With apologies to
Harper's Index:
Alabama's rank among the 50 states in population size: 23rd
In level of overall pollution: 10th
In per capita personal income: 45th
Percent of population living below the federal poverty line: 14.7
Annual income level at which a family with two children must pay state income tax: $4,600
Percent of children living at or below 200% of the poverty line: 49.3
Percent of counties with unemployment rates higher than national average: 82
Ratio of 1999 bankruptcy filings to total population: 1:143
Average age of science books in Alabama libraries, in years: 19
Average number of print magazine subscriptions per school library: 11
Increase in discharge of air pollutants in one year (1997-1998): 50%
Rank among the 50 states in volume of toxic metals discharged into waterways: 1
Rank in number of extinct species: 2
Number of species that have become extinct in Alabama in the last few years: 96
Change in funding of state environmental protection agency from 1990 to 1999: -40%
As the immortal Lynrd Skynrd once sang:
Sweet home Alabama,
Where the skies loom so gray,
Sweet home Alabama,
Another Ozone Warning Day.
... or something like that.
Sources: Census Bureau; Alabama Virtual Library; Anniston Star; Alabama Commerce Commission; American Bankruptcy Institute; Arise Citizens Policy Project.