Mobile County, Alabama

30°47′11″N 88°12′50″W

Mobile County
County
Mobile Government Plaza in Mobile
Mobile Government Plaza in Mobile
Official seal of Mobile County
Seal
Map of Alabama highlighting Mobile County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°47′11″N 88°12′50″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 18, 1812[1]
Named forMobile Bay
SeatMobile
Largest cityMobile
Area
 • Total1,644 sq mi (4,260 km2)
 • Land1,229 sq mi (3,180 km2)
 • Water415 sq mi (1,070 km2)  25.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total414,809
 • Estimate 
(2022)
411,411 Decrease
 • Density250/sq mi (97/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitemobilecountyal.gov
  • County Number 02 on Alabama license plates
  • One of three counties shuffled to the top 3 numbers because of population size

Mobile County (/moʊˈbiːl/ moh-BEEL) is located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the second most-populous county in the state after Jefferson County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 414,809.[2] Its county seat is Mobile, which was founded as a deepwater port on the Mobile River. The only such port in Alabama, it has long been integral to the economy for providing access to inland waterways as well as the Gulf of Mexico.[3]

The city, river, and county were named in honor of Maubila, a village of the paramount chief Tuskaloosa of the regional Mississippian culture. In 1540 he arranged an ambush of soldiers of Hernando de Soto's expedition in an effort to expel them from the territory. The Spaniards were armed with guns and killed many of the tribe. Mobile County and Washington County, Alabama make up the Mobile Metropolitan Statistical Area with a 2020 population of 430,197. The Mobile, AL MSA and Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL MSA make up the much larger Mobile-Daphne-Fairhope CSA with a 2020 population of 661,964.

The northern border of Mobile County and southern area of neighboring Washington County constitute the homeland of the state-recognized tribe of MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, descendants of Choctaw and Creek who stayed in this area during the period of Indian Removal. They have organized to preserve their culture and language. They were the first of nine tribes to be recognized by the state.

History

This area was occupied for thousands of years by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. At the time of Spanish expeditions in the early 16th century, it was part of the territory of the Mississippian culture, which constructed major earthwork mounds. It was ruled by the paramount chief Tuskaloosa.

The historic Choctaw emerged somewhat later, and are believed to be descendants of those earlier peoples. They occupied this area along what early French traders and colonists called the Mobile River. They also founded the settlement of Mobile on the river and bay in the early eighteenth century.

The British took over the territory in 1763 (along with other French territories east of the Mississippi River) after defeating the French in the Seven Years' War. During the American Revolutionary War, it came under Spanish rule as part of Spanish Florida. Spain ceded the territory to the United States after the War of 1812.

In the 1830s, the United States forced the removal of most of the Native American tribes in the area under President Andrew Jackson's policy and an act of Congress to relocate them to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Many of those who remained continued their culture, and took refuge in the swamps in the border area between Mobile and Washington counties. Since the late 20th century, several tribes have reorganized and gained state recognition. Among those is the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, which was recognized as a tribe in 1979 by the state. The people have long been based in this area of the former Choctaw homeland, along the northern border of Mobile County and the southern border of Washington County.

After more than a century of European settlement, beginning with French colonists, Mobile County was organized by the state legislature and the proclamation of Governor Holmes of the Mississippi Territory on December 18, 1812.[1] When Mississippi was separated and admitted as a state on December 10, 1817, after adopting its constitution on August 15, 1817, Mobile County became part of what was called the Alabama Territory. Two years later, the county became part of the state of Alabama, granted statehood on December 14, 1819.[4][5]

The city of Mobile, first settled by French colonists in the early 18th century as part of La Louisiane, was designated as the county seat from the early days of the county.[1] Both the county and city derive their name from Fort Louis de la Mobile, a French fortification established (near present-day Axis, Alabama) in 1702. The word "Mobile" is believed to stem from a Choctaw word for "paddlers".[1] The area was occupied by French colonists from 1702 to 1763, and their influence has been strong in the city. It was ruled by the British from 1763 to 1780, when more American colonists began to enter the territory; and controlled by the Spanish from 1780 to 1813.

At the end of the War of 1812, the United States took over the territory. At that time, new settlers were being attracted to the land, eager to develop short-staple cotton in the uplands area. Invention of the cotton gin made processing of this type of cotton profitable, stimulating wholesale development of new cotton plantations in the Black Belt during the antebellum years. Mobile developed as a major deepwater port; in the nineteenth century, cotton was its major export.

There were nine documented lynchings in Mobile from 1891 to 1981.

