Montgomery

Montgomery (pop. 194,000), capital of Alabama. Lying in the cotton-belt, it is a major Southern agricultural market center. Its other industries include manufacturing of furniture, glass, machinery, paper, and textiles. Named after Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, a Revolutionary War hero, Montgomery played a key role in the Civil War, and is often referred to as the “Cradle of the Confederacy.” In 1861, the Confederate States of America were established there, Montgomery was made the first Confederate capital, and Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as president of the Confederacy in its capital. More recently, Montgomery was a focus in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led demonstrations there to promote equal treatment for all people. In 1956, Montgomery was one of the first Southern cities to ban racial segregation on buses.