A Gulf state (7)
I believe the answer is:
alabama
'a gulf state' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for alabama that I've seen before include "17th US state, joined 1819" , "American state, capital Montgomery (7)" , "Somewhere in US" , "US state known as the Heart of Dixie" , "part of US" .)