Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is boarded by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Mobile, the state's only seaport, is a major United States seaport and is the state’s oldest city founded by French colonists. Alabama has one of the best water-transportation systems in the South. The capital of Alabama is Montgomery. The largest city by population is Birmingham. The largest city by total land area is Huntsville.

Alabama has an interesting history. During the Civil War, Montgomery was the capital of the Confederate States of America. Because of this, Montgomery is known as the "Cradle of the Confederacy." It is also the birthplace of the Confederate Constitution, and where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the Confederacy in Alabama. In fact, because of the state's Civil War history and central location in the Deep South, Alabama is known as the "Heart of Dixie. “Another of Alabama's nicknames is the "Yellowhammer State” after the state bird; Yellowhammers are birds with yellow patches under their wings.

In addition to being an agricultural state, Alabama has emerged as an industrial state. Its rivers are important for flood control and hydroelectric power. The construction and manufacturing industries employ more than a quarter of the state's workers. Alabama also has a prosperous textile industry and about 22 million acres of commercial forestland. Alabama has rich deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone. This has helped make the state a leader in steel production. Birmingham is the greatest producer of steel in the South.

International students who study in Alabama will find plenty of opportunities to enhance their classroom education with an equally valuable education on contemporary American cultures, politics, and social issues. Academic institutions currently leading in international student recruitment in Alabama include the University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of North Alabama, and University of South Alabama.

List of colleges and universities in Alabama

The Official Website of the State of Alabama

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