Black Belt, Geographic region in central Alabama, United States.
The Black Belt is a region in central Alabama named after its dark, fertile soil that forms a crescent through several counties. The landscape shows open fields, small towns, and wide river plains stretching across the prairie region between Birmingham and Montgomery.
The region developed into a cotton production center during the 19th century as plantation owners took advantage of the rich soil and mild climate. The plantations shaped the social and economic structure through the Civil War era and beyond.
The region holds deep connections to the Civil Rights Movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Selma to Montgomery marches during the 1950s and 1960s.
Visitors will find numerous sites of African American heritage along the highways, including churches, cemeteries, and civil rights landmarks. Many areas are rural with limited facilities, so plan ahead for basic supplies and fuel stops.
The name originally referred to the dark color of the calcareous soil, not the population of the region. Today the term has gained a double meaning, also referring to the majority African American population in many counties.
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