  • March 31, 1891 — Zachariah Graham[6]
  • October 2, 1906 — Roy Hoyle[7]
  • October 2, 1906 — Willie Thompson[8]
  • October 2, 1906 — Corneilius Robinson[9]
  • September 22, 1907 — Mose Dossett[10]
  • January 23, 1909 — Richard Robertson[11]
  • July 31, 1910 — Bill Walker[12]
  • June 6, 1919 — James E. Lewis[13]
  • March 21, 1981 — Michael Donald

Courthouse fires occurred in the years 1823, 1840, and 1872.[1]

Geography
Aerial view of the Mobile River at its confluence with Chickasaw Creek. This photograph was taken around 1990, during construction of the Cochrane-Africatown bridge carrying U.S. Route 90 across the river.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,644 square miles (4,260 km2), of which 1,229 square miles (3,180 km2) is land and 415 square miles (1,070 km2) (25.2%) is water.[14] It is the fourth-largest county in Alabama by land area and second-largest by total area. It includes several islands, including Dauphin Island, Gaillard Island and Mon Louis Island.

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18202,672—
18306,267134.5%
184018,741199.0%
185027,60047.3%
186041,13149.0%
187049,31119.9%
188048,653−1.3%
189051,5876.0%
190062,74021.6%
191080,85428.9%
1920100,11723.8%
1930118,36318.2%
1940141,97419.9%
1950231,10562.8%
1960314,30136.0%
1970317,3081.0%
1980364,98015.0%
1990378,6433.7%
2000399,8435.6%
2010412,9923.3%
2020414,8090.4%
2022 (est.)411,411[15]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790–1960[17] 1900–1990[18]
1990–2000[19] 2010–2020[2]

2020
Mobile County, Alabama – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000[20] Pop 2010[21] Pop 2020[22] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 249,763 243,904 226,703 62.47% 59.06% 54.65%
Black or African American alone (NH) 132,845 142,272 145,435 33.22% 34.45% 35.06%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2,636 3,541 3,743 0.66% 0.86% 0.90%
Asian alone (NH) 5,599 7,507 8,515 1.40% 1.82% 2.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 79 157 216 0.02% 0.04% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 319 428 1,302 0.08% 0.10% 0.31%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 3,715 5,247 15,470 0.93% 1.27% 3.73%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,887 9,936 13,425 1.22% 2.41% 3.24%
Total 399,843 412,992 414,809 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 414,809 people, 155,946 households, and 97,398 families residing in the county. The county's largest city, Mobile (population 187,041 per the 2020 census) is majority minority with African-Americans making up 51.06% of its population.[23]

2010

According to the 2010 United States Census, the population of the county comprised the following racial and ethnic groups:

2000

According to the 2000 United States census,[24] 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 people/km2). There were 165,101 housing units at an average density of 134 units per square mile (52 units/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 dispersal was 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.

Government
Interstate 10 entering the Wallace Tunnel in Mobile, Alabama.

Local

Mobile County has a limited form of home rule and is governed by a three-member county commission. Each commissioner represents a single-member 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. During an elected term, each commissioner serves as President of the Mobile County Commission for 16 months, beginning with the District 1 Commissioner.

As of November 2020 Mobile County Commissioners are:

  • District 1 (northern County) – Merceria L. Ludgood (D)
  • District 2 (western and central County) – Connie Hudson (R)
  • District 3 (southern County) – Randall Dueitt (R)

State

Under the state constitution, the legislature maintains considerable power over county affairs. 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 Jack Williams from the 34th district, and by Republican David Sessions from the 35th district.[25] It is represented in the Alabama House of Representatives by Democrat Adline Clarke from the 97th district, Democrat Napoleon Bracy from the 98th district, Democrat Sam Jones from the 99th district, Republican Victor Gaston from the 100th district, Republican Chris Pringle from the 101st district, Republican Shane Stringer from the 102nd district, Democrat Barbara Drummond from the 103rd district, Republican Margie Wilcox from the 104th district, and Republican Chip Brown from the 105th district.[26]

Education

In most areas of Mobile County, schools are operated by the Mobile County Public School System. The cities of Chickasaw, Saraland, and Satsuma have separate school systems. Each is served by Chickasaw City Schools, Saraland Board of Education, and Satsuma City School System.[27]

Mobile County is the home of the University of South Alabama (USA), a public research university divided into ten colleges, including one of Alabama's two state-supported medical schools. USA has an enrollment of over 16,000 students and employs more than 6,000 faculty, administrators, and support staff. It is also home to two private institutions of higher learning. Spring Hill College, founded in 1830, is Catholic and the third-oldest Jesuit college or university in the U.S. Its enrollment is about 1,500 students and it offers 46 academic majors. University of Mobile, established in 1961 and affiliated with Alabama Baptist Convention, has an enrollment of about 2,000 and offers 90 academic majors.

