State (pop., 2000: 4,447,000), southern central U.S. It is bordered by Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi; the Gulf of Mexico lies to the southwest.
Covering 51,718 sq mi (133,950 sq km), its capital is Montgomery . Its original inhabitants included Cherokee , Chickasaw , Choctaw , and Creek Indians; evidence of their activity can be found near Tuscaloosa. Reconstruction to include blacks in government failed, and Alabama remained segregationist until the 1960s. Dependent on cotton until the early 20th century, the state has since diversified its agricultural production and developed industrially, especially at Birmingham ; Mobile has become a major ocean terminal.