Alabama, al a bah'ma, THE COTTON STATE, one of the Gulf states, is bounded on the n. by Tennessee; on the e. by Georgia, from the southern half of which it is separated by the Chattahoochee River; on the s. by Florida and the Gulf of Mexico and on the w. by Mississippi. Its greatest length is 330 miles, and greatest width 220 miles. The area is 51,540 square miles. Population in 1910, 2,138,093, a gain of 309,396 in ten years. The population in 2000 was 4,447,100. SURFACE AND DRAINAGE. Spurs of the Appalachian Mountains enter the northeastern part of the state from Georgia, and form low parallel ranges, nowhere exceeding 1600 feet in altitude. A low range known as the Raccoon Mountains extends northward across the state. In the east central part of the state the Lookout Mountains terminate abruptly about sixty miles from the boundary. To the southwest of these ranges is a low elevation, the Cumberland Plateau, containing rich deposits of coal and iron ore. The southern portion of the state, including three-fifths of its area, is a part of the Great Coastal Plain and is all lowland, with a deep, fertile soil. The Tennessee River flows across the northern part of the state, forming a great bend. The valley adds much to the scenery of the region. The Mobile system drains the greater part of the state. Other important streams are the Tombigbee and its tributary, the Black Warrior, which drain the western part of the state into Mobile Bay, the only important indentation along the coast. This bay forms one of the most spacious and safe harbors of the Gulf and is an important factor in the commercial life of Mobile. CLIMATE. The climate varies with altitude and elevation. The northern portion of the state has a delightful climate, with a mean temperature for January of about 43o deg. and for July about 84o deg. Even in winter the thermometer seldom falls below freezing point. The elevation tempers the intense heat of summer, and this portion of the state is becoming a resort for invalids and others who wish to escape the rigors of a northern winter. In the lowlands and the southern part of the state the heat is more intense and the conditions are less healthful. The rainfall in the northern portion averages 54 inches, and in the southern portion 63 inches. MINERAL RESOURCES. The northeastern portion of the state, extending southward as far as Columbus, Ga., and westward, including the Cumberland Plateau, is rich in minerals. Within this area have been found extensive deposits of iron ore and of bituminous coal. Besides this there are also deposits of asbestos, asphalt, copper granite, lithograph stone, marble, and pottery and porcelain clays. Salt is obtained in the southwestern portion of the state. Coal and iron are mined extensively, and Alabama is now one of the leading states in the production of iron ore, being exceeded only by Minnesota and Michigan. In the production of coal the state ranks fifth in amount and sixth in value. Marble, other building stone and bauxite are also important products. AGRICULTURE. With the exception of the northeastern portion, where the mountains are most numerous, all of the soil is fertile, and agriculture is the most generally distributed and most important industry. In the northern half of the state wheat, corn, oats, rice and other cereals are grown, while through the central portion runs a belt of black land known as the cotton belt, and including, also, the canebrake region. Upon this land most of the cotton of the state is raised. The cotton is the most important crop, and the annual production is about 1,250,000 bales. Melons, apples and other fruits are grown in the northern half of the state, and in the southern portion the fig, pomegranate, olive, apricot and orange are found; also some sugar cane and rice. About half of Alabama's area is devoted to agriculture. The important forest trees in the mountain region are the oak, hickory, chestnut, cedar, elm and pine. In the low plains of the south are forests of cyprus, yellow pine and magnolia. MANUFACTURES. The development of the iron and coal mines has led to the establishment of large manufacturing industries. These consist of smelting works, foundries and coke ovens in the mineral regions, sawmills in the forests, gristmills, leather-dressing establishments, distilleries for the manufacture of turpentine and resin and factories for the manufacture of cotton goods. Since 1900 the manufacture of iron and steel and their products, cotton goods and other products have developed rapidly. Other major industries produce chemicals, electronics, textiles, processed foods, and automobiles. The quarrying of marble and other building stone gives employment to considerable numbers in certain localities. Fertilizers are manufactured by combining the cotton-seed meal with phosphates which are obtained from mines in Florida. Alabama is advancing rapidly and the conditions for nearly all lines of manufacturing industry are so