Politics

During the late 20th century, white conservatives left the Democratic Party for the Republican Party. In that same period, as African Americans regained their ability to exercise the franchise after passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, they tended to support the national Democratic Party.

Today the population of Mobile County is majority white; at the time of the Civil War, it was majority black. In 2004, the incumbent Republican president George W. Bush won 59 percent of the vote and 92,014 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 40 percent of the vote and 63,732 votes. Other candidates won one percent of the vote.[28]

In the 2008 presidential election, Mobile County cast the majority of its votes for the Republican candidate 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.[28]

In the Senate off-year election in 2008, Republican Jeff Sessions did better than John McCain. Sessions won 57 percent of the vote and 102,043 votes. His challenger, Democrat Vivian Figures, won 43 percent of the vote and 77,292 votes.[28]

Due to Mobile being an urban city, the margins between the Republican and Democrat candidates are usually between 10 and 19 points. Since 1996, the Democrats have gotten 40-45% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for Mobile County, Alabama[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 101,243 55.27% 79,474 43.39% 2,447 1.34%
2016 95,116 55.06% 72,186 41.79% 5,435 3.15%
2012 94,893 54.18% 78,760 44.97% 1,487 0.85%
2008 98,049 54.04% 82,181 45.30% 1,194 0.66%
2004 92,014 58.69% 63,732 40.65% 1,025 0.65%
2000 78,162 55.93% 58,640 41.96% 2,943 2.11%
1996 66,775 51.32% 54,749 42.08% 8,579 6.59%
1992 72,935 50.72% 54,962 38.22% 15,891 11.05%
1988 72,203 60.88% 45,524 38.39% 870 0.73%
1984 81,923 62.56% 47,252 36.08% 1,784 1.36%
1980 67,515 57.71% 46,180 39.47% 3,297 2.82%
1976 53,835 50.85% 50,264 47.47% 1,777 1.68%
1972 62,639 73.15% 20,694 24.17% 2,301 2.69%
1968 10,509 11.43% 18,615 20.25% 62,812 68.32%
1964 49,493 70.72% 0 0.00% 20,488 29.28%
1960 24,608 45.12% 28,626 52.48% 1,308 2.40%
1956 20,639 52.21% 17,163 43.41% 1,732 4.38%
1952 14,153 49.29% 14,473 50.40% 89 0.31%
1948 2,685 19.41% 0 0.00% 11,150 80.59%
1944 2,867 23.08% 9,439 75.98% 117 0.94%
1940 1,887 13.99% 11,480 85.08% 126 0.93%
1936 1,072 8.64% 11,165 89.95% 175 1.41%
1932 1,705 14.90% 9,658 84.42% 78 0.68%
1928 5,058 45.84% 5,965 54.07% 10 0.09%
1924 1,814 28.54% 4,125 64.91% 416 6.55%
1920 2,681 29.71% 6,171 68.39% 171 1.90%
1916 832 21.36% 2,968 76.18% 96 2.46%
1912 140 3.72% 3,009 79.98% 613 16.29%
1908 453 14.03% 2,422 75.03% 353 10.94%
1904 325 8.84% 3,283 89.33% 67 1.82%
1900 2,243 41.64% 2,939 54.56% 205 3.81%
1896 2,778 37.76% 3,948 53.66% 631 8.58%
1892 397 5.63% 4,680 66.33% 1,979 28.05%
1888 2,542 44.98% 3,109 55.02% 0 0.00%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

References
  1. "Mobile County, Alabama history". Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH). June 5, 2009. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "An 1820 Claim to Congress: Alabama Territory : 1817". The Intruders. TNGenNet Inc. 2001.
  5. "Statehood Dates". 50states.com. 2009 [1998].
  6. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  7. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  8. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  9. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  10. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  11. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  12. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  13. "CSDE Lynching Database". lynching.csde.washington.edu. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  14. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  15. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  18. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  20. "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mobile County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  21. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mobile County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  22. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mobile County, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  23. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mobile city, Alabama". United States Census Bureau.
  24. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  25. "Roster of the Alabama State Senate". Official Website of the Alabama Legislature. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  26. "Roster of the Alabama House of Representatives". Official Website Of The Alabama Legislature. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  27. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mobile County, AL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
  28. David Leip (2008). "Atlas of United States Presidential Election Results".
  29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
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