The goal was to eliminate Alabama's generic "cotton state" nickname in favor of something more distinct. "Alabama is geographically the Heart of Dixie, Alabama is industrially the Heart of Dixie, Alabama is, in fact, the Heart of Dixie," the chamber noted, according to the Alabama Department of Archives and History. read more
Alabama is commonly called the "Heart of Dixie" because of its location among the Southern states, the territory referred to as "Dixie." The slogan came about in the late 1940s as a public relations tool by the Alabama Chamber of Commerce. read more
The Chamber sought a more distinctive slogan for their state and promoted that "Alabama is geographically the Heart of Dixie". In 1951, with backing from the Alabama Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill to add "Heart of Dixie" to automobile license plates. read more