X-Nico

99 unusual facts about Alabama


12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment

In February 1865 the regiment was ordered to assist with the siege of Mobile, Alabama, where it was engaged at Spanish Fort, Alabama.

14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The regiment was mustered out on October 9, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama.

61400 Voxandreae

It is named after Andreae Deman, a planetarium program speaker for the Von Braun Astronomical Society in Huntsville, Alabama.

Alabama Public Television

After two years of preparation, it signed on the nation's ninth educational television station, WEDM in Munford, serving Talladega.

Alabama State Route 58

SR-58 begins at an intersection with US-82/SR-6/SR-25/SR-219 in Centreville, heading east on two-lane undivided Walnut Street.

Andre Royal

Andre Tierre Royal (born December 1, 1972 in Theodore, Alabama) is a former professional football player in the National Football League who played linebacker for five seasons for the Carolina Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts.

B.L. Harbert International

B.L. Harbert International, LLC, based in Birmingham, Alabama, began construction operations in 2000 under the leadership of Billy L. Harbert.

Battle of Collierville

The Memphis & Charleston Railroad remained open to Tuscumbia, Alabama, for Union troop movements.

Bobby Humphrey

As of 2012, Humphrey is vice president of business development for Bryant Bank in Birmingham, Alabama.

Brian Webber

Brian Webber (December 19, 1967) is an American actor from Birmingham, Alabama.

Bridge Day

In 1983, Michael Glenn Williams from Birmingham, Alabama, drowned when his gear was caught in the current after he made a successful jump.

Byron Lavoy Cockrell

Byron Cockrell was born on July 3, 1935 to Webster and Willa Cockrell of Lineville, Alabama.

Cale Gale

In 1989 at five years old, he began racing competitively at Mobile Motorsports Park in Kushla, Alabama, winning five features in his first year.

Carol Stream, Illinois

Phil Campbell, Alabama – one of three municipalities in the United States with the first and last name of a person as its name

Cooper Green Mercy Hospital

It first opened as Mercy Hospital in 1972 and was renamed for former Birmingham mayor Cooper Green three years later.

Crosley Broadcasting Corporation

The WLWI call letters are used by an AM and FM radio station serving the Montgomery, Alabama radio market.

CWF Heavyweight Championship

The NWA Continental Heavyweight Championship was a major title in the National Wrestling Alliance's Alabama territory called Southeastern Championship Wrestling.

CWF Tag Team Championship

The NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship was the major tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliance's Alabama territory known as Southeast Championship Wrestling.

DeDee Nathan

LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan (born April 20, 1968 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a retired heptathlete from the United States, who won the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba.

Dee Dee Warwick

In October, she cut 10 tracks at Muscle Shoals, again with Crawford producing (along with Brad Shapiro).

Deidre Downs

After her year as Miss America, she began medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.

Don Fuell

College scouts began seeking his services when he was in the 10th grade at Marshall County High School in rural Alabama.

Donald Watkins

Donald V. Watkins (born 1948 - ) of Birmingham, Alabama is an African-American lawyer, banker and international entrepreneur.

Downtown music

Likewise, despite its origin in New York musical politics, "Downtown" music is not solely specific to Manhattan; many major cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, even Birmingham, Alabama have alternative, Downtown music scenes.

E. B. Teague

During his role as a preacher, he served churches in Selma, Columbiana, Montevallo, Fayetteville, Jefferson County, Greene County, Alabama and LaGrange, Georgia.

Evan Harris Walker

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Harris received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland in 1964.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

The "Whistle Stop Cafe" is loosely based on the Irondale Cafe in Irondale, Alabama, a suburb near Flagg's birthplace.

Frisco 4003

4003 was retired in early 1952, shortly before the last steam powered train on the Frisco, between Birmingham and Bessemer, Alabama in February.

Gary Winton

A 6'5" forward from Somerville, Alabama, Winton scored a then-school record 2,296 points (later surpassed by Kevin Houston) and grabbed a still-standing school record 1,168 rebounds.

Geoffrey D. Stephenson

, the party of Air Commodore Stephenson, accompanied by 30 RAF and USAF officers, flew to Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, for interment at the Royal Air Force plot there.

George G. Siebels, Jr.

He served from m 1967 to 1975 and then represented Jefferson County in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990.

Gerald A. Lewis

Born in 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama to Bernard and Molly Lewis, Gerald Lewis was educated in Birmingham schools before attending Harvard College and graduating with an A.B. degree in 1955.

