An 1842 article in the Jacksonville Republican proposed that “Alabama” meant ‘Here We Rest’, a notion popularized in the 1850s through the writings of Alexander Beaufort Meek.

In the Alabama language, the word for a person of Alabama lineage is Albaamo (or variously Albaama or Albàamo in different dialects; the plural form is Albaamaha).

The expedition of Hernando de Soto passed through Mabila and other parts of Alabama in 1540.

In 1861, Alabama seceded from the United States to become part of the Confederate States of America, with Montgomery acting as its first capital. Alabama rejoined the Union in 1868.

Alabama ranks ninth in the number of deaths from lightning and tenth in the number of deaths from lightning strikes per capita.

The northern part of Alabama, along the Tennessee River Valley, is most vulnerable to tornadoes.

Alabama is usually ranked among the top in the nation for its range of overall biodiversity.

Huntsville served as Alabama’s temporary capital from 1819 to 1820.

The Spanish were the first Europeans to reach Alabama during their exploration of North America in the 16th century.

Alabama was under military rule from the end of the war in May 1865 until its official restoration to the Union in 1868.