Alabama (23rd populated state, according to 2006 sencus) Population 4,599,030

I listed the cities with the appropriate county and total of population below the cities. Birmingham and the cities surrounding Birmingham, comprised in Jefferson county is the highest concentrated population in Alabama, double the size of Montgomery County. so it is beyond me why your guest, George R. Altman did not list it as an urban center.

Central Alabama major cities
Birmingham 236,620
Hoover 65,070
Homewood 24,399
Jefferson County 656,700

Southern Lowland cities (Plantation country)
Montgomery 200,123
Montgomery County 223,571

Gulf cities
Mobile 193,464
Mobile County 404,157

Northern cities bordering Tenn (Appalachian foothills)
Huntsville 164,237
Madison County 304,307

North Central cities (Appalachian foothills)
Decatur 54,239
Morgan County 115,237

West Central cities
Tuscaloosa 79,294
Tuscaloosa County 171,159

Regarding UAB comment...Birmingham is such a urban success story, the University transformed Birmingham from a failing Steel City (once dubbed "The Little Pittsburg of the South)who lost it's factories to deregulation and foriegn trade in steel into a medical industry and great college town. And it's populaition around 30,000 more than Montgomery is a town that expresses the success of the "New South"...B'ham is a great city, "The Magic City" with an amazing international community as well and the award winning Birmingham News. The town is very Liberal! And Southside is a haven for artist and alternative lifesyles!

I don't understand why George R. Altman didn't mention Birmingham, the largest urban population in Bama, white/black & Jewish. My friends, blue/white collar, students/artist voted for Barrack. George may be ashamed of B'ham, we are not, proud the civil rights movement occurred and made a difference. George is not owning our history. I would love to challenge his opinion. He named Montgomery & Mobile key “urban” cities, is referring to their greater areas. Huntsville yes, but what about Decatur and Tuscaloosa, car industry towns and black/white mixed. My suggestion, have Diane McWhorter, who wrote "Carry me Home"to give her opinion on social/political change in Bama & where she thinks the line is drawn with McCain & Obama, if you do I would love to participate.

Randy, OK, thanks, i'm generalizing with the few facts i have on the matter. i have a feeling a TRUE elected southern liberal is very rare indeed

I am moving to Alabama to attend school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I was surprised the school wasn't mentioned at all since it is the state's largest employer. Also, why wasn't the city of Birmingham mentioned as one of the urban centers considering it is the largest city in the state? Too liberal?

Not necessarily, hjs. District 7 is nearly 62% African-American and relatively liberal.

Birmingham?

but an Alabama dem is to the right of mccain also.

The yellowhammer is the state bird.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Flicker#Alabama