State Symbols Alabama History Date of Statehood: December 14, 1819

The State Tree The longleaf pine. This tree is a late bloomer that grows very little above the ground during the first 10 years. Sometimes it is mistaken for grass.

State Flag The Alabama Flag is white and crimson. It was adopted in 1895.

Other Facts Alabama State Nickname: The Yellowhammer State Alabama State Motto: We Dare Defend Our Rights Primary Agriculture: Alabama ranks high in the production of poultry, soybeans, milk, vegetables, livestock, wheat, cattle, cotton, peanuts, fruits, hogs and corn. Primary Industry: Paper, chemicals, rubber and plastics, apparel and textiles, and primary metals constitute the leading industries of Alabama. Continuing as a major manufacturer of coal, iron, and steel, Birmingham is also noted for its world-renowned medical center, especially for heart surgery.

State Bird Yellowhammer (Colaptes auratus) (Legislation of 1927) The Yellowhammer or Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker is a woodpecker of medium-size that resides in eastern portion of North America. Adults are brown with black bars on the back and wings and a tail that is dark on top yellow under the tail and underwings and have yellow shafts on their primaries. Their breast and belly are beige with black spots. They have a grey cap, a beige face red bar on their neck black necklace white rump while in flight.

The Yellowhammer

What is the Alabama Insect?

The Monarch Butterfly Monarch Butterfly (Legislation of 1989)

State Flower The goldenrod became the official state flower of Alabama on September 6, 1927, the same day that the Yellowhammer became the state bird. It represented Alabama well for over thirty years. The ladies of Butler County were not fond of the goldenrod however and considered it undeserving in its role as state flower. It was a wildflower after all, little more than a weed they thought. They thought camellias more appropriate as a state representative and, even though the camellia comes from China, an August 26, 1959, the goldenrod was replaced by the camellia as Alabama's official State flower. Because there are several types of camellia, in June 1999, the Alabama Legislature agreed to specifically name Camellia japonica as the official State flower.

Alabama’s Neighbors Georgia Florida Tennessee Mississippi

Cities in Alabama

The Capital

The State 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, 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.

How did we get our 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 ).