What Borders Alabama? States, Not Countries
No foreign countries border Alabama. It is an inland U.S. state (with a small Gulf coastline) bordered entirely by other U.S. states and one body of water.
Alabama's Borders
| Direction | Border | Type | Details |
|---|
| North | Tennessee | State line | 35°N parallel (surveyed 1818–1820) |
| East | Georgia | State line | Chattahoochee River (lower), then straight line to TN |
| South | Florida | State line | 31°N parallel (west of Chattahoochee); Gulf of Mexico (53 mi coastline) |
| West | Mississippi | State line | Straight line (surveyed 1799, 1821) |
Key Geographic Features
- Gulf Coastline: 53 miles (85 km) — Mobile Bay, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach
- Major Rivers as Borders: Chattahoochee (AL/GA), Perdido (AL/FL west), Tennessee River (northern AL)
- No international borders — nearest foreign territory: Cuba (~500 mi across Gulf), Mexico (~600 mi via Gulf)
Historical Note
Alabama's borders reflect colonial claims (British West Florida, Spanish Florida), territorial divisions (Mississippi Territory 1798, Alabama Territory 1817), and statehood (1819). The "notch" at the NE corner (where TN/GA/AL meet) resulted from survey compromises.
Wanderlust World