10 Reasons We’re Proud to Be from Alabama

Classic Southern Literature: Alabama native Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. We could just stop there, but we won’t. Truman Capote, who lived near Lee in Monroeville, also hailed from Alabama. His works, including In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, are American classics. Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes) and Winston Groom (Forrest Gump) are also Alabama authors.

Our Music: Muscle Shoals is famous for legendary recordings by Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and others. Iconic artists like The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Paul Simon recorded in this small Alabama town. Also, don’t forget the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd tune “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Legendary Athletes: Alabama has produced some of the greatest athletes in history. Baseball legends Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, and Satchel Paige all hail from Alabama. Football stars like Bo Jackson, Ozzie Newsome, and Bart Starr are also from here. Soccer legend Mia Hamm, Olympian Jesse Owens, and basketball star Charles Barkley add to Alabama’s athletic legacy.

College Football: Alabama boasts 17 national championships in college football—15 for the University of Alabama and 2 for Auburn. The state has won four of the last six national titles, including all four from 2009 to 2012. The Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn is one of the most exciting games each year.

Barbecue: Alabama is home to some of the best barbecue in the country. From brisket and ribs to collard greens and grits, Alabama knows how to do barbecue right. The state’s restaurants, festivals, and competitions showcase the best of Southern barbecue and hospitality.

Training Engineers: Alabama has 13 universities with accredited engineering programs. Auburn University and the University of Alabama at Huntsville consistently rank among the nation’s top engineering schools, preparing students for success in major industries.

Peanuts…Lots of Them: Alabama is one of the nation’s top peanut producers, with about 200,000 acres dedicated to peanut farming in southern Alabama. The city of Dothan is known as the peanut capital of the world, contributing to over 400 million pounds of peanuts annually.

We Train Astronauts: Many of the country’s top minds in space technology were trained in Alabama. Six past directors of the Kennedy Space Center and several astronauts graduated from Auburn University, while others attended Troy University and the University of Alabama.

We Build Rockets: Wernher von Braun, a pioneer of American space exploration, did much of his work in Huntsville. His projects, including the most powerful rocket ever built, helped launch America into space and landed the first men on the moon.

Southern Charm and Hospitality: Alabama’s food, music, and schools make the state proud, but it’s the southern charm and hospitality that truly define it. With a welcoming spirit, friendly people, and a relaxed lifestyle, Alabama embodies the best of Southern living.