Normal, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Normal, Alabama
|
|
|---|---|
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Alabama |
| Counties | Madison |
| Named for | "Normal" school |
| Demonym(s) | Normalite |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
35762
|
| Area code(s) | 256, 938 |
Normal, Alabama is a special place in the state of Alabama. It is best known as the home of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU). This university is the biggest HBCU in Alabama. An HBCU is a college or university that was founded before 1964 to serve the African American community.
Normal is located in Madison County. It sits just north of the city limits of Huntsville, Alabama.
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History of Normal, Alabama
Normal was officially started in 1890. This was the same year that AAMU was founded. Back then, the university had a different name. It was called the State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville.
What is a Land-Grant College?
In 1890, the school in Normal became a land-grant college. This means the United States government gave land to the state. The state then used this land or money from its sale to create colleges. These colleges focused on teaching agriculture and mechanical arts. They also taught military tactics.
Early Days of the University
When the school first opened in 1890, it was quite small. There were only 300 students attending classes. They were taught by a team of 11 dedicated teachers. Students who attended the university were often called "Normalites." This nickname came from the word "Normal" in the school's name.
Post Office and ZIP Code
A United States Post Office was also set up in Normal in 1890. This helped the community grow and connect with other places. Today, the ZIP Code for Normal, Alabama, is 35762.
