9 Surefire Signs You Have Strong Roots In Alabama
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Lisa Battles
Author
When you have strong roots in Alabama, it shows up in what you value, from iconic foods and sports rivalries to what our farmers grow. In case you needed reminding, we gathered a list of those most likely to resonate.
And if you’re proud to be from Alabama (as you should be!), check out Wear Your Roots to wear your heart on your sleeve. Or perhaps a hat, backpack, or whathaveyou. The shop stocks all kinds of great gear and accessories to rep the Yellowhammer State with style.
Let’s get to the list.
1. You grew up thinking every barbecue joint had white sauce.
Until you learned they didn't. Speaking from experience here, having asked for it casually in Nashville many years ago only to be looked at with much confusion. Many places have it now, or at least know what you're talking about if you ask. That's thanks to the renown of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, where it originated. While some have created their own Alabama white sauce, you can find Gibson's original in stores throughout the South and in the restaurant's online shop.
2. You have a strong preference among our celebrity meteorologists.
The bad news is we are fourth in the nation for the average number of tornadoes between 2008 and 2022. The good news is we have some of the best weather pros in the industry keeping us aware and on alert. Our news stations invest heavily in the best tracking technology, too. And most people have an immediate answer to "Who's your favorite weather person?"
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3. What you say and how you say it.
There are many different dialects of the Southern US states and even within different parts of Alabama. Among the common phrases you'll hear is the famous "y'all," which by now everyone knows is short for "you all" and means the same thing as the northeastern "youse guys." When it comes to the actual accent – how we pronounce words – most involve a twang, a drawl, or both. And while we're on the subject of using our words ...
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4. One of the following phrases is part of your vocabulary: Roll Tide or War Eagle. ONLY one. Never the other.
We have many fine schools throughout the state. Regardless of whether or which you attended, people choose a side of the Alabama/Auburn rivalry. While the uninitiated may think it’s just football, we know it's deeper than that. Still, we keep it friendly ... most of the time.
5. Bass fishing is life – If not for you, then probably for at least one person you love.
People come from all over the country to fish here, and locals love it more. The Alabama Bass Trail lays out 13 of our best spots statewide and oversees a hugely popular tournament series. It's also important to note the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) began in Montgomery and now calls Birmingham home.
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6. Big love for farms and rural areas.
You didn't have to grow up on a farm to have a value for rural living that's almost instinctive. Agriculture has always been a big part of our economy and lifestyles. Today, we are second in the nation for broilers and our timberland base. We are third for peanuts. We still live up to the Cotton State nickname as part of the top 10 for that, too. We all enjoy these commodities after they've reached our tables and homes. And our beds, as is the case of Moulton's Red Land Cotton, a field-to-fabric farm that transforms its harvest into cozy linens. And then there are the incredible agritourism places. Around here, you will never be short of a good pumpkin patch or petting zoo.
7. A bit of hipster satisfaction* with how Muscle Shoals music impacted the world.
For a mind-boggling list of music luminaries and hits, check out all that's come out of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals and Muscle Shoals Sound in Sheffield. Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Willie Nelson, Cher, Percy Sledge, Paul Simon, Duane Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd ... it's a lot. *And while The Rolling Stones didn’t record Satisfaction here, four years later they certainly got some with a few days of recording at MSS. It was there where they captured Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, and You Gotta Move.
8. An understanding that NASCAR isn't just “cars going in circles.”
Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln is NASCAR's largest oval and has been around since 1969. The facility hosts two of the sport's most popular races each year. Not a race fan? That's OK. You don't even have to know the name of any driver to see the track itself is an economic one. The annual economic impact of those events is about $420 million, according to a 2022 study by Auburn University at Montgomery. That includes over $60 million in state, local, and municipal taxes.
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9. Souvenir City says "beach" the second you see it.
Regardless of whether a stop at Souvenir City is part of your spring break or summer beach trip traditions, there's no way you've missed seeing it. Two of our top beach towns - Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - both have locations, with the OG location in Gulf Shores since 1956. The big pink one in Orange Beach opened in 1994.
If you want to grab some Alabama gear from Wear Your Roots, use coupon code Alabama10 for 10% off!
You don’t even have to live here now for these to resonate. If adventures have called you away from your sweet home, know that you’re always welcome to come back.
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