To the north, Alabama is surrounded by Tennessee; to the east, Georgia; to the south, Florida; and to the west, Mississippi; it is located in the Southeastern United States. Alabama is the 30th-largest state in terms of land area and 24th-largest in terms of population. Alabama has the most navigable inland rivers in the country, spanning 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometres).

In honour of the state bird, Alabama is known as the Yellowhammer State. “The Cotton State” as well as the “Heart of Dixie” are other nicknames for Alabama. The longleaf pine is the official state tree, whereas the camellia is the official state flower. Montgomery, the state’s capital, and Huntsville, the state’s most populous and largest city, are both located in Alabama. Mobile, the capital of French Louisiana since 1702, is the city’s oldest borough. Greater Birmingham is the state’s most populous and economically important metropolitan area.