MOBILE COUNTY
County Offices
205 Government Street
Mobile 251-574-5073
www.mobilecountyal.gov
Chamber of Commerce
451 Government Street
Mobile 251-433-6951
800-422-6951
http://mobilechamber.com
One of Alabama’s best kept secrets, breathtakingly beautiful Mobile County brings together Gulf Coast resort communities, charming small towns, and urban amenities.
Services
Distinguished as the second largest of Alabama’s counties, Mobile is steeped in southern charm and hospitality. Known for its Port of Alabama, this vibrant metropolis is situated in the extreme southwestern corner of the state. Transportation efficiencies include Mobile Regional Airport, offering jet service to key regional destinations. Mobile County offers a quality school system where more than half of the instructors hold a master’s degree or higher. More than 50 private schools on primary and secondary grade levels offer a wide array of educational environment options for parents. Institutions of higher learning include historic Spring Hill College, the University of Mobile, the University of South Alabama, and a number of community colleges. Choices for higher education close to home are Alabama Aviation & Technical College, Alabama State University Educational Opportunity Center, Capps College, Bishop State Community College, Faulker University, Southeast College of Technology, and the United States Sports Academy.
Newcomers to Mobile County can look forward to outstanding healthcare services and facilities anchored by leading institutions like Providence Hospital, Searcy Hospital, Springhill Medical Center, USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, USA Knollwood Park Hospital, and the USA Medical Center. Mobile provides a hub for progressive healthcare. From its genesis, the University of South Alabama Health System has played a leading role in the region’s medical history. Today, this health system continues its long tradition of excellence. Centers of Excellence include the birthing center, neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, USS Hope, and the region’s only pediatric outpatient chemotherapy center.
Lifestyle
Ranked as one of the nation’s top-ten golf value destinations, beautiful Mobile County excels in quality of life and opportunities for outdoor adventure and enjoyment. Recreation facilities encompass more than 1,177 acres of exquisitely designed properties that ensure scenic views Mobile Bay. Activities like hiking, golfing, picnicking, and playing sports are available in this panoramic area bordered on the east by Mobile Bay and the Mobile Tensaw River Delta—the largest inland delta in the nation. To the south is the shimmering Gulf of Mexico, and on the west is the Mississippi River. Diverse attractions and activities including sporting events, deep-sea fishing, historical sites, fine museums, and multipurpose trails are all available in Mobile County. The active parks and recreation department manages approximately 85 parks, developing and organizing a myriad of recreational programs for residents of all ages. Park amenities include facilities like paddleboats, walking paths, museums, tennis courts, sports fields, golf courses, and picnic pavilions. The multi-functional Agricultural Pavilion is spacious, rustic, and beautifully designed for a myriad of activities from horse shows to rodeos.
Aficionados of shopping will find Mobile County a paradise of options, from wonderful antique districts to the specialty shops and department stores of modern malls. Bargain hunters will delight in the deep discounts of factory stores. Those who are interested in cultural events and attractions will not be disappointed. Outstanding organizations like the Mobile Opera and Mobile Symphony draw enthusiastic crowds to premier venues. Community theater, fine art galleries, and fascinating museums are just a few of the options for enrichment. Residents of Mobile County can choose from modest homes along tree-shaded streets in the heart of the city, welcoming small towns, country manors with acreage, or vibrant new residential communities. Whether you prefer a bayou trail at Bellingrath Gardens, the excitement of competitive sports, or deep-sea fishing, Mobile County offers first-class attraction set against the backdrop of scenic beauty around every corner.
Bayou La Batre
City Hall
251-824-2171
www.cityofbayoulabatre.com
Chamber of Commerce
251-824-4088
www.bayoulabatreareachamber.org
Nestled along the glistening shoreline of the Mississippi Sound on the Gulf of Mexico, the small city of Bayou La Batre offers a coastal haven for residents and businesses alike. Known as the “seafood capital of Alabama,” the city is a leader in the commercial fishing and seafood industries. Some of the most progressive and successful seafood firms in the nation are located in Bayou La Batre. Picturesque fishing vessels in the Port of Bayou La Batre dip their nets into the Gulf waters for shrimp, oysters, crabs, and finfish. The city’s ideal location and proximity to major shipping channels create a natural terminal for imports and exports. Shipbuilding is another major industry, and everything from oil supply boats and work boats to tugs and cruisers take to the local waters. The charm of a marine village atmosphere, respect for tradition, and environment preservation make Bayou La Batre one of the most desirable hometowns in the region. Residents and planners share a commitment to maintain the integrity of the land, the heritage of its people, and the cultural treasures.
