State in the southeastern United States. It is bordered by Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi.

Area, 51,609 sq mi (133,677 sq km).
Pop. (2000) 4,447,100, a 10.1% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital, Montgomery.
Largest city, Birmingham.
Nickname, Heart of Dixie.
Motto, We Dare Defend Our Rights.
State bird, Yellowhammer.
State flower, Camellia.
State tree, Southern (longleaf) Pine.

The central Black Belt , formerly a principal cotton-growing area, is now employed largely for raising poultry (the state ranks third in U.S. broiler chicken production) and cattle, Alabama's most valuable agricultural products. Cotton is still the chief crop; greenhouse plants, peanuts, and vegetables are also important.

Although about half of Alabama's area is devoted to agriculture, manufacturing accounts for a larger share of the state's income. Where the Tennessee River loops across the north, hydroelectric power from the Tennessee Valley Authority has converted much agricultural land to industrial uses. Alabama has the second most extensive (after Georgia) forests in the contiguous United States, and pulp and paper products lead manufactures.

Other major industries produce chemicals, electronics, textiles, processed foods, and automobiles. Oil and gas, cement, and stone lead mineral production; the state's once-prominent coal industry is gradually declining. The Marshall NASA Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, Maxwell Air Force Base, and Forts Rucker and McClellan contribute significantly to the economy.

The latest addition to Alabama's economy is the multi billion dollar steel mill ThyssenKrupp AG, located in South Alabama with an inital employment of 2,900 with as many as 29,000 spin off jobs as a result of this new industry. The is the largest venture brought to the United States in 40 years. South Alabama and Gulf Coast real estate of Alabama is fast becoming known as the new industrial center in the United States. This economic boom has put the Mobile area including real estate and homes for sale in Daphne, Fairhope new homes for sale, homes for sale in Mobile, Spanish Fort new homes for sale on the Gulf coast of Alabama on the map as #8 in the list of areas that have began to come out of the economic slump. Homes and real estate are still very affordable and the overall cost of living is one of the lowest in the United States.

*Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition