Alabama Maps & Facts (2024)

Alabama Maps & Facts (1)

Alabama, located in the southeastern United States, shares borders with Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. The state encompasses a total area of about 52,419 mi2 (135,767 km2).

Alabama, from north to south, is divisible into five primary geographic regions:

Highland Rim: The Highland Rim, an extension of Tennessee's larger Highland Rim region, characterizes Alabama's extreme northwestern area. This region, encompassing a small part of Alabama, features rolling hills and fertile valleys. It serves as a transitional area between the Appalachian Highlands and the lower-lying areas to the west. The region's elevation varies, but it does not contain the highest or lowest points in the state.

Cumberland Plateau: The Cumberland Plateau, also known as the Appalachian Plateau, extends into northeastern Alabama. This region is marked by rugged terrain, with numerous hills and valleys formed by erosion. It includes the Dismals Canyon, a notable geological feature that offers a glimpse into the ancient Appalachian Mountains' erosional processes. The area's topography significantly influences local climate and vegetation.

Alabama Valley and Ridge: The Alabama Valley and Ridge region stretches across the central part of the state. It is characterized by long, narrow ridges and valleys that run in a northeast-southwest direction. This region's topography results from the erosion of Appalachian Mountains, revealing various sedimentary rocks. The highest point in Alabama, Cheaha Mountain, with an elevation of 2,407 feet (733 meters), is located in this region, within the Talladega National Forest.

Piedmont Upland: East-central Alabama is dominated by the Piedmont Upland. This area forms part of the larger Piedmont plateau that extends from Alabama into northeastern United States. The landscape here is marked by rolling hills and occasional ridges, with soils typically less fertile than those in the state's other regions. The topography gradually rises from the west towards the mountains of the east and northeast.

East Gulf Coastal Plain: The East Gulf Coastal Plain covers much of southern Alabama, extending to the northwestern corner of the state. This expansive region is characterized by gently rolling plains that slope toward the Gulf of Mexico. It is geologically distinct from the rest of the state, consisting mostly of sedimentary layers. This region includes the Black Belt, known for its rich, dark soil.

Islands and Major Bodies of Water: The Tennessee, Alabama, Mobile, and Tombigbee rivers are significant, providing water resources, transportation routes, and contributing to the state's landscape diversity. Major lakes include Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, and Lewis Smith Lake. Additionally, the state includes Dauphin Island and a portion of the Gulf Coast.

Counties Map

Alabama Maps & Facts (2)

The State of Alabama is divided into 67 counties. In alphabetical order, these counties are: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Saint Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, and Winston.

With an area of 135,760 sq. km, Alabama is the 30th largest and the 24th most populous state in the USA. Located in the central part of the state, on the southern shores of the Alabama River is Montgomery – the capital and the 2nd most populous city of Alabama. Due to its central location in the state’s Black Belt region, Montgomery serves as the processing center for a variety of crops, including soybeans, peanuts, and cotton. It is also an important transportation and healthcare hub in the entire Black Belt region of Alabama. Situated in the north-central part of the state – Birmingham is the largest and the most populous city of Alabama. It serves as a cultural, financial, industrial, and economic hub of the state.

Where is Alabama?

Alabama Maps & Facts (3)

The State of Alabama is located in the South-Eastern region of the United States. Alabama is bordered by the state of Georgia in the east; by Mississippi in the west; by Tennessee in the north; and by Florida and the Gulf of Mexico in the south.

Regional Maps: Map of North America

Outline Map of Alabama

Alabama Maps & Facts (4)
Alabama Maps & Facts (5)

See also:

Key Facts

Legal Name State of Alabama
ISO 3166 Code US-AL
Capital City Montgomery
Major Cities
  1. Birmingham (863,311)
  2. Huntsville (407,419)
  3. Montgomery (373,698)
  4. Mobile (335,035)

This page was last updated on January 18, 2024

Alabama Maps & Facts (2024)

FAQs

Is Alabama flat or hilly? ›

The Piedmont Upland, in the central eastern part of the state, is a hilly area with Alabama's highest peak, the 2,407-foot Cheaha Mountain. The rest of the state is called the East Gulf Coastal Plain, which contains both flatlands and hills plus the Alabama, the state's largest river at 314 miles long.

What is the state of Alabama famous for? ›

Alabama is known for peanuts, cotton and agriculture industry, southern hospitality, the beautiful gulf coast beaches, its role in the Civil Rights Movement, and college football, especially the intra-state rivalry between University of Alabama and Auburn University.

What are the land features of Alabama? ›

Alabama has high mountainous ridges and deep valleys, foothills of the Appalachians, Black Belt prairie, flat coastal plains, river deltas, lakes, springs, huge cave systems, swamps, Gulf and bay coastlines, and barrier islands.

What is unique in Alabama? ›

1) Alabama is home to Vulcan - the world's largest cast iron statue, which is comprised of 100,000 pounds of iron and is 56 feet tall. Vulcan stands at the top of Red Mountain, overlooking the beautiful city of Birmingham.

Who is a famous person from Alabama? ›

Among the most famous Alabama celebrities are the Buffetts, namely the one and only Jimmy and his successful restaurateur sister, Lucy (or as she is called here, LuLu).

What is Alabama's motto? ›

Audemus jura nostra defendere — Latin for "We Dare Defend Our Rights" or "We Dare Maintain Our Rights" — is the state motto of Alabama and is depicted on the official Coat of arms of Alabama.

Is Alabama a good place to live? ›

With a low cost of living and plenty of scenic and lively places to settle down, it's no surprise that Alabama is a popular retirement destination in the U.S. The state is home to over 60 miles of picturesque shorelines, great BBQ, and a deeply rooted history — among many other things — and it attracts new retired ...

What is the state flower of Alabama? ›

ALABAMA: The Camellia (Camellia japonica) was designated the official state flower or Alabama on August 26, 1959.

What city in Alabama has the most land? ›

The largest municipality by land area is Huntsville, which spans 209.05 sq mi (541.4 km2), while the smallest is McMullen at 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2).

What is the most mountainous part of Alabama? ›

Rising above the clouds, it earned the name “Island in the Sky.” The Creek Nation labeled it “Chaha,” meaning “high place” in the Muskogee language. At 2,407 feet above sea level, Cheaha State Park towers over the rest of Alabama as its highest point.

What are 3 interesting Facts about Alabama State University? ›

Alabama State University was founded in 1867 by nine former slaves. It began as the Lincoln School in Marion, Ala., and moved to Montgomery, Ala., in 1887, where it was established as a leading producer of African-American teachers. Percy J. Vaughn, Jr.

What are 2 fun Facts about Alabama University? ›

The University of Alabama alma mater was written in 1908 by undergraduate Helen Vickers. In 1929 Denny Chimes, funded by student donations, was dedicated in honor of beloved UA President George Denny, better known as “Mike” by the students.

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