1. Alabama's first leap year occurred in 1804 - Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, we've had a leap year every four years, with exceptions to years divisible by 100 unless they're also divisible by 400. Alabama's first leap year occurred in 1804, just 13 years after Alabama became a US territory in 1799.

2. The 29th of February is officially Rare Disease Day in Alabama - In 2008, the National Institutes of Health declared the 29th of February as Rare Disease Day, aimed at raising awareness for the often underfunded and misunderstood illnesses. The day has since been officially recognized by the state of Alabama.

3. On February 29, 1960, Jerry Lewis almost drowned in Alabama - During the filming of the comedy film "The Bellboy," Lewis fell into a swimming pool and was rescued by a nearby lawyer who had come to see the filming. The incident inspired the famous water ballet scene in the film.

4. The Alabama-Mississippi flood of 1979 caused levees to breach on February 29 - In one of the worst floods in the history of the region, over 100,000 people were evacuated and several homes and buildings were destroyed. The initial levee breaches occurred in early February, but more levees gave way on February 29, exacerbating the disaster.

5. On Leap Day 2008, a tornado outbreak hit Alabama - A total of 32 tornadoes touched down across the state, causing widespread damage and killing nine people. The outbreak was the largest recorded on Leap Day in Alabama history.