The state of Alabama is located in the country’s Southeast. It shares boundaries with Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Mississippi to the west, and Tennessee to the north. Of the 50 states in the union, Alabama is the 24th most populated and the 30th largest in terms of area.

Alabama’s state bird inspired the moniker “Yellowhammer State.” The nicknames “Cotton State” and “Heart of Dixie” are other terms for Alabama. The Tennessee Valley, a hilly region to the north, and Mobile Bay, a historically prominent port, to the south, make up the state’s varied topography. The largest city in Alabama in terms of both population and size is Huntsville. The state capital is Montgomery.