Selma, AL

Located along the banks of the Alabama River, Selma is a historic small town in central Alabama with around 18,000 residents. The city is world-renowned for its central role in the Civil Rights Movement, especially the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge that led to the Voting Rights Act. Throughout town, you will also find one of the state's largest historic districts, filled with classic 19th-century homes, quiet residential streets, and sprawling oak trees.

ATTRU.S. Department of Justice / Public domain

For newcomers, Selma offers an easygoing pace and some of the most affordable housing in Alabama. Daily life is supported by Selma City Schools, along with higher education programs at Wallace Community College and Selma University. Downtown sits right along the riverfront with local museums, small businesses, and community gatherings, while U.S. Highway 80 provides a straight 45-minute drive to Montgomery for airport access, major retail, and regional healthcare.