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Shrimp Boats Head to Sea
Bayou la Batre, Alabama |
Alabama,
the "Heart of Dixie"*, plays out the
future against a rich historic background, from Cheaha Mountain (2,407
feet) to the East Gulf Coastal Plain and the swamps and bayous of the
Mobile River Delta. From the land of the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and
Chickasaw Indians, the Spanish, the French and the English pioneers to the
unknown reaches of the Space Age, the Blue Gulf Waters reflect the
venerable historic plantations, pine-ringed lakes, and echoes from the
mountain tops amplified in mammoth caverns.
The
Confederate Constitution was formulated in Alabama along with the Saturn
rocket that boosted the first men to the moon in 1969.
The
boll weevils came to the Black Belt in 1910 and tore into the cotton crop.
And, the peanut, with a little help from scientist George Washington
Carver's "300 new uses", became a very important crop.
| THE NAME:
The state of Alabama was named after the river. The Alabama River was named by early European explorers
after the Indian tribe that lived in the territory and first appeared in 1540 spelled as "Alibamu",
"Alibamo" and even "Limamu" in the journals of the Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto
(c.1500-1542).
The origin of the name Alabama is thought to come from a combination of two Choctaw words; Alba and Amo. In
Choctaw, "Alba" means vegetation, herbs, plants and "Amo" means gatherer or picker.
"Vegetation gatherers" would be an apt description for the Alabama Indians who cleared much land for
agricultural purposes.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S.
State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 |
| THE NICKNAMES:
The Heart of Dixie: Alabama has no official state nickname, but "The Heart of Dixie" is
prevelant and reflects the central role that Alabama played in the history of the South. A major Cotton
State, Alabama also became a leading proponent of secession in the days leading up to the Civil War. The
Constitution of the Confederacy was drawn up in Montgomery and Jefferson Davis took his oath of office in
Montgomery, which served as the first Confederate Capital. The "Heart of Dixie" has appeared on state
automobile license plates since the 1955.
"The Heart of Dixie" was a phrase developed in the 1940s and 1950s by the Alabama Chamber of Commerce. Alabama
was commonly referred to as the "Cotton State" but so were many other southern states. The Chamber sought a more
distinctive slogan for their state and promoted that "Alabama is geographically the Heart of Dixie, Alabama is
industrially the Heart of Dixie, Alabama is, in fact, the Heart of Dixie." In 1951, with backing from the Alabama
Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill to add "Heart of Dixie" to automobile license plates.
In 1955, the first license plate bearing the new slogan was produced.
The Yellowhammer State: This nickname originated during the Civil War. A couple of suggestions as
to the origination of the nickname have been presented. One suggestion states that the name was inspired by the
gray uniforms of Confederate soldiers that had a yellow tinge to them because they were "home-dyed." Another
states that a company of soldiers paraded in uniforms that were trimmed with yellow cloth. Either way,
the Alabama soldiers reminded people of Yellowhammers, birds with yellow patches under their wings. The
Yellowhammer is Alabama's State Bird.
The Cotton Plantation State: Cotton production in Alabama was a major influence in the growth and
culture of the state. In fact, Alabama'a farm economy was ruled by "King Cotton" at one time. When crops
were poor or prices were down, Alabama farmers suffered. Conversely, when prices were up, Alabama's
farmer prospered. In the early 1900s, Alabama farmers suffered extensively due to massive cotton crop
failures.
The Cotton State: For reasons given above, Alabama was called the Cotton State. While many southern
states were referred to as Cotton Plantation States, Alabama was singled out as THE Cotton State because of
its central location in the Cotton Belt. Cotton was Alabama's leading crop and Alabama was considered a leading
cotton producer. Alabama ranked 11th for
cotton cash receipts in
2004.
The Lizard State: An abundance of lizards along Alabama streams, in early times, led to this
nickname.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint) |
THE CITIZENS:
People who live in Alabama or who come from Alabama are called Alabamans or Alabamians. |
THE QUARTER:
The Alabama State Quarter is the 22nd quarter released in the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters™ Program and
the second to be released in 2003, following on the heels of the Illinois State Quarter. Alabama was admitted
to the Union as the 22nd state on December 14, 1819.
The quarter features a likeness of Helen Keller that was selected by great-great-niece, Keller Johnson-Thompson
and other family members. She is seated, reading a book in Braille. The slogan, "Spirit of Courage" is
displayed on a banner below Helen Keller's image. Her name is reproduced in Braille.
Helen Keller is framed by Southern Longleaf Pine branches (State tree) and Camellias (State flower).
For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
*Alabama is called "The Heart
of Dixie" because of the $10 notes issued by the Citizens Bank of
Louisiana before the Civil War. The notes bore the French word
"dix" meaning 10, and eventually the South became Dixieland,
with Alabama serving as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil
War.
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