Glass–Steagall Legislation

The term Glass–Steagall Act is also often used to refer to the entire Banking Act of 1933, after its Congressional sponsors, Senator Carter Glass (D) of Virginia, and Representative Henry B. Steagall (D) of Alabama.

Griffon Aerospace

Griffon Aerospace is an aerospace and defense company based in Madison, Alabama, USA.

Henry James Thomas

Although Thomas was injured, and injected with a sense of fear, he participated in a second Freedom Ride from Montgomery, Alabama to Jackson, Mississippi 10 days later.

Hilliard P. Jenkins

Jenkins served in other leadership roles with the Mobile-Baldwin Area Boy Scouts of America, the Baldwin County Mental Health Board, the Baldwin County Executive Committee, and the Alabama Selective Service Board.

Hospital Corporation of America

In April 1998, Birmingham, Alabama-based HealthSouth Corporation announced it was acquiring the majority of HCA's surgical division.

Hubbertville School

Hubbertville School is located in the community of Hubbertville, which itself is situated in Northern Fayette County, Alabama, within the corporate limits of Glen Allen, Alabama.

James Adams Stallworth

Born in Evergreen, Alabama, Stallworth attended Old Field Piney Woods Schools.

James Zwerg

The group traveled by bus to Birmingham, where Zwerg was first arrested for not moving to the back of the bus with his black seating companion.

Three days later, the riders regrouped and headed to Montgomery.

Janice Bowling

Born on April 1, 1947 in Selma, Alabama, she was a teacher in the public school system before marrying her husband, who was then in the U.S. Air Force.

Jean Baptiste Louis DeCourtel Marchand

It is known that Jean was the French military commanding officer of the French colonial trading Fort Toulouse, near present day Wetumpka, Alabama.

Jim Davenport

James Houston Davenport (born August 17, 1933 in Siluria, Alabama) is a former Major League Baseball infielder (mostly third base) who played his entire career with the San Francisco Giants (1958–1970).

John Fox Slater

The fund has been of great value in aiding industrial schools in the South, its largest beneficiaries being the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute of Hampton, Virginia, the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute of Tuskegee, Alabama, Spelman Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC, and Fisk University, in Nashville, Tennessee.

John Moorlach

He received phone calls regarding a looming municipal bond crisis in Jefferson County, Alabama.

K. Lee Scott

Lee Scott (born 1950 in Valley, Alabama) is an internationally known teacher, musician, conductor and composer of sacred music, choral music and hymns, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.

Kim Turner

Kimberly "Kim" Turner-McKenzie (born March 21, 1961 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 100 meter Hurdles.

KOLD-TV

Gannett had owned the Tucson Citizen since 1977, and FCC regulations of the time forced Gannett to sell KOLD along with KTVY (now KFOR-TV) in Oklahoma City and WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama to Knight Ridder Broadcasting after just one day of ownership.

Larry Taunton

Larry Alex Taunton (born, May 24, 1967) is an American author, columnist, radio talk show host, and cultural commentator based out of Birmingham, Alabama who serves as the Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the public defense of the Christian faith.

Law enforcement in the Marshall Islands

Kwajalein Atoll is serviced by Alutiiq Security & Technology of Huntsville, Alabama.

LED anti-collision light

Talon Aerospace in Helena, Alabama began a program to develop and certify an LED equivalent in 2004.

Liu Nannan

In April, she reached the semi-final of a $75,000 tournament at Dothan, Alabama, losing to Varvara Lepchenko.

Luke Sewell

Born in the rural town of Titus, Alabama, Sewell grew up wanting to play baseball, and graduated from the University of Alabama where, he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team as an infielder.

Mid-Atlantic Freight

23 October 2002 - Mid-Atlantic Freight Cessna 208B Cargomaster I, on a flight between Mobile and Montgomery in Alabama, crashed after an uncontrolled descent into Big Bateau Bay, 8 km from Spanish Fort, Alabama.

Nathaniel B. Dial

Dial engaged in banking and in various manufacturing enterprises, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1912; he was, however, elected in 1918 as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1919, to March 4, 1925; he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1924 and in 1925 was a member of the commission to report on the use of the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

New Vision Television

On August 1, 2006, New Vision announced an agreement to acquire CBS affiliates WIAT in Birmingham, Alabama and KIMT in Mason City, Iowa from Media General for $35 million.

NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship

The NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title defended in the US states of Tennessee and Alabama.

Oak Grove, Alabama

It is not to be confused with the unincorporated town in Jefferson County west of Rock Creek which was hit by an F5 tornado on April 8, 1998 and an EF2 tornado on January 23, 2012.

Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, formerly known as the Verizon Wireless Music Center, is an outdoor amphitheater, owned by Live Nation, located in Pelham, Alabama, a few miles south of Birmingham.

Philip Bradbourn

Philip Bradbourn also came under fire in 2008 when it was discovered that the website of the West Midlands Conservative MEPs showed a photo of Birmingham, Alabama instead of Birmingham, England.

Quincuncina burkei

This very distinct species was first discovered in the Pea River at Elamville, Ala., by Joseph B. Burke and is named

Rebel Love

The picture was shot on locations in Birmingham and Bessemer, Alabama during the summer of 1983, with many scenes filmed at the Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park.

Redmont Hotel

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 27 of that year.

Reuben Kemper

In 1810, during the rebellion against Spanish rule by the British and American settlers (who made up the majority of inhabitants), Reuben Kemper and Joseph White were authorized to invite the inhabitants of Mobile and Pensacola to join in the revolt.

Rhode Island in the American Civil War

His guns helped force the surrender of two important Confederate towns—Mobile, Alabama, and Port Hudson, Louisiana.

Roberta Alison

Roberta Alison Baumgardner (born December 13, 1943, Alexander City, Alabama – died March 20, 2009, Alexander City, Alabama) was a noted American female tennis player.

Roger Briggs

Roger Briggs, born and raised in Florence, Alabama, began playing the piano at age 8 and composing by age 11.

Roszetta Johnson

She was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and grew up singing in her local church choir.

Rush darter

This fish is currently known from three Alabama river drainages: the Clear Creek drainage in Winston County, some springs in Jefferson County, and Little Cove Creek drainage in Etowah County.

Saks, Inc.

After acquiring Parisian, Proffitt's relocated its corporate headquarters to Birmingham, Alabama from Knoxville in October 1997.

Sarah Smiley

Sarah Smiley has a B.S. in Education from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and a M.A. in Mass Communication fro the University of Maine in Orono.

Sherman Irby

Sherman Irby was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

SLSF 1522

1994: 1522 was one of the locomotives to participate in the 1994 NRHS annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia and did a double-header with Norfolk and Western 611 from Birmingham, Alabama to Atlanta on its way to the convention.

South Carolina in the American Civil War

On February 4, a congress of the seven seceding states met in Montgomery, Alabama, and approved a new constitution for the Confederate States of America.

Sportz Blitz

The show focuses on Alabama high school and college sports, specifically Auburn University and the University of Alabama.

Spring Hill, Kansas

In 1856, James B. Hovey named the community after a town near Mobile, Alabama.

Spruce Pine

Spruce Pine, Alabama, a census-designated place in Franklin County, Alabama, United States

STS-87

The United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4) is a Spacelab project managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.

Sue Ellen Brown

Sue Ellen Brown (born 1954) is an artist living in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sweet Water High School

The late 1920s saw some consolidation of Marengo County schools, with children from former schools in Beaver Creek, Exmoor, and Aimwell moved to Sweet Water.

Tara Gray

She is also a former beauty queen originally from Birmingham, Alabama who has competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss USA pageants.

Teresa Cheatham

Teresa Ann Cheatham-Stricklin (née Cheatham) is a vocal instructor from Wellington, Alabama who was named Miss Alabama 1978 and finished first runner-up at Miss America 1979.

The All American Trumpeters

The All American Trumpeters, now known as The Trumpeteers, started life as a small marching band in Sunflex, Alabama, USA.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alabama

Before August 24, 1842, branches in Tuscaloosa (the Cybry Branch) and Perry (Bogue-Chitto Branch) counties were organized by Elder Brown.

Many of the early missionaries frequently passed between Alabama and Mississippi in their work.

The Statesmen Quartet

Cat Freeman (brother of Vestal Goodman), a native of Fyffe, Alabama was replaced by the great Irish tenor Denver Crumpler.

Toronto Toros

Following the season, with the drop in attendance and onerous lease terms at the Gardens, Bassett moved the club to Birmingham, Alabama, where they were renamed the Birmingham Bulls for the 1976–77 season.

Ty G. Allushuski

Allushuski mainly covered prep sports in Shelby County in suburban Birmingham, Alabama.

Upland South

Knoxville and Huntsville are both centers of industry and scientific research.

US Orbital Segment

The segment is monitored and controlled from various mission control centers around the world including Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Columbus Control Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, Tsukuba Space Center in Tsukuba, Japan, and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Virginia Miller

Virginia (Gi-Gi) Miller-Johnson (born January 12, 1979 in Huntsville, Alabama) is a world class heptathlete and former US champion.

