Montgomery, the capital city of Alabama, is located in the heart of the state, which strategically holds a place in the history of the United States and internationally. The town stands on the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico and stands beside the Alabama River. The city has become an important market and center for cotton, yellow pine, hardwood, and livestock. Because of the city’s strategic location along the Alabama River and its extensive rail connections, Montgomery became and continues to be the region’s distribution hub for a wide variety of industries. And because of its diversified economy, it has achieved an increase in employment in the business, healthcare, aircraft parts, and textiles.