"How a coastline 100 million years ago influences modern election results in Alabama"
With some maps of Cretaceous sediments, fertile Black Belt Prairie soil, farm size 1997, slave population 1860, black population 2010, and Election Results.
A little bit about the soils from a different link:
"The Black Belt is the only region in Alabama with extensive regions of alkaline soils (soil pH> 7.0). Early settlers discovered these clayey soils held more nutrients and were generally more productive than the sandier Coastal Plain soils. For this reason, many of the large, antebellum cotton plantations were located in the Black Belt region of Alabama and Mississippi. Black Belt soil color is dark because of the humus, or decomposed organic matter, that often coats the clay particles. However, severe erosion due to intensive farming practices removed much of the dark, rich topsoil."
With some maps of Cretaceous sediments, fertile Black Belt Prairie soil, farm size 1997, slave population 1860, black population 2010, and Election Results.
A little bit about the soils from a different link:
"The Black Belt is the only region in Alabama with extensive regions of alkaline soils (soil pH> 7.0). Early settlers discovered these clayey soils held more nutrients and were generally more productive than the sandier Coastal Plain soils. For this reason, many of the large, antebellum cotton plantations were located in the Black Belt region of Alabama and Mississippi. Black Belt soil color is dark because of the humus, or decomposed organic matter, that often coats the clay particles. However, severe erosion due to intensive farming practices removed much of the dark, rich topsoil."
https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/healthy-soils/alabama-soils...