Montgomery is both the capital of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. It forms the heart of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state.
The seat of the state government, Montgomery houses government agencies as well as the U.S. military at Maxwell Air Force Base.
Montgomery has quite a few institutions of learning. The public universities include Alabama State University, Troy University (Montgomery campus), and Auburn University at Montgomery. There are two private schools: Faulkner University and Huntingdon College.
Many cultural attractions, such as the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts enhance life in Montgomery.