Alma was founded in 1900 as a stop on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

It was incorporated as a city in 1906 and designated seat of the newly formed Bacon County in 1914.

[7][8] There are four sites in Alma listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Alma Depot, Bacon County Courthouse, Bacon County School, and the Rabinowitz Building.

[10] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,433 people, 1,005 households, and 620 families residing in the city.

[20] The district has 126 full-time teachers and over 1,900 students,[21] and operates these schools: Alma is also served by Coastal Pines Technical College.