Wayne Mixson

Born in New Brockton, Alabama, immediately after graduating from high school he moved to Jackson County, Florida.

WHDF

WOWL-TV always faced competing NBC affiliates in Huntsville or Decatur, whose signals reached much of its broadcast area.

Wheeler's October 1863 Raid

Wheeler escaped across the Tennessee River on October 9 at Rogersville, Alabama, but not before another 95 of his horsemen were overwhelmed near Pulaski, Tennessee.

Wildwood Centre

Wildwood Centre was opened on September 29, 1991 to the south of Birmingham, but north of Hoover, Alabama on Lakeshore Drive next to I-65.

WTVR-TV

On January 6, 2009, Raycom and Local TV LLC announced that they would be swapping stations in Richmond and Birmingham.

Youngtown

Youngtown, Alabama, populated place in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States

Zan Wesley Holmes Jr

In 2001, he was recognized as one of the Civil Rights Movement’s “Invisible Giants” in the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Alabama.


1948 Democratic National Convention

The thirteen members of the Alabama delegation were led out by Leven H. Ellis.

1967–68 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

As sophomores, they would combine with returnees Dave Scholz, Randy Crews, future New York Knicks draft pick Mike Price, Alabama transfer Jodie Harrison, Dennis Pace and walk-on Les Busboom to form the best group Schmidt would ever coach.

1975 Sugar Bowl

After Penn State's Chris Bahr missed a 62-yard field goal, Alabama scored on a 25-yard Danny Ridgeway field goal to take a 3–0 lead.

20 Years After

Filmed principally in north Alabama and southern Tennessee, the low-budget film was initially released under the title Like Moles, Like Rats, a reference to the Thornton Wilder play The Skin of Our Teeth.

2003 Auburn Tigers football team

After consecutive losses to Ole Miss, led by Eli Manning, and Georgia, the Tigers concluded a disappointing regular season by defeating arch rival Alabama, 28–23.

40-Hour Week

When it reached the top of the chart on May 4, "There's No Way" became Alabama's 16th consecutive No. 1 single (excepting for the 1982 Christmas single "Christmas in Dixie").

4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The regiment participated in the Third Battle of Chattanooga from November 23–27 1863, then was on garrison duty at Bridgeport and Huntsville in Alabama, until June 1864, having Veteranized during the spring of 1864.

Army of Central Kentucky

The Department No. 2 (Western Department) was created on June 25, 1861, under the command of Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk, and had military jurisdiction and control over parts of Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Ashland Airport

Ashland/Lineville Airport in Ashland/Lineville, Alabama, United States (FAA: 26A)

Bull Connor

Spike Lee's documentary 4 Little Girls (about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Alabama in 1963) includes footage of Connor and interviews with people describing police brutality under his watch.

Cavendish Beach Music Festival

In 2012 the festival included major acts Rik Reese & Neon Highway, Dierks Bentley, Alabama, and Rascal Flatts.

Cedartown, Georgia

Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012), an upcoming drama movie with scenes from Cedartown as a fictional city in Alabama.

Chicken Truck

The song features Anderson (in first person narration) discussing an experience of getting stuck behind a Georgia truck hauling a load of chickens (Georgia is a major poultry-producing state), on Alabama State Route 65 (a winding, 2-lane highway in Jackson County in the northeast corner of Alabama) heading to Tennessee in mid-July.

Council of Conservative Citizens

The CofCC continues protesting speaking engagements by Morris Dees in Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Indiana, and South Carolina, declaring him to be a threat to free speech and a fraud.

Danny Mayo

Danny "Bear" Mayo (October 2, 1950 - October 2, 1999) was an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Alabama, Tracy Byrd, Pirates of the Mississippi and Confederate Railroad.

Ed Packard

On March 14, 2007, the Associated Press reported that a Montgomery County, Alabama, grand jury issued an indictment against Worley that included five felony counts and five misdemeanor counts related to Worley's solicitation of campaign contributions from Secretary of State employees.

Fay Bellamy Powell

After her time in the Air Force, Bellamy moved all over the United States, from Florida to New York City to San Francisco, before settling down in Alabama.

Fort Perry

It was constructed under General John Floyd and was used as a base of attack on the Sticks tribe (Red Sticks on the other side of the Chattahoochee River in Alabama territory.

Garth Fundis

Active since the 1970s, Fundis has produced albums for several country artists, including Alabama, Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland, and Keith Whitley.

Here We Rest

"Alabama Pines" won Song of the Year at the 2012 Americana Music Awards.