Chickasaw
City Hall
251-452-6450
http://cityofchickasaw.org
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
http://mobilechamber.com
Situated in northern Mobile County, the City of Chickasaw offers a mid-sized town that covers nearly five acres and encompasses the meandering and scenic Chickasabogue Creek. Major thoroughfares that provide quick and easy access to key destinations in Mobile County and beyond are U.S. Highway 43 and Interstate 65. Lush city parks total almost 40 acres, adding green space and sports facilities to the cityscape. Offering the slogan, “Small enough to know you and large enough to serve you,” Chickasaw is proud of its blending of historic homes with newer construction and modern conveniences. The local auditorium offers a stage, while the civic center provides sports facilities and an amphitheater. Chicasaw Civic Theater and the Playhouse present dramas, musicals, and comedies. The picturesque Chickasaw Marina, also known as Tucker’s Landing, provides a boat launch and shore fishing. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the annual celebration of Chickasaw Founders’ Day each August.
Citronelle
City Hall
251-866-7973
www.cityofcitronelle.com
Chamber of Commerce
251-866-7733
www.countyoffice.org/citronelle-al-chamber-of-commerce
The small, friendly town of Citronelle is rich in tradition, boasting many historic sites and deep Southern heritage. Residents enjoy a wide variety of recreational amenities just beyond their front door step including a 100-acre lake for fishing and swimming, a recreational vehicle park overlooking the lake, an 18-hole golf course, a lighted driving range, disc golf course, a picnic and barbecue area, an amphitheater, and an expansive baseball park. War Memorial Park on U. S. Highway 45 adds tennis courts, a senior citizen center, a $100,000 playground, and Gatlin Football Stadium. The community enjoys a full-service library, a new municipal complex, and a thriving industrial park. With a motto of Droit er Avant or “right and forward,” the city is home to a variety of services, restaurants, and new shopping center. Community spirit is high, and regional visitors join residents for the last surrender of the Civil War reenactment at the Surrender Oak site in Citronelle each May. The pleasures of small-town living, close-knit neighborhoods, affordable housing, and a family-oriented atmosphere are just a few of the attractions to Citronelle. From the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the excitement of metropolitan Mobile, residents can look forward to the finest of urban and recreational amenities..
Creola
City Hall
251-675-8142
http://cityofcreola.org/home.html
Chamber of Commerce
251-675-4444
www.saralandcoc.com
Located in Mobile County between the metropolis of Mobile and Grove Hill on U.S. Highway 43 near Saraland, the small community of Creola is best known for the popular recreational attraction of Dead Lake Marina campground. Facilities and features include recreational vehicle camping as well as tent camping, cabin rentals, a playground, a bath house, laundry facilities, a swimming pool, lake and river fishing, a boat launch ramp, covered boat slip rentals, houseboat dockage, bait and tackle facilities, groceries, and canoe rentals. Newcomers to the Creola area will find all the tranquility and friendliness associated with a small town within a reasonable commute of the fine museums, performing arts, educational advantages, and major employers of the Mobile metropolitan area. The close proximity of Saraland expands the availability of urban amenities and services close to home. Church and school events enhance the sense of community in the family-oriented community of Creola.
