Editing History of Alabama (section)

==21st century (2001–present)==
The 21st century saw Alabama continue to emphasize economic growth and a political transformation away from Democrats toward the Republican Party in state and national elections. It made significant investments in education, health care, infrastructure, and economic development.  Alabama elected the first Republican governor since Reconstruction, [[Bob Riley]], in 2002.  He narrowly defeated incumbent [[Don Siegelman]], the last Democrat to be governor.  Riley improved the public education system, expanded Medicaid, and implemented a tax reform plan.  He was reelected in 2006. In May 2007, he announced that the German corporation [[ThyssenKrupp]] would build a state-of-the-art steel mill north of Mobile. Total cost ran up to $5 billion, the largest foreign project in U.S. business history. The mill now employs 2,700 workers.<ref>"Sweet Home, Alabama: ThyssenKrupp opens steel manufacturing facility" ''Plant Engineering'' Dec 14, 2010 [https://www.plantengineering.com/articles/sweet-home-alabama-thyssenkrupp-opens-steel-manufacturing-facility/ online]</ref> Automobile manufacturers came to Alabama, with Mercedes-Benz in Tuscaloosa County, and Hyundai Motors in Montgomery County. Aerospace giant, Airbus, built a large manufacturing facility in Mobile County.<ref>Charles J. Spindler, "Winners and losers in industrial recruitment: Mercedes-Benz and Alabama." ''State & Local Government Review'' (1994): 192–204 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/4355104 online].</ref> Huntsville, in north Alabama's Tennessee River Valley, is the fastest growing metropolitan region of Alabama, that is home to one of the per capita most educated regions in the United States. Huntsville is home to NASA's [[U.S. Space & Rocket Center]] and [[Space Camp (United States)|Space Camp]]. Huntsville also has a large defense industry presence.<ref>Madhuri Sharma, "Spatial perspectives on diversity and economic growth in Alabama, 1990–2011." ''Southeastern Geographer'' 56.3 (2016): 320-345. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Madhuri-Sharma-2/publication/309197033_Spatial_Perspectives_on_Diversity_and_Economic_Growth_in_Alabama_1990-2011/links/6231f5d8d37dab4f96e8e6dd/Spatial-Perspectives-on-Diversity-and-Economic-Growth-in-Alabama-1990-2011.pdf online]</ref>

In 2015, state budget reductions of $83&nbsp;million resulted in the closing of five parks per [[Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] ($3&nbsp;million). In addition, the state cut services at driver's license offices, closing most in several black-majority counties. This made voter registration more difficult, as the offices had offered both services.<ref>Mike Cason [http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/09/state_announces_to_close_becau.html#incart_river_home State to close 5 parks, cut back services at driver license offices] Alabama Media Group, September 30, 2015.</ref> As of 2018, the state of Alabama offers online voter registration.