Alabama Quick Facts
Date of statehood: December 14, 1819 (22nd state)
Origin of name: The state is named after the Alabama Indian tribe that inhabited western Alabama and eastern Mississippi until the early nineteenth century.
Territorial periods: 1798, Mississippi Territory created (included land that became Alabama); 1817, Alabama Territory created
Capital: Montgomery, since 1847
Other capitals: St. Stephens (territorial, 1817-1819), Huntsville (1819), Cahaba (1820-1825), Tuscaloosa (1826-1846)
Population: Estimated 4,779,736 (2010 U.S. Census Bureau estimate)
Land area: 52,423 square miles
Water area: 1,673 square miles
Width: 191 miles (306 km)
Length: 332 miles (531 km)
Highest point: Cheaha Mountain (2,407 feet above sea level)
Lowest point: Sea level where Alabama meets the Gulf of Mexico
Motto: "Audemus jura nostra defendere"; translation: "We Dare Maintain Our Rights"
Nickname: Alabama does not have an official nickname, but is often referred to as the "Heart of Dixie." It has also been called the "Cotton State" and the "Yellowhammer State."
Current governor: Kay Ivey
Electoral votes: 9
Representation in Congress: 2 senators, 7 representatives
State Creed: The official creed of Alabama was originally created for the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs and was written by Mrs. H. P. Thetford of Birmingham. It was officially adopted by the state legislature in 1953.
I believe in Alabama, a state dedicated to a faith in God and the enlightenment of mankind; to a democracy that safeguards the liberties of each citizen and to the conservation of her youth, her ideals, and her soil. I believe it is my duty to obey her laws, to respect her flag and to be alert to her needs and generous in my efforts to foster her advancement within the statehood of the world.