Alabama is a state in the Southeastern United States with a landscape that stretches from Appalachian ridges and river valleys in the north to forests, fertile plains, Mobile Bay, and the Gulf Coast in the south. Its capital is Montgomery, while Huntsville is the state’s largest city by the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 1, 2025 population estimate. Alabama is also important to U.S. history because of its Indigenous heritage, cotton and industrial history, major role in the Civil Rights Movement, and modern contributions to aerospace, automotive manufacturing, defense, agriculture, and international trade.
This guide covers essential Alabama facts, including the state’s capital, major cities, population, geography, economy, GDP, history, landmarks, state symbols, and facts students should know.
Data last reviewed: August 2026
Population data: U.S. Census Bureau
Economic and GDP data: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and other cited government sources