15 Facts About Alabama

They have agreat college football team.

AlabamaPhoto byStaronUnsplash

On a few occasions I’ve driven through Alabama on my drives between Oklahoma and Florida. I’ve seen some beautiful scenery featuring lots of trees and not a lot of traffic. Going through the tunnel in Mobile isn’t my favorite thing, but all in all, it’s not a bad drive. I checked and that tunnel in Mobile is called “The George Wallace Tunnel.” That gives some insight into the state’s history.

I do know the University of Alabama has produced some great quarterbacks including Joe Namath, Bart Star and Kenny Stabler. Beyond that, a lot of numbers about the state aren’t so rosy. So, after some research, here are some things you didn’t know about Alabama.

1: Alabama became the 22nd state on December 14, 1819. Cahaba was the first state capital.

It is now a ghost town. Well, not all towns age well.

2: Tuscaloosa served as the state capital from 1826–46. In 1846 Montgomery was named the state capital.

Since Tuscaloosa is home of the University of Alabama football team so it can be argued it's still the most important city in the state.

3: The 1901 Alabama constitution included provisions for voting registration and school segregation. Voting requirements included a poll tax and literacy test.

In 1903 2,980 African Americans were registered in Alabama, though 74,000 African Americans were literate. Interestingly enough, 181,000 African Americans eligible to vote in 1900. I’m not aware of any mass exodus from the state during that time.

4: As of 2018, Alabama had the third lowest life expectancy in the United States at 75.1. The national average is 78.7.

But if you’re poor, 75.1 years seems a lot longer.

5: Once again, as of 2018 Alabama had the sixth highest poverty rate in the country.

Some conditions in rural parts of the state were truly deplorable. In 2017, United Nations representative, Phillip Alston visited parts of rural Alabama and observed environmental conditions he said were poorer than anywhere he had seen in the developed world. Well, maybe that part of Alabama was undeveloped.

6: Since the 1990s the state’s industry economy has been boosted by the automobile industry.

Maybe the residents were hoping to drive out of the state.

7: As of 2014 Alabama was the 14th most popular state for tourism.

Thus, the state motto: A Nice Place to Visit but…. Hold on, that’s not the state motto.

8: Alabama is a capital punishment state and isn’t afraid to use it.

It has the highest rate of capital punishment in the nation. I guess Alabama believes in capita punishment.

9: Orville and Wilbur Wright opened the first civil aviation school in Montgomery, Alabama.

They had a catchy slogan,“Straighten Up and Fly Wright.”

10: The first successful heart surgery on alive patient was performed in Alabama.

So, why were they performing heart surgeries on dead patients.

11: The term, “roll tide” goes back a ways. It was coined in 1907 by sportswriter, Hugh Roberts.

I have to say it sounds better than “creep tide.”

12: The worlds' largest office chair is located in Anniston, Alabama.

Anniston is also home to the office worker with the world’s largest butt and accommodation had to be made. Wait, being told that’s not right.

13: It’s illegal to wrestle a bear in Alabama. Actually, it’s a Class-B felony.

It’s just really hard to get a bear to press charges.

14: In May of 1892 in the tiny community of Coalburg, it rained eels. And not just any eels, eels unknown in Alabama.

I hope the people there had umbrellas.

15: The first Mercedes Benz factory in the US opened in Alabama.

How can you tell if your Mercedes was made in Alabama? It has a spit cup. Hold on, being told not it off, that’s just not right.