Bay Minette is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 7,820. [1] According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 7726. [2] The city is the county seat of Baldwin County. It is part of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Bay Minette became the county seat of Baldwin County, Alabama in 1900.
An undercover scheme carried out in the dead of night is responsible for making the City of Bay Minette the County Seat of Baldwin County, Alabama.
In the first days of Baldwin County, the Town of McIntosh Bluff, Alabama (now in Mobile County,Alabama, West of Baldwin County) on the Tombigbee River was the County Seat. After being transferred to the Town of Blakeley in 1810, the County Seat was later moved to the City of Daphne in 1868. In 1900, by an Act of the Legislature of Alabama, the County Seat was authorized for relocation to the City of Bay Minette, however, the City of Daphne resisted relocation.
In order to relocate the County Seat to the City of Bay Minette, the men of Bay Minette devised a scheme. To lure the Sheriff and his Deputy out of the City of Daphne, the men prefabricated a murder. While the law was chasing down the fictitious killer during the late hours, the group of Bay Minette men stealthily traveled the thirty (30) miles to the City of Daphne, stole the Baldwin County Courthouse records, and delivered them to the City of Bay Minette - where Baldwin County's County Seat remains to this day.
Portions of the blockbuster movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind depicting the emergency evacuation of rural Wyoming were filmed near the train depot. In addition, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood was filmed in rural portions of Baldwin County near Bay Minette.
Notable people
- Joe M. Rodgers, United States ambassador to France and construction builder, was born in Bay Minette.
- Todd Grisham, American presenter/announcer who is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment.
Geography
Bay Minette is located at 30°53′0″N 87°46′38″W / 30.883333°N 87.77722°W / 30.883333; -87.77722 (30.883446, -87.777183).[2]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.8 km²), of which, 8.0 square miles (20.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
Demographics
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Bay Minette City, Alabama Population
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Bay Minette City, Alabama Race
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 7,820 people, 2,950 households, and 1,911 families residing in the city.[3] The population density was 977.6 people per square mile (377.4/km²). There were 2,950 housing units at an average density of 368.8/sq mi (142.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.3% White, 33.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. 1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,739 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.4 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,226, and the median income for a family was $34,605. Males had a median income of $30,149 versus $21,369 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,093. About 20.0% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Bay Minette uses a mayor council government. The mayor is elected at large. The city council consists of five members who are elected from one of five districts.
Education
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Bay Minette City, Alabama School Enrollment
Bay Minette is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.
High schools
Middle schools
- Bay Minette Middle School, a public school serving grades 7-8
Intermediate schools
- Bay Minette Intermediate School, a public school serving grades 4-6
Elementary schools
- Bay Minette Elementary School, a public school serving grades K-3
Colleges
References
External links
