Daphne, Alabama

Early settlers to the region were hunter-gatherer tribes similar to those in North Alabama. A variety of Native American populations visited the area that would become Daphne including Tensaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole.[5] This area came to be known as neutral ground where tribes would meet and discuss the relationships between their nations.[5] Small groups worked together to acquire food and to provide for their families.[4] Initially, these groups enjoyed an economy based upon hunting and scavenging but as time passed production of weapons and pottery became more advanced. During the late Woodland stage Native Americans began to practice more elaborate ritual services.[4] Although no burial grounds are known in Daphne, they are scattered throughout nearby Baldwin County.[4][6]

By 1500, the zenith of Native American culture in South Alabama, it is estimated that a community of about 5,000 lived within 50 miles of the seacoast.[4] These peoples were among the first who met Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540.[6] From this meeting forward, the original settlers faced a disaster from which they did not recover.[3]

Daphne and the surrounding land shifted between English, French, Spanish and United States control.

The Spanish were the first European settlers to the area of Daphne arriving in 1557. Spanish control in the area was weak and in 1710 French explorers claimed Mobile Bay, the Eastern Shore of the Bay including Daphne, and land east to Perdido Bay.[7] The French claim was largely uncontested by the Spanish.[3] In 1763, the British were ceded land, including the future Daphne, from the French in the Treaty of Paris (1763).[3] The community of Daphne was established the same year and was known simply as the Village.[5] Inasmuch as the British occupied nearby Mobile at the end of the Seven Years' War, Daphne passed into British hands,[6] and served as the eastern terminal of a ferry across Mobile Bay.[5]

British rule ended in 1783 when the area was surrendered to Spain by the Treaty of Paris (1783).[3] The area remained under Spanish control for over 30 years.[5][6] In November 1814, U.S. General Andrew Jackson crossed the bay with 3,000 troops, marched east to Pensacola and defeated the British thus finalizing American control over Daphne.[5]

Secession and the Civil War came quickly following the election of 1860. Statistics are not available for Daphne, but in Baldwin County 65% of homes held at least one slave.[4] On January 11, 1861 Alabama seceded from the Union. It joined the Confederate States of America on March 13, 1861. The town was named the county seat of Baldwin County, Alabama, in 1868 after the previous county seat, Blakeley, was deserted following the Civil War.[8] At that time, Daphne was known as The Village of Bell Rose.[6] Daphne was officially named and established, although unincorporated, on April 9, 1874, when the Post Office for Daphne was opened.[8]

Baldwin County saw many distinct immigrant groups moving into the area in the late 19th century, particularly from Western Europe, and Daphne was the site of the first group which arrived in 1888. Alesandro Mastro Valero purchased land in Daphne to locate a refuge for Italian immigrants looking for a more pastoral alternative to the large urban cities of the north.[4] In June 1895, land was purchased in Daphne for a Catholic church in what is now the center of Old Daphne to be built by the early Italian colonists. Father Angelo Chiariglione, a Scalbrini missionary from Torino, Italy, was the first resident pastor (1898–1909) of the church, known as the Church of the Assumption.[9] This small-town church quickly gained the recognition of the Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, who in 1898 sent a gift of rich vestments, an illuminated missal, a chalice, monstrance, candlesticks and other articles, and all are still on display in the present Christ the King Catholic Church, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1937.[10]

Daphne remained the county seat until a legislative act of 1900, when the county seat was moved to Bay Minette. Daphne residents resisted the change and would not allow the county records to be removed. Those records were taken in a late night raid and moved to Bay Minette.[6][11] According to another account, given in 1956 in an interview of one of the persons involved in the transfer, there was no raid; the arrangements for the move were made in advance between officials in both towns, and the county records were quietly loaded into wagons over a five-hour period on the evening of October 11, 1901, and then driven to Bay Minette the next day.[12]

On July 8, 1927, Daphne was incorporated with a request for incorporation signed by 41 landowners. The initial population was listed as 500 residents.[8] On September 19, 1927, the town held its first election. The first Mayor was James M. Voltz. An attempt in 1946 to revoke incorporation by unhappy residents failed.[13]

In July 1997, Hurricane Danny struck the gulf coast bringing high winds and rains to the area. Due to the abnormal development of the storm, winds blew water out of Mobile Bay making it almost possible to walk across the bay.[14] Hurricane Ivan made landfall in September 2004, south of Daphne near Gulf Shores, Alabama. The category 3 storm brought widespread flooding and damage throughout Daphne. The next year, Daphne weathered some effects of Hurricane Katrina although not nearly as severe as the 2004 storm.[14]

In February 2008, Daphne became the last of the large cities in Baldwin County to enact a public smoking ban. After contentious council meetings,[2] the ban was passed while exempting bars, private clubs and up to 30% of rooms in a hotel.[15]

In November 2010, the Daphne City Council enacted a ban against texting while driving, becoming the first Mobile-area municipality to do so.[16]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,462 people, 9,457 households, and 6,254 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 21,570 people, 6,563 households, and 4,670 families residing in the city.[25] The population density was 1,230.5 inhabitants per square mile (475.1/km²). There were 10,113 housing units in the city.[25] The racial makeup of the city was 84.10% White, 11.8% Black or African American, 1.51% Asian, 0.40% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 2.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[25]

There were 8,889 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.97.[25]

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,603, and the median income for a family was $61,563. Males had a median income of $46,576 versus $29,052 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,597. About 2.6% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Daphne's growth, along with the growth of other Eastern Shore communities, has been linked to the growth of nearby Mobile. For years the Eastern Shore communities were a quick vacation destination but as the large municipality grew, Daphne grew too.[26]

For many years Daphne was isolated from the larger city of Mobile. A ferry was the only mode of transport from the eastern shore to the western shore. In 1929 a toll bridge was opened which crossed into Mobile. That bridge was replaced by the Cochrane-Africatown bridge. Also in 1929, US 98 was paved from Pensacola, through Daphne and into Mobile.[4]

Interstate 10 travels near the northern border of Daphne. There are three exits into Daphne including intersections with US 98, US 90 and AL 181. Major routes within the city are grid style and include Baldwin County 13, Whispering Pine Road and Daphne Avenue.

Looking south into Daphne, Alabama at the intersections of I-10, US90 and US98. Mobile Bay is to the right.

The city is served by the Baldwin Rural Area Transportation Service, BRATS, a fare-based bus service which connects most cities in Baldwin County. Service also includes connector service to Mobile.

There is no rail or air service in Daphne. Scheduled commercial air service is offered at Mobile Regional Airport and the Pensacola International Airport. Both airports provide service to most major airline hubs.

Daphne Public Utilities provides water, sewer and natural gas services to the city.[41] There are about 11,000 water customers, 10,000 sewer customers and 4,000 natural gas customers.[42] The utility operates 12 water wells, seven waste treatment facilities and dozens of pumping stations throughout the city.[43] In 2009, the Utilities board was selected by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 35 small workplaces in America.[44] In 2010 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named Daphne Utilities as the best large groundwater utility in eight southeastern states.[42] In October, 2013, Daphne Utilities approved a water and sewage rate hike of $21 million over three years. The rate hike will cover expenses related to expansion and compliance with federal regulations. The average increase will amount to $3.66 per month for the average residential customer.[43][45]

Electrical service is provided by the Foley, Alabama based Riviera Utilities. Riviera resells electric current and has no generation facilities of its own. Landline telephone service is provided by AT&T. The city is in the 251 area code. Land based cable television service is provided by Mediacom.

Because of Daphne's proximity to the coast, all utilities prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes which often impact delivery of services.