Alabama: The Heart of Dixie

Alabama: The Heart of Dixie — page 1
INTRODUCTION Alabama is a state of fascinating places and friendly people The landscape offers a beautiful mix of expansive forests sandy coastal plains and bountiful farmlands The land has always played an important role in Alabama’s economy The state once depended primarily upon the cotton industry but over the years agriculture has expanded into other areas Today Alabama produces a wide variety of crops such as soybeans peanuts and melons Industry plays an important role as well Alabama’s abundance of natural resources provides the state with many economic opportunities The ground yields valuable minerals while the rivers provide important transportation routes and can be harnessed to produce hydroelectricity The Jasmine Hill garden and outdoor museum was created in the 1920s as a tribute to classical Greek art and culture It was closed to the public in 2002 4 ALABAMA Alabama’s beautiful Mobile-Tensaw Delta is home to more than 50 rare and endangered plants and animals Although Alabama has no official nickname it is commonly referred to as the Heart of Dixie It is also sometimes referred to as the Yellowhammer State which comes from the uniforms worn by Alabama soldiers during the American Civil War The uniforms had yellow trim that resembled the yellow patches on the wings of the yellowhammer bird Other Alabama nicknames include the Cotton State the Cotton Plantation State and the Camellia State Alabama’s motto since 1939 has been We Dare Maintain Our Rights