|Russell Cave In Northern Alabama|
Early History Of Huntsville...
It is very probable--as to this, however, the author cannot be certain--that Alabama was the first one of the states admitted to the Union, which was officially surveyed and platted by the Government before the lands therein were open for settlement under governmental administration. Some time during the year 1807 the survey of that portion of the Mississippi Territory, which is now the State of Alabama, was commenced, by first locating and establishing the Meridian line for the State, known as the "Huntsville Meridian...".
See Early Settlers Flock To Alabama and a blog post about Alabama maps.