People

People
Alabama has a population of 4,447,100 (2000), giving the state an average population density of 33.8 persons per km² (87.6 per mi²). In the decade from 1980 to 1990, Alabama's rate of growth was below the national average, and it remained so during the 1990s. In 1990 about 74% of the population were white, 25% were black, and there were small numbers of American Indians, Hispanics, and Asians. After several decades of considerable net out-migration (mainly a result of blacks leaving Alabama for better opportunities elsewhere), the state had a net in-migration between 1970 and 1980. After an out-migration in the early 1980s, there was again an in-migration after 1985. About two-thirds of the people live in areas defined as urban; the largest cities are Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa. In 1990 only 1.1% of the population of Alabama were born outside the United States. The majority of the people are Protestants.

Education. Alabama established a statewide public school system in 1854, but schools received inadequate financial support until the 20th century. Almost all black and white children attended separate public schools until the 1960s. By 1994, 67% of Alabama's residents of 25 years of age or more were high-school graduates. Alabama's more important institutions of higher education include Auburn University (founded 1856), main campus at Auburn; Jacksonville State University (1883), at Jacksonville; Samford University (1841), at Birmingham; Troy State University (1887), main campus at Troy; Tuskegee University (1881), at Tuskegee; the University of Alabama (1831), campuses at Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville; the University of North Alabama (1872), at Florence; and the University of South Alabama (1963), at Mobile.

Cultural Institutions. Among the museums of the state are the Alabama State Museum of Natural History, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, at Huntsville; and the Birmingham Museum of Art. The decommissioned World War II battleship Alabama, now anchored in Mobile Bay, also contains a museum. The largest libraries are the Auburn University Library in Auburn, the University of Alabama Library, at Tuscaloosa, and the Birmingham Public Library. Huntsville, Montgomery, and Birmingham have symphony orchestras, and Birmingham has a ballet company.

Historical Sites. Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Communications. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813.

Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Among the museums of the state are the Alabama State Museum of Natural History, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, at Huntsville; and the Birmingham Museum of Art. The decommissioned World War II battleship Alabama, now anchored in Mobile Bay, also contains a museum. The largest libraries are the Auburn University Library in Auburn, the University of Alabama Library, at Tuscaloosa, and the Birmingham Public Library. Huntsville, Montgomery, and Birmingham have symphony orchestras, and Birmingham has a ballet company.

Alabama established a statewide public school system in 1854, but schools received inadequate financial support until the 20th century. Almost all black and white children attended separate public schools until the 1960s. By 1994, 67% of Alabama's residents of 25 years of age or more were high-school graduates. Alabama's more important institutions of higher education include Auburn University (founded 1856), main campus at Auburn; Jacksonville State University (1883), at Jacksonville; Samford University (1841), at Birmingham; Troy State University (1887), main campus at Troy; Tuskegee University (1881), at Tuskegee; the University of Alabama (1831), campuses at Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville; the University of North Alabama (1872), at Florence; and the University of South Alabama (1963), at Mobile.

Education. Alabama established a statewide public school system in 1854, but schools received inadequate financial support until the 20th century. Almost all black and white children attended separate public schools until the 1960s. By 1994, 67% of Alabama's residents of 25 years of age or more were high-school graduates. Alabama's more important institutions of higher education include Auburn University (founded 1856), main campus at Auburn; Jacksonville State University (1883), at Jacksonville; Samford University (1841), at Birmingham; Troy State University (1887), main campus at Troy; Tuskegee University (1881), at Tuskegee; the University of Alabama (1831), campuses at Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville; the University of North Alabama (1872), at Florence; and the University of South Alabama (1963), at Mobile.

Cultural Institutions. Among the museums of the state are the Alabama State Museum of Natural History, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, at Huntsville; and the Birmingham Museum of Art. The decommissioned World War II battleship Alabama, now anchored in Mobile Bay, also contains a museum. The largest libraries are the Auburn University Library in Auburn, the University of Alabama Library, at Tuscaloosa, and the Birmingham Public Library. Huntsville, Montgomery, and Birmingham have symphony orchestras, and Birmingham has a ballet company.

Historical Sites. Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Communications. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813.

Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Among the museums of the state are the Alabama State Museum of Natural History, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, at Huntsville; and the Birmingham Museum of Art. The decommissioned World War II battleship Alabama, now anchored in Mobile Bay, also contains a museum. The largest libraries are the Auburn University Library in Auburn, the University of Alabama Library, at Tuscaloosa, and the Birmingham Public Library. Huntsville, Montgomery, and Birmingham have symphony orchestras, and Birmingham has a ballet company.

Cultural Institutions. Among the museums of the state are the Alabama State Museum of Natural History, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa; the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, at Huntsville; and the Birmingham Museum of Art. The decommissioned World War II battleship Alabama, now anchored in Mobile Bay, also contains a museum. The largest libraries are the Auburn University Library in Auburn, the University of Alabama Library, at Tuscaloosa, and the Birmingham Public Library. Huntsville, Montgomery, and Birmingham have symphony orchestras, and Birmingham has a ballet company.

Historical Sites. Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Communications. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813.

Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Historical Sites. Russell Cave National Monument (near Bridgeport) contains archaeological records of human habitation dating from at least 7000 B.C. At Mound State Monument (near Moundville) are several large mounds of the Indian Mound Builder culture, and Horseshoe Bend National Military Park (near Dadeville) was the site of a decisive defeat (1814) of the Creek Indian Confederacy by Andrew Jackson. At Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (Tuskegee) are early buildings of the noted college founded (1881) for blacks. The first capitol (the present state capitol) and the first White House of the Confederacy are both in Montgomery. Alabama has many historic homes, some built before the Civil War.

Communications. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813.

Communications. Alabama has numerous commercial radio and television stations, and the state has an excellent public radio and television system. Among the more influential daily newspapers are the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Montgomery Advertiser. The state's earliest newspaper was the short-lived Mobile Centinel [sic], which first appeared in 1811. The oldest newspaper still in existence is the Mobile Register, founded in 1813.

Alabama
Presents a comprehensive profile on the state of Alabama, including its natural resources, plant and animal life, economy, population, historical sites, and more.

A Conflict in Black and White
Brief history of the civil rights movement in America from 1955 to 1968.

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This guide to links outside of Scholastic covers important topics such as school integration, the NAACP, Emancipation, and the Freedman's Bureau.

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