The only state with the major natural resources to make iron and steel, Alabama is the largest supplier of cast-iron and steel pipe products. Huntsville, Alabama is known as the Rocket Capital of the World and is home of the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.
Alabama has no official state nickname, but "The Heart of Dixie" is prevelant and reflects the central role that Alabama played in the history of the South. A major Cotton State, Alabama also became a leading proponent of secession in the days leading up to the Civil War.Jul 28, 2017