Homer Hickam

In 1984, Hickam was presented with Alabama's Distinguished Service Award for heroism shown during a rescue effort of the crew and passengers of a sunken paddleboat in the Tennessee River.

Illuminated dance floor

They were popularised for disco by the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever which it had gotten inspiration from a floor the director of the movie had seen at "The Club", a private supper club in Birmingham, Alabama.

John Newsome

John P. Newsome (1893–1961), politician in the U.S. state of Alabama

Joinerville, Texas

Columbus Marion Joiner (March 12, 1860 – March 27, 1947) was born on a farm in 1860 near Center Star in Lauderdale County, Alabama.

Julie Dash

The film follows her life and her marriage to Raymond Parks (Peter Francis James) as they deal with the issues of segregation, Jim Crow and second-class status in 1950s Alabama.

Lamar Thomas

He was the victim of "The Strip", George Teague's strip of the football at the 10 yard line in the 1993 Sugar Bowl that continued an Alabama rout of Miami.

Loveman's

Loveman's of Alabama, a Birmingham, Alabama-based chain of department stores with locations across Alabama

Mike Shula

Despite a catastrophic leg injury suffered by star wide receiver Tyrone Prothro, Alabama went 10–2 with a victory in the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic over the Mike Leach-led Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Oscar Gamble

Born in Ramer, Alabama, Gamble was discovered playing baseball in a semi-professional league by legendary Negro League baseball player Buck O'Neil, who was working as a scout for the Chicago Cubs at the time.

Pete Coachman

Bobby Dean Coachman (born November 11, 1961, in Cottonwood, Alabama) is a retired professional baseball player who played one season for the California Angels of Major League Baseball.

Politics of the Southern United States

When segregation was outlawed by court order and by the Civil Rights acts of 1964 and 1965, a die-hard element resisted integration, led by Democratic governors Orval Faubus of Arkansas, Lester Maddox of Georgia, and especially George Wallace of Alabama.

Sampson Willis Harris

Harris was then elected in 1846 to represent Alabama's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives during the 30th United States Congress and was reelected to three additional terms (31st, 32nd and 33rd Congresses) in that seat from March 4, 1847, until March 3, 1855.

Sequatchie Valley

The Sequatchie River drains the valley in Tennessee, flowing south to southwest from the southern part of Cumberland County, Tennessee to the Tennessee River near the Alabama border.

Sinclair Skinner

Skinner has worked for numerous engineering companies including Ohmeda, Inc., Honeywell, Pillsbury, McDonnell Douglas Corporation and The Architect of the Capitol where he performed testing and development for the space shuttle’s main engine controllers, manufacturing for a flour mill company and designed roadways in Macon County, Alabama where he was an apprentice to Curtis Pierce, the first African American county engineer in Macon County, Alabama.

Spartan Fidelity

The name Spartan Fidelity is derived from rearranging the name of an Alabama insurance company, Fidelity Spartan.

Steve Seskin

Steve Seskin is an American songwriter whose compositions have been recorded by Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Brian McComas, Neal McCoy, Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Colin Raye, Tebey and Mark Wills.

Stippled studfish

The Stippled studfish (Fundulus bifax) is a small freshwater fish which is endemic to the Tallapoosa River system in Georgia and Alabama, USA; and Sofkahatchee Creek (lower Coosa River system) in Alabama.

T. D. Little

He ran for Alabama's 3rd congressional district for United States House of Representatives in 1996 after Glen Browder retired but lost to Bob Riley (R).

The Battle of the Kearsarge and the Alabama

The painting commemorates the Battle of Cherbourg of 1864, a naval engagement between the Union cruiser USS Kearsarge and the rebel privateer CSS Alabama.

The Long Walk Home

Set in Alabama, it is based on a screenplay about the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) by John Cork and a short film by the same name, produced by students at the University of Southern California in 1988.

Tyson House

McBryde-Screws-Tyson House, Montgomery, Alabama, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in Montgomery County

William Nichols

William Flynt Nichols (1918–1988), Democratic member of United States House of Representatives for the state of Alabama

WJOX

WJOX-FM, a radio station (94.5 FM) in Birmingham, Alabama, United States

WOOF

WOOF-FM, a radio station (99.7 FM) licensed to Dothan, Alabama, United States

WRRS

WYDE-FM, a radio station (101.1 FM) licensed to serve Cullman, Alabama, United States, which used the call sign WRRS from November 1998 to July 2002

WVOK

WVOK-FM, a radio station (97.9 FM) licensed to Oxford, Alabama, United States

Y102

WHHY-FM, a radio station nicknamed "Y102" in Montgomery, Alabama, USA.