumni and business networks, state-of-the-art multimedia
instruction equipment and labs, and affordable tuition at
efficient institutions.
There are many diversions to be found to occupy leisure time.
Alabama is one of the most geographically diverse states in
the country, with everything from rugged, tree-lined mountains
in the north to pristine, white beaches in the south.
Breathtaking forest-covered mountains, hills and ridges cover
much of north Alabama, and the bright red clay soils add
splashes of colour to the landscape. In fact, the Appalachian
Mountain Range has its birthplace in Alabama.
The temperature is moderate year-round, with warm summers and
cool winters. There are 26 state parks and four national
forests to help provide a break from studying. Spring through
late summer are good times to visit the Gulf Coast and swim,
parasail, scuba dive, deep sea fish or just relax in the sun.
Shores on the Gulf Coast have a stretch of about 32 miles of
beach. A state-wide interstate system makes travel affordable.
Mobile, at the mouth of the Mobile River, is a busy seaport.
Ocean-going ships unload a wide variety of goods at the
Alabama State Docks in Mobile Bay, which also houses the U.S.S.
Alabama, a WWII battleship that is now a floating museum.
Mobile is also home to the original Mardi Gras, which is a
celebration of fun that happens right before the religious
holiday of Lent.
Culture abounds within the state. Symphonies, art and history
museums, ballet companies and regular concert fare may be
found among the larger cities in Alabama. Montgomery features
the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the fifth largest
Shakespeare theatre in the world, and the only one invited to
fly the flag of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Many cities
feature annual music festivals, like City Stages in
Birmingham, Jubilee Fest in Montgomery, or Bayfest in Mobile.
Art exhibits are located in the Birmingham Museum of Art, the
Fine Arts Museum of the South in Mobile, the Huntsville Museum
of Art and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The Anniston
Museum of Natural History includes items used by early Indians
and displays of birds in their natural settings. The George
Washington Carver Museum at the Tuskagee University National
Historic Site features exhibits that illustrate contributions
of African-American to US history, as well as artwork by
African and black American artists. The University of Alabama
State Museum of Natural History exhibits a large collection of
Indian items, including prehistoric artefacts. The helicopter
collection at the US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker ranks
as one of the largest in the world.
Culinary aficionados will appreciate the uniqueness of
southern cooking, which is something that has to be
experienced before it can be adequately described. Alabama
prides itself on barbecue, fried chicken, black-eyed peas, and
southern-cooked vegetables. In Alabama's largest cities, a
wide variety of ethnic and national cuisine can be found, from
European to Vietnamese.
The industry economy in Alabama is centred around agriculture,
service, timber and natural resources, such as mining. Service
industries account for 70 percent of the gross state product,
while manufacturing accounts for 22 percent, agriculture for 3
percent and mining for 2 percent.
The time is right to visit Alabama. Once you come here, you
may never want to leave. It is the perfect place to study,
work and even relax. And your memories of this enchanting
'Heart of Dixie' will last a lifetime.
-
Nickname: Heart of Dixie; Camellia State
- Motto:
We dare defend our rights
- Flower: Camellia
- Bird: Yellowhammer
- Area: 50,744 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 30th)
- Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 2,407 feet
- Climate: Subtropical and humid; summers are long and
hot, winters mild, rainfall abundant
- Admitted to Union: December 14, 1819
- Capital: Montgomery
- Head Official: Governor Bob Riley (R) (until 2006)
- Population
- 1980: 3,894,000
- 1990: 4,040,587
- 2000: 4,447,100
- 2003 estimate: 4,500,752
- Percent change, 1990–2000: 10.1%
- Percent change, 2000–2003: 1.2%
- U.S. rank in 2003: 23rd
- Percent of residents born in state: 73.4% (2000)
- Density: 87.6 people per square mile (2000)
- 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 200,331
- Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
- White: 3,162,808
- Black or African American: 1,155,930
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 22,430
- Asian: 31,346
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 1,409
- Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 75,830
- Other: 28,998
- Age Characteristics (2000)
- Population under 5 years old: 295,992
- Population 5 to 19 years old: 960,177
- Percent of population 65 years and over: 13.0%
- Median age: 35.8 years (2000)
- Vital Statistics
- Total number of births (2003): 59,356
- Total number of deaths (2003): 46,598 (infant
deaths, 519)
- AIDS cases reported through 2003: 7,607
- Economy
- Major industries: Paper products, agriculture,
chemicals, textiles, lumber, wood, metals, electronics,
automobiles, food processing
- Unemployment rate: 5.2% (November 2004)
- Per capita income: $26,276 (2003; U.S. rank: 42nd)
- Median household income: $37,419 (3-year average,
2001-2003)
- Percentage of persons below poverty level: 15.1%
(3-year average, 2001-2003)
- Income tax rate: Ranges from 2.0 to 5.0%
- Sales tax rate: 4.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