favorable that she bids fair to take her place in the front rank of the manufacturing states of the Union. COMMERCE. The state has an extensive trade in coal, iron and cotton. The manufactures do not yet supply the local demands; hence many manufactured articles are brought in from other states. Fruits and lumber are exported, the latter to considerable extent; but the cereals and live stock of the state are no more than sufficient to meet the local needs. TRANSPORTATION. The large rivers, the Alabama, the Tombigbee and Chattahoochee, are navigable for some distance. Numerous lines of railway also pass through the state from north to south and from east to west. The entire railroad mileage is about 4500 miles, and all of the leading cities and towns have railway advantages. Mobile is the only seaport, and consequently is the most important trade center for cotton, coal and lumber. A great deal of lumber is also sent to Pensacola, Fla. GOVERNMENT. By the constitution, the right of suffrage is restricted to those who can read and write and interpret any clause of the United States Constitution in English, and who have for the greater portion of the year preceding registration been engaged in some lawful occupation, unless they own, either directly or through their wives, a certain amount of property upon which taxes have been paid. The legislature consists of a senate and house of representatives. The senate cannot exceed in number one-third of the members of the house, and members of both houses are elected for four years. The executive department consists of a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education and commissioner of agriculture and industries. Each of these officers is elected for four years at the time of the election of members of the legislature. None is eligible for reelection, and the governor is not eligible by election or appointment to any office in the state or the United States during his term of office, or within one year after the expiration of his term. The judicial power is vested in the supreme court, circuit courts, chancery and probate courts, and such others as may be established by law. The senate may sit as a high court of justice for the impeachment of any state officer. The local government is administered by counties and municipalities. CITIES. The chief cities are Montgomery, the capital, Birmingham, Mobile, Selma, Anniston, Talladega and Tuscaloosa, each of which is described under its title. EDUCATION. A good system of public schools is maintained throughout the state. In 1907 a law requiring the establishing of at least one high school in each county and providing an appropriation for partially paying the salaries of teachers in these schools, was passed. The state maintains several normal schools located respectively at Florence, Jacksonville, Troy, Livingston, Montgomery, Huntsville and Tuskegee, the last three being for colored students. There is an industrial school for white girls at Montevallo. There are several agricultural schools, a number of universities and several colleges for women. Among the prominent institutions are the University of Alabama, at Tuscaloosa, Southern University, at Greensboro, Saint Bernard College, at Cullman, the Polytechnic School and Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Auburn, and the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. See TUSKEGEE NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE. INSTITUTIONS. The hospitals for the insane are at Tuscaloosa and Mount Vernon. The school for deaf mutes and for the blind, and the Alabama Academy for the Blind are at Talladega. The penitentiary is at Wetumpka and the Alabama Industrial School for Boys is at East Lake. HISTORY. Alabama was visited by De Soto in 1541, but was not colonized, and was a part of the British Carolina grant of 1663. The French established a settlement at Mobile Bay in 1702 and founded the present city of Mobile in 1711. Thereafter, it was the capital of Louisiana until the territory was transferred to England, when this region became a part of West Florida. After 1783 there was a serious boundary dispute with Spain and it was not definitely settled until 1819, when all of Florida was ceded to the United States. Alabama became a territory of the United States in 1817 and was admitted to statehood two years later. It was decidedly proslavery, an earnest advocate of the Mexican War and was one of the first of the Southern states to secede (January 18, 1861). Its capital, Montgomery, became the capital of the Confederate States. During the carpet-bag regime, the state suffered serious losses through reckless speculation and fraud, but since that time has steadily advanced in population and wealth. In 1901 an amendment was adopted to the constitution which practically restricted suffrage to the white citizens. TVA projects and WWII boosted industry. Alabama became a leader in the south in basing its economy on manufacturing.