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About Alabama
TUSCALOOSA AND THE
METROPOLITAN AREA
See also: College of Community Health
Sciences | The University of Alabama
History. Incorporated in 1819, Tuscaloosa takes
its name from a sixteenth-century native American leader, Tuskalusa, meaning
Black Warrior in the Creek and Choctaw languages. A west-central
Alabama city, Tuscaloosa and the surrounding metro area have a population
of 130,000. From 1826 to 1846, Tuscaloosa was Alabama's capital city;
the former governor's mansion now houses the University Club. Bryce
Hospital, established in the mid-nineteenth century as the Alabama Insane
Hospital, is of interest both for its historic structures and for its role
in the pioneering treatment developed by psychiatric physician Dr. Peter
Bryce. It is adjacent to the University of Alabama and the Black Warrior
River. The University accepted its first students in 1831, and four
buildings dating from that era still stand.
Economy. The Tuscaloosa area enjoys a broad economic
base. Manufacturing operations in the area include Mercedes
Benz, JVC Corporation, Uniroyal
Goodrich Tire Company, Tuscaloosa
Steel Corporation, and Gulf States Paper. Large employers, in
addition to The University of Alabama,
are the Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, the Alabama
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (which operates
Bryce Hospital and Partlow State School and Hospital), and DCH
Regional Medical Center.
Housing. In Tuscaloosa, housing is affordable and
varied. There are many apartments, both in the University area and
away from it. Houses are offered for rent in both urban and rural
settings. By joining the University's Off Campus Association, residents
can take advantage of significant savings on utility deposits.
Education. Tuscaloosa's public schools include twenty-nine
elementary, seven middle, and six high schools. Several private and
parochial schools also operate in the area. Colleges include The
University of Alabama, Stillman
College (a historically black school), and Shelton
State Community College.
Religion. There are nearly 200 churches in the Tuscaloosa
area, representing more than twenty denominations. Several churches
are designated historic structures dating from the last century.
Entertainment. The
University of Alabama, Stillman College, and Shelton State Community
College sponsor many of the arts and entertainment programs available in
Tuscaloosa. Civic and community groups--including Theatre Tuscaloosa,
the Tuscaloosa Symphony, the Tuscaloosa Community Singers, and the Tuscaloosa
Community Dancers--provide further opportunities for performance or enjoyment.
Children in Tuscaloosa can participate in the Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre
and the programs local ballet and dance schools.
Recreation. Family practice residents may use all
University of Alabama recreational facilities, subject to the same regulations
as other postdoctoral candidates. PARA, the city's parks and recreation
program, offers team sports, summer camps, and leisure classes for children
and adults. The Children's Hands-On Museum (CHOM) in downtown Tuscaloosa
sponsors unique arts and exploration events for children. The YMCA
provides additional recreational programs and has outstanding facilities.
Lake Tuscaloosa, a six-thousand-acre lake, and Lake Lurleen State Park,
both just a short drive from the city, offer camping, fishing, and water
sports. In the rural counties of West Alabama, deer, turkey, quail,
and other game flourish and hunting is a popular activity. Alabama's
largest city, Birmingham,
is a one-hour trip from Tuscaloosa, while Atlanta,
New
Orleans, and Gulf of Mexico beaches are a half-day's drive away.
Shopping. Three shopping malls and some thirty shopping
centers in and around Tuscaloosa provide a choice of more than 750 stores.
The Galleria, one of the largest shopping malls in the country, is about
an hour away on the outskirts of Birmingham. Nearby are the shops
of the strip and the downtown district.
Communications. The daily Tuscaloosa News, The
New York Times, and the Birmingham
and Montgomery dailies are widely distributed in Tuscaloosa. The
area's radio stations include a public
radio affiliate operated by The University of Alabama. Cable
television is readily available in most locations.
Travel. The Birmingham
Airport, about an hour away, offers complete air services.
Weather. Information about the Tuscaloosa climate
is presented as a service of the UA
Department of Mathematics and current weather conditions and forecasts
may be found at The
Weather Channel.
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