Dauphin Island
Town Hall
251-861-5525
http://townofdauphinisland.org
Chamber of Commerce
251-861-5525
877-532-8744
www.dauphinislandchamber.com
Home to less than 2,000 permanent residents, Dauphin Island is tje crown jewel of the Gulf Coast at the southern end of Alabama. This area offers a relaxed lifestyle, world-class fishing, superb seafood, a historic Civil War fort, Native American shell mounds, beach shelling, the Bird Sanctuary, and local arts and crafts. Newcomers can also look forward to camping and motor-home get-a-ways, pier fishing, and beautiful sugar-white sandy beaches. Named for the place “where dolphin play,” Dauphin Island is actually a barrier island located 33 miles from Mobile. This family-oriented community offers outdoor like fishing, camping, swimming, and bird watching while preserving a serene living environment. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab, founded by the State Legislature in 1971, is distinguished as Alabama’s marine education and research center. Located on the eastern tip of a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, the Sea Lab is the home site of the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.
City of Mobile
City Hall
251-208-7411
www.mobilecountyal.gov
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
http://mobilechamber.com
Awarded the title of All America City, Mobile represents a center of progressive development and activity. Recognized for downtown and neighborhood revitalization, the city boasts highly successful renewal efforts from cityscape beautification to educational improvements. Known as the “Port City,” Mobile claims proud residents who excel in initiating and completing grassroots projects in a spirit of cooperation and shared commitment to a vision of the future. One of the first port cities in the nation, Mobile contrasts three centuries of history with modern amenities and sights. The city’s inviting climate and ideal geographic location encourage a wide spectrum of activities. Nearby white-sandy beaches, great golfing venues, historic homes, and fascinating museums offer diversions for residents of every age and interest. Already mature when the Civil War began, Mobile reflects its rich, multi-cultural heritage in cuisine and architecture. Crafted beauty is enhanced by millions of blooms, since Mobile is known as the Azalea City. The metropolitan area is home to popular events like the Senior Bowl, the Azalea Trail Run marathon race, and the America’s Junior Miss Pageant. Those who enjoy cultural enrichment will be pleased with the quality and quantity of events, where premier groups like the Mobile Opera and Mobile Symphony enjoy elegant venues such as the Saenger Performing Arts Theater for the Living Arts. Presenting more than 100 events per year from ballet to the blues, the center is known for its old-world beauty and grace.
Grand Bay
County Offices
251-574-5077
www.mobilecountyal.gov
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
http://mobilechamber.com
Located in Mobile County just 12 miles southwest of Mobile along Highway 90 near the Mississippi state line, the unincorporated community of Grand Bay offers a delightful small-town environment. One of the highlights of Grand Bay is the El Cazador Museum, relating through artifacts and displays the story of a 1784 shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico. Treasures from the past include a unique breech loading cannon, the ship’s bell, bronze sword handles, and specimens from the mint shipment of silver coins. Residents of Grand Bay enjoy the friendliness and charm of an intimate community in close proximity to the employment centers, cultural attractions, and entertainment venues of Mobile. Students of all ages can access everything from continuing education courses and vocational training to major universities and private colleges close to home. Gulf beaches, marinas, lush parks, first-rate golf courses, and an array of sports facilities are available within a reasonable commute from a Grand Bay address.
Mount Vernon
City Hall
251-829-6632
www.mtvernonal.com
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
http://mobilechamber.com
The small community of Mount Vernon is the site of the Searcy Hospital complex, serving as a National Historic Site as well as a state hospital. Covering a full 360 acres with more than 25 buildings, the site features buildings that incorporate a blend of Greek Revival and Classical Revival styling. Residents enjoy living in a community where neighbors wave and greet each other. At the same time, they remain in close proximity to the amenities and advantages of Greater Mobile. Sandy beaches, the sparkling Gulf of Mexico waters, rolling rivers, and sprawling parks filled with sports facilities are available within a reasonable commute. Common pastimes include hiking, golfing, fishing, water sports, and picnicking in this water-rich region. Newcomers will appreciate the warmth of the community as well as affordable housing and a convenient lifestyle near one of the South’s most panoramic and vital metropolitan centers.
