Facts About Montgomery
Montgomery was founded on the 3rd of December 1819 after two towns situated along the Alabama River merged into one, Montgomery.
Montgomery became the state capital of Alabama in 1846, after the state legislature chose Montgomery as the new capitol city moving it from Tuscaloosa in the west-central part of the state.
Montgomery is the fifth capital city of Alabama, previous state capitals were Stephens, Huntsville, Cahawba, and Tuscaloosa.
In February 1861, Montgomery was chosen as the first capital of the Confederate States of America, which remained until the Confederate seat of government moved to Richmond, Virginia, in May of that year.
Montgomery is the third most populous city in Alabama with an estimated population of 200,603, as of the 2020 census, only beaten by Huntsville and Birmingham.
Montgomery has a total area of 162.27 square miles, of which 159.86 square miles is land and 2.41 square miles is water.
Montgomery is built over rolling terrain at an elevation of about 220 feet above sea level.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened in Montgomery on the 26th of April 2018 and was founded by the Equal Justice Initiative.
The largest employers in Montgomery are Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base; the State of Alabama; Montgomery Public Schools; Baptist Health; Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama; ALFA Companies and the City of Montgomery, According to the city’s 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
Montgomery serves as a hub for healthcare in the central Alabama and Black Belt region.
Montgomery is twinned with one sister city; Pietrasanta, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.
Montgomery is home to Alabama’s oldest law library, the Supreme Court and State Law Library, founded in 1828.
Montgomery is known as the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
A major retail hub, EastChase, along with other shopping areas, drives significant economic activity through retail sales and services.
Montgomery is home to the largest Shakespeare Festival founded in 1972.
In 2004, Hyundai Motors chose Montgomery for its first assembly and manufacturing plant in the United States, investing $1.8 billion.
Montgomery is home to several institutions of higher education, including Alabama State University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and Faulkner University.
The city is home to minor league baseball’s Montgomery Biscuits, who play at Riverwalk Stadium.
Maxwell Air Force Base is a major employer in the city, contributing significantly to the local economy.
Montgomery is increasingly focusing on technology and innovation, fostering a growing tech sector with initiatives to attract startups and tech companies.
