Alabama was affected by the 1974 Super Outbreak and was devastated tremendously by the 2011 Super Outbreak, which produced a record amount of tornadoes in the state, totaling 62.

Snow is rare in much of Alabama, but areas north of Montgomery may receive a dusting of snow a few times each winter, with occasional heavy snowfalls every few years.

The largest city in Alabama by population and area is Huntsville.

Hurricane Ivan, a category 3 storm upon landfall, struck Alabama in 2004, causing over $18 billion in damage. It was one of the most destructive storms in the state’s modern history.

St. Stephens, now abandoned, served as the territorial capital from 1817 to 1819.

Historic snowfall events in Alabama include the New Year’s Eve 1963 snowstorm and the 1993 Storm of the Century.

The Tombigbee District in Alabama covered the area within a few miles of the Tombigbee River, including portions of what is today southern Clarke County, northernmost Mobile County, and most of Washington County.

High-profile events such as the Selma to Montgomery marches made Alabama a major focal point of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

Alabama receives an average of 56 inches (1,400 mm) of rainfall annually.

Industrial development related to World War II brought prosperity to Alabama. Rural workers moved to cities for better jobs, significantly increasing populations in cities like Mobile.