My "beat" as a writer is interesting Alabama people, places, events and groups.
Looking now at just one of those assignments, Alabama places, I ask for your help. I have listed below 30 Alabama places that are known for something unusual in which readers may be interested — and which I may research and write in future 1819 News articles. What other Alabama places should I add, and what (specifically) is each place known for? Your suggestions could be added to the "Z-List" before it goes viral and could be the subject of a future article.
Now, please don't start out with something like, "I can't believe you didn't include XXX." That's your job. My job was to get the list started, and I did that below. Now, please help me lengthen it.
And please don't add places like Stone Mountain, Georgia, or Natchez, Mississippi. Fascinating as those out-of-state places may be, I am an Alabama writer. Alabama only.
Alabama has a lot of unofficial "capitals," sometimes a statewide capital, sometimes Southern and sometimes world-recognized.
Muscle Shoals is the recording capital.
Mobile is the Mardi Gras capital.
Fairhope is the arts and crafts capital.
Huntsville is the space and rocket capital.
Bayou le Batre is the seafood capital.
Dothan and the Wiregrass are the peanut capital.
Evergreen is the Conecuh sausage capital.
Greenville/Ft. Deposit is the Bates turkey capital.
Ft. Deposit is the Priester's pecan and candies capital.
Wetumpka is the artist's capital.
Sylacauga is the marble capital.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the beach capital.
Dauphin Island is the deep-sea fishing capital.
Georgiana/Mt. Olive is the Hank Williams Sr. capital.
Fort Payne is the band 'Alabama' capital.
Montgomery is the Shakespeare Festival capital.
The whole state is the bass fishing capital.
Union Springs is the field trial hunting dog competition capital.
Tuskegee is the Commodores/Lionel Richie, capital, among other things.
Eufaula is the historic Southern homes capital.
Cherokee is the coon dog cemetery capital.
The "Free State of Winston County" is the Republican capital.
Gee's Bend is the quilting capital.
Andalusia is the celebrity chefs' capital, among other things.
Alex City is the water-skiing capital.
Hackleburg is the Sonny James' Southern Country Gentleman' capital.
Sylacauga is the Jim Nabors "Gomer Pyle" capital.
Tuscaloosa is "Title Town," the college football championships capital.
Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederacy and the birthplace of the civil rights movement.
Opp is the rattlesnake rodeo capital.
Tuscumbia is the rattlesnake saloon capital.
Tuscumbia is the Helen Keller birthplace and museum capital.
While I catch my breath, it's now your turn. What place in Alabama would you suggest be added, and what fascinating and unusual thing is it known for? E-mail your unusual Alabama place to Alabama beat writer Jim Zeigler at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
Jim Zeigler is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
