Alabama became a state in December 1819. The "Heart of Dixie" is now home to more than 4.5 million people.

There's a lot to explore within Alabama's 67 counties. You'll find everything from lakes, fields, mountains, and beaches to big modern cities and small old-fashioned towns.

Moving here? You'll need to get your Alabama driver's license and pick up a new tag for your vehicle. To help you get started:

• Driver's licenses are issued by the Department of Public Safety at various locations throughout the state. Check out our article on Applying for a New License for additional information.

• To find out how to register your vehicle, go to our section on Registration and Titling.

• Alabama's state law makes liability insurance mandatory. To learn more about insurance, check out The Unofficial DMV Guide Insurance Center.

• To learn the basics of Alabama government, visit the State of Alabama Web site.

Top Alabama Fun

If you're looking for something fun to do in your new state, check out the following links:

• Arts and Cultural Activities

• Places to Visit

• Festivals and Events

• Historical Activities

• Sports & Recreation

Top Alabama Trivia

• Alabama was once called the Cotton State―until boll weevils wiped out the crop. Farmers learned to grow other crops instead. The town of Enterprise erected a huge statue honoring the boll weevil.

• NASA's Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville is home to Space Camp, an extensive museum of rockets of all shapes and sizes.

• The Port of Mobile welcomes ships from all over the world. It was home to many ships housing refugees needing shelter after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

• Freshwater and saltwater fishing in Alabama rivals any state in the country. Several of the lakes hold world records for the size of fish caught. Fishing tournaments are a common event year-round.

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