Coordinates: 30°47′11″N 88°12′50″W / 30.78639°N 88.21389°W
| Mobile County, Alabama | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Alabama |
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 Alabama's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | December 18, 1812 [1] |
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| Seat | Mobile |
| Largest city | Mobile |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,644 sq mi (4,258 km²) 1,233 sq mi (3,193 km²) 411 sq mi (1,064 km²), 25.0% |
| PopulationEst. - (2008) - Density |
406,309 332.3/sq mi (128/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website: www.MobileCountyAL.gov | |
 Mobile Government Plaza in Mobile, Alabama
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Mobile County[p] is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of a tribe of Indians, the Maubila tribe (see Mobilian). As of 2008, its population was 406,309. Its county seat is Mobile, Alabama. The entire county is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area.
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History
While still a part of the Mississippi Territory, Mobile County was created by a proclamation of Governor Holmes of the Mississippi Territory on December 18, 1812.[1] The area became part of the Alabama Territory, on August 15, 1817,[2][3] on the day the Mississippi Territory formed a state constitution and was split in half. Two years later, the county became part of the State of Alabama, when granted statehood on December 14, 1819.
The city of Mobile has always been the county seat.[1] Both the county and city derive their name from Fort Louis de la Mobile, a French fortification established (near present-day Mount Vernon, Alabama) in 1702. The word "Mobile" is believed to stem from a Choctaw Indian word for "paddlers".[1] The area was occupied by French colonists from 1702-1763, by the British from 1763-1780, and by the Spanish from 1780-1813. Three separate courthouse fires occurred in the years 1823, 1840, and 1872.[1]
Government
Local
Mobile County is governed by a three-member county commission. Each commissioner represents a district and is elected by the voters of that district to serve a four-year term. Each commissioner has an equal vote on the commission. One of the commissioners is selected as Commission President.
Current (as of June 2009) Mobile County Commissioners are:
- District 1 (northern County) – Merceria L. Ludgood
- District 2 (western County) – Stephen Nodine
- District 3 (southern County) – Mike Dean (current Commission President)
State
Mobile County is represented in the Alabama Legislature by three senators and nine representatives. It is represented in the Alabama Senate by Democrat Vivian Davis Figures from the 33rd district, by Republican Rusty Glover from the 34th district, and by Republican Ben Brooks from the 35th district.[4] It is represented in the Alabama House of Representatives by Democrat Yvonne Kennedy from the 97th district, Democrat James O. Gordon from the 98th district, Democrat James Buskey from the 99th district, Republican Victor Gaston from the 100th district, Republican Jamie Ison from the 101st district, Republican Chad Fincher from the 102nd district, Democrat Joseph C. Mitchell from the 103rd district, Republican Jim Barton from the 104th district, and Republican Spencer Collier from the 105th district.[5]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,644 square miles (4,258 km²), of which, 1,233 square miles (3,194 km²) of it is land and 411 square miles (1,064 km²) of it (25.0%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 10
Interstate 65
Interstate 165
planned western bypass
U.S. Highway 43
U.S. Highway 45
U.S. Highway 90
U.S. Highway 98
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Adjacent counties
- Washington County (north)
- Baldwin County (east)
- Jackson County, Mississippi (southwest)
- George County, Mississippi (west)
- Greene County, Mississippi (northwest)
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Greene County, Mississippi | Washington County | |
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| George County, Mississippi |  |
Baldwin County | ||
 Mobile County, Alabama  |
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| Jackson County, Mississippi | Gulf of Mexico |
National protected areas
Demographics
| Mobile County, Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 2,672 | — |
| 1830 | 6,267 | 134.5% |
| 1840 | 18,741 | 199.0% |
| 1850 | 27,600 | 47.3% |
| 1860 | 41,131 | 49.0% |
| 1870 | 49,311 | 19.9% |
| 1880 | 48,653 | −1.3% |
| 1890 | 51,587 | 6.0% |
| 1900 | 62,740 | 21.6% |
| 1910 | 80,854 | 28.9% |
| 1920 | 100,117 | 23.8% |
| 1930 | 118,363 | 18.2% |
| 1940 | 141,974 | 19.9% |
| 1950 | 231,105 | 62.8% |
| 1960 | 314,301 | 36.0% |
| 1970 | 317,308 | 1.0% |
| 1980 | 364,980 | 15.0% |
| 1990 | 378,643 | 3.7% |
| 2000 | 399,843 | 5.6% |
| Sources: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. through 1960 | ||
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 399,843 people, 150,179 households, and 106,777 families residing in the county. The population density was 324 people per square mile (125/km²). There were 165,101 housing units at an average density of 134 per square mile (52/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.07% White, 33.38% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 150,179 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.50% were married couples living together, 17.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,710, and the median income for a family was $40,378. Males had a median income of $32,329 versus $21,986 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,178. About 15.60% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.20% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.
2008 and 2004 election results
Mobile County cast the majority of its votes for Republican John McCain. He won 54% of the vote and 98,049 votes. Democrat Barack Obama received 45% of the vote and 82,181 votes. Other candidates won 1% of the vote. In the Senate election in 2008, Republican Jeff Sessions did better than John McCain. Sessions won 57% of the vote and 102,043 votes. His challenger, Democrat Vivian D. Figures won only 43% of the vote and 77,292 votes. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush did better than both McCain and Sessions in Mobile County. Bush won 59% of the vote and 92,014 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 40% of the vote and 63,732 votes. Other candidates won 1% of the vote.[7]
Municipalities and census-designated places
Cities (population):
- Mobile (197,833)
- Prichard (27,963)
- Saraland (12,288)
- Chickasaw (6,364)
- Satsuma (5,687)
- Citronelle (3,659)
- Bayou La Batre (2,313)
Towns (population):
- Creola (2,002)
- Dauphin Island (1,371)
- Mount Vernon (844)
Census-designated place (population):
- Tillmans Corner (15,685)
- Theodore (6,811)
- Grand Bay (3,918)
Unincorporated communities
- Eight Mile (partially in the city of Prichard, partially unincorporated)
- Irvington
- St. Elmo
- Fernland
- Semmes
Education
All of the public schools in Mobile County, with the exception of Saraland city schools, are operated by the Mobile County Public School System.
References
[p] - The name "Mobile" is pronounced "mo-beel" with even emphasis on both syllables.
- ^ a b c d e "Mobile County, Alabama history". Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH). June 5, 2009. http://www.archives.state.al.us/counties/mobile.html.
- ^ "An 1820 Claim to Congress: Alabama Territory : 1817". The Intruders. TNGenNet Inc.. 2001. http://www.tngenweb.org/tnland/intruders/claim-537.html.
- ^ "50s-statehood Statehood Dates". 50states.com. 1998/2009. http://www.50states.com/statehood.htm 50s-statehood.
- ^ "Roster of the Alabama State Senate". Official Website of the Alabama Legislature. http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senateroster_alpha.html. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
- ^ "Roster of the Alabama House of Representatives". Official Website Of The Alabama Legislature. http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/houseroster_alpha.html. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ David Leip (2008). "Atlas of United States Presidential Election Results". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/.
External links
- Mobile County, Alabama, official website
- Map of roads/towns in Mobile County from University of Alabama
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