Prichard
City Hall
251-452-7857
www.thecityofprichard.org
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
http://mobilechamber.com
Revitalized by the presence of Interstate 65, the city of Prichard actually encompasses of five distinct communities: Whistler in the northeast section of the city, Kushla to the far north, the central Eight Mile area, the Bullshead southwestern section, and Old Prichard to the southeast. The latter is rapidly regaining the luster it once claimed when it served as a hub for community activities. Businesses and residents who flocked to the suburbs in the wake of new malls and shopping plazas are finding their way back to the comfort and historic charm of Old Prichard. Progressive city leadership has encouraged this trend, fueled by the successful revitalization of the Wilson Avenue business district. With Interstate 65 providing exit ramps along Wilson Avenue, retail and service establishments are realizing a new vitality. Shoppers find it convenient to drive into the heart of the city, do their shopping and errands, and return home to suburbia.
Saraland
City Hall
251-675-5103
http://saraland.org
Chamber of Commerce
251-675-4444
http://saralandchamber.com
The mid-sized town of Saraland is located in east-central Mobile County just five miles north of Mobile. Bayou Sara Creek connects Saraland to the Mobile River, and the city claims an advantageous location north of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Served by Interstate 65 and Highway 43, Saraland offers a number of major arteries for surface travel from Shelton Beach Road to Highway 158. Sparsely populated during the first part of the 20th century, Saraland grew with the expansion of Mobile in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Just outside of Saraland on a 685-acre campus is the University of Mobile, offering studies that lead to undergraduate degrees in arts and sciences along with paraprofessional training in a variety of disciplines. The city’s recreation program is highly regarded, and the area’s rich water resources make it ideal for fishing, boating, and swimming. The Civic Center serves as a hub for community, social, recreational, and cultural events. The Saraland Civic Forum hosts the largest holiday parade in Mobile County, and active clubs and organizations give newcomers a chance to become immediately involved in community affairs.
Satsuma
City Hall
521-675-1440
www.cityofsatsuma.com
Chamber of Commerce
251-675-4444
http://saralandchamber.com
Located south of the intersection of Interstate 65 and Highway 43, the community of Satsuma features a number of lush, well-equipped parks. Wright Park offers everything from playground equipment to tennis courts and a baseball field while Baldwin Square features a memorial walking path and charming gazebo. A quaint train caboose stands guard over several sports fields at Lions Park, which is also popular for fishing and picnicking. Nearby Saraland expands the amenities and services that are available close to home for Satsuma residents. Also enriching the immediate area both culturally and educationally is the campus for the University of Mobile. Within a reasonable commute, residents can enjoy Broadway shows, ballet, opera, theatre, fine museums, and Mobile’s outstanding entertainment venues.
Theodore, Hollingers Island
County Offices
251-574-5073
www.mobilecountyal.gov
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
www.mobilechamber.com
Encompassed within the Greater Mobile metropolitan area, the distinctive but unincorporated communities of Theodore and Hollingers Island offer a scenic and comfortable environment. The Hollingers Island Community Association property reaches the western shore of Mobile Bay approximately one mile south of Dog River Bridge. Theodore features Beachcomber Marina on Dog River, although the most famous landmark in this area is Bellingrath Gardens. From the mums reflected in Mirror Lake in the fall to the proliferation of 250,000 Azaleas each spring, this breathtaking area blooms around the calendar year. Visitors enjoy 65 acres of landscaped splendor punctuated by towering oaks draped in Spanish moss. Surrounding this centerpiece are nearly 1,000 acres of semi-tropical rain forest on the gulf coast. In addition to the gardens, the museum home was completed in 1935 for Walter and Bessie Bellingrath, who were the first bottlers of Coca-Cola in Mobile.
Tillman’s Corner
County Offices
251-574-5073
www.mobilecountyal.gov
Chamber of Commerce
251-433-6951
800-422-6951
www.mobilechamber.com
The rapidly growing and popular community known as Tillman’s Corner took its name from a man who opened a grocery store at that location in the late 1800s. Many members of the Bob Tillman family still call the area home and have launched successful businesses. Because the Tillman name is and has been so prominently associated with this unincorporated area, the community has retained its original moniker. Tillman’s Corner has experienced phenomenal growth over the past two decades in new residential neighborhoods as well as business and industry. “In Step with Progress” has become the proud slogan of the community and it chamber of commerce, reflecting the transformation from a rural countryside into modern suburbia. Residents are committed to preserving the natural beauty and serenity of their home through well-managed growth and quality development.
