Alabama gets stereotyped a lot—but scratch the surface and the state starts getting downright weird (in the best way). From secret space history to accidental global food empires, the Yellowhammer State has been quietly flexing for decades. Here are 11 100% real Alabama facts that sound fake enough to start an argument at a family cookout.
1. Alabama Once Briefly Had the Largest City in the U.S.
In 1860, Mobile was the second-largest port in the country and, for a short time, rivaled major East Coast cities in population and trade. It was booming with cotton exports and international shipping. Most people today assume it was always just a quiet Gulf town—wrong.
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