Alabama

One thing that I've noticed about Alabama is the surprising lack of really big cities. The biggest city, Birmingham, has a population of only 242,820 people. The population of the whole state itself is only 4,500,752, which is less than that of New York City. Mix the small size with the world famous Southern hospitality, and you have a friendly, warm, and calm way of life! However, please don't be too quick to judge Alabama as a rural location. Alabama does have big-city convenience as well as small-town charm.

If you are an outdoorsy-type or a golfer, then you'll love Alabama. You have a great variety of landscapes to traipse about in, from the highest point of Cheaha Mountain (at 2,407 feet above sea level) to the lowest point at sea level on the Gulf of Mexico. You'll have the chance to experience a mix of mountain range, plateau, valley, or plains. The best part is that you can be outside almost year-round. In March, you can get 60F (15.5C) temperatures, and in the summer, the temperature averages from the low 80sF (26C), to 90F (32C) or higher. In November, you can usually get by with a sweater or a jacket. As for snow, well, you'll occasionally see it, usually only in high altitudes, but it will be a pleasant surprise instead of several months of inconvenience.

Birmingham is Alabama's largest city and has a lot of history. Basically, the city sprang out of nowhere in the 1870s due to the criss-crossing of the railroads through the area and the coal and iron resources. Birmingham later became infamous during the 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement. Nowadays, the city is renowned for the University of Alabama, which is near the forefront of medical research.

Montgomery is the state capital and the second largest city. For those of you who are craving a dose of culture, Montgomery is host to an annual Shakespeare Festival, which, coincidentally, runs almost year-round.

Mobile, the third biggest city, is situated right on the Gulf of Mexico and is home to the best beaches in all of Alabama. Mobile is also home to the first ever Mardi Gras celebrated in the US (take that New Orleans!)

Beyond these three major cities, there are plenty of other small communities to explore and fall in love with.

See our 151 Jobs in Alabama