Visit: Alabama Small Towns

Each year Alabama creates a special theme to attract visitors to the state, an annual campaign established seven years ago. This year, 215 communities from Mooresville, population 54, to Birmingham, population 300,000, are in the spotlight during the “Year of Small Towns and Downtowns.” Huntsville’s NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center celebrates its 50th anniversary this year while Talladega turns 175. Other cities and towns feature festivals, homecomings and events that give nods to their character, former and current residents, and visitors. Historical markers, written by local historians, will be unveiled at various town celebrations. A complete list of events and the towns in the limelight are at alabamahomecoming.com.