6 things people should know when they move to Alabama
Each year, more and more people move to Alabama. In fact, the state is in the midst of record growth – in 2022, we grew faster than most of the nation.
With that in mind, our friends over at This is Alabama asked their Facebook audience, “What advice would you give to someone moving to Alabama?” And there were a lot of opinions. (There are more than 3,200 comments on the post. If you want, you can read ‘em all here.)
We went through all the comments to find out the most common pieces of advice from both lifelong Alabamians and transplants, and we narrowed it down for y’all. Here are some things you should know if you’re moving to Alabama:
Alabama’s Natural Bridge is the longest natural rock bridge east of the Rockies. (Tamika Moore)
1. Don’t just stay in your bubble – travel the state.
Alabama has it all, geographically speaking. We have mountains, world-class beaches, waterfalls, deep valleys, lakes, swamps and barrier islands. (We’re called Alabama the Beautiful for a reason.) You can’t experience all we have to offer if you don’t get on the road and visit all the different places across the state.
READ MORE: Alabama’s also pretty biodiverse.
Even pets pick sides in Alabama. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)
2. You gotta pick a team.
OK, y’all knew this one was going to come up. But if you move here, one of the first questions you’re going to be asked is “Alabama or Auburn?” And it’s better to have an answer.
Ted’s Restaurant, a meat-and-three in Birmingham, is known for its fried chicken, along with other dishes. (Mary Colurso |[email protected])
3. Try all the food.
No one has ever been to Alabama and said, “Oh, the food is bad here.” Birmingham has a reputation as one of the best food cities in the U.S., there is lots of fresh seafood on the Gulf, meat-and-threes are everywhere and even our food brands are amazing. (Conecuh sausage was mentioned several times in the comments, and if you try it once you’ll understand.)
READ MORE: 68 dishes you gotta try in Alabama restaurants
Lightning strikes along Mobile Bay in Fairhope. (Press-Register, John David Mercer)HVT
4. Never trust the weather.
Look, there are few things more unpredictable than Alabama weather. It’s a common joke here that you can experience all four seasons in a day, and it’s kinda true. Just remember: Don’t ever completely put away your summer clothes. Don’t. do. It. You’ll need those for the unexpected 80-degree Christmas Day.)
5. Respect the polygon.
Alabama’s most popular meteorologist, James Spann, has an often-repeated phrase: “Respect the polygon.” Severe weather warnings are often issued on county-by-county, but Spann also talks about the “polygon” – a smaller area that an incoming storm is more likely to hit. So when your town name is mentioned by Spann, you know you have to “Respect the polygon” and make sure you’re in a safe spot.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about James Spann
6. Make sure you have a good air conditioner.
Yeah, this one is obvious, but it doesn’t make it any less true.
A sunset sky at Duncan Bridge at Smith Lake (Tamika Moore/AL.com)
7. Do away with any preconceived notions you have about the state.
No one is more aware than Alabamians that there are plenty of unflattering stereotypes about our state. You’re not going to enjoy the state if you don’t forget about your preconceived notions and truly experience the food, people and culture here firsthand.
And if you or someone you know is new to the state – or if you simply just enjoy good news stories about Alabama – we encourage you to sign up for This is Alabama’s newest weekly newsletter, Welcome Y’all. It aims to introduce folks to our state – or make lifelong Alabamians fall back in love with it.
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