Alabama officially became a U.S. state on December 14, 1819. It is located in the Southeastern region of the United States, and shares a border with Tennessee (north), Georgia (east), Florida (south), the Gulf of Mexico (south), and Mississippi (west).
As of 2020, Alabama has a population of 5,024,279, making it the 24th most populous state in the U.S. By area, it is the 30th largest state with a total land mass of 50,744 square miles (131,426 km2).
The main counties in Alabama, in order of population, are Jefferson County, Mobile County, Madison County, Montgomery County, Shelby County. The principal cities are Huntsville, Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, and Tuscaloosa.
The Alabama Center for Health Statistics holds and maintains vital records, including birth and death certificates, for the state of Alabama. The office stores records dating back to January 1908. Birth records less than 125 years old are restricted.