Baldwin County, Alabama 76924 223405879 2008-07-03T23:01:20Z Backspace 640870 To indicate that only part of it lies within the county {{Infobox U.S. County| county = Baldwin County| state = Alabama | seal = Baldwin County al seal.jpg | founded date = December 21 | founded year = 1809 | seat wl = Bay Minette | largest city wl = Daphne | area_total_sq_mi =2027 | area_land_sq_mi =1596 | area_water_sq_mi =431 | area percentage = 21.24% | census yr = 2002| pop = 165100 | density_km2 = 34| density_sq_mi =88| web = www.co.baldwin.al.us| |}} '''Baldwin County''' is a [[county]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. It is named in honor of [[Abraham Baldwin]], a member of the United States Senate from Georgia who, ironically, never actually lived in Alabama. As of [[2000]] the population is 140,415 <ref>http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01/01003.html AS OF March 28, 2007 </ref>. The estimated 2005 population from the U.S. Census Bureau is 162,586<ref>http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01/01003.html AS OF March 28, 2007</ref>. The [[county seat]] is [[Bay Minette, Alabama|Bay Minette]]. ==History== Baldwin County was established on [[December 21]], [[1809]] ten years before Alabama became a state. Previously, the county had been a part of the Mississippi territory until 1817 when the area passed into the Alabama territory. Statehood was gained by Alabama in 1819.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=156 |title=Various Historical Compilations about Baldwin County, Alabama |accessdate=2007-05-25 |format=HTML |work=Baldwin County, Alabama }}</ref> There have been numerous border changes to the county and numerous armies have invaded.<ref name="ALmark">{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/markers/ibaldwin.html |title=ADAH Historical Markers&mdash;Baldwin County: A County Older than the State |accessdate=2007-10-29|work=Texts of historical markers placed by Alabama Historical Society|publisher=Alabama Department of Archives & History}}</ref> In the first days of Baldwin County, the Town of [[McIntosh Bluff]] (now in [[Mobile County|Mobile County, Alabama]], West of Baldwin County) on the Tombigbee River was the County Seat. After being transferred to the Town of [[Blakeley, Alabama|Blakeley]] in 1810, the County Seat was later moved to the City of [[Daphne, Alabama|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, Alabama|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 seventeen 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. A New Deal mural hanging in the Bay Minette post office depicts the removal of the county seat.[http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=156] Baldwin County, due to its proximity to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] frequently endures tropical weather systems which often are [[Hurricanes]]. In recent years, the county was declared a disaster area in September [[1979]] due to damage from [[Hurricane Frederic]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters_state.fema?id=1 |title=Alabama Disaster History |work=FEMA website |type=html |language=english |accessdate=2007-06-22}}</ref> in July [[1997]] due to [[Hurricane Danny]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/html/nph-brs.cgi?d=ILET&s1=(current)%5BSPEC%5D&op1=AND&l=100&SECT1=TXT_HITS&SECT5=ILET&u=../html/shortcut.htm&p=1&r=25&f=G |work=hudclips.org |type=html |language=english |accessdate=2007-06-22 |title= Special Title I Assistance to Victims in Presidentially Declared Major Disaster Areas - Alabama, Vermont, Washington State and Michigan}}</ref> in September 1998 from [[Hurricane Georges]]<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=570 |title=Designated Counties for Alabama Hurricane Georges |type=html |language=english |accessdate=2007-06-22 |work=FEMA website}}</ref> in September [[2004]] due to damage from [[Hurricane Ivan]]<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=3683 |title=Designated Counties for Hurricane Ivan |work=FEMA website |type=html |language=english |accessdate-2007-06-22}}</ref> and again in August [[2005]] due to damage from [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=4825 |title=Alabama Hurricane Katrina |work=FEMA website |accessdate=2007-06-22 |type=html |language=english}}</ref> ==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 2,027&nbsp;[[square mile]]s (5,250&nbsp;[[km²]]), of which, 1,596&nbsp;square miles (4,135&nbsp;km²) of it is land and 431&nbsp;square miles (1,115&nbsp;km²) of it is water. The total area is 21.24% water. It is the 12th largest county east of the Mississippi River. [[Image:Morning at Gulf State Park.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Baldwin County's beaches]] ===Major Highways=== *[[Image:I-10.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10]] *[[Image:I-65.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 65]] *[[Image:US 31.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 31]] *[[Image:US 90.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 90]] *[[Image:US 98.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 98]] *[[Image:Alabama 59.svg|20px]] [[State Route 59 (Alabama)|State Route 59]] *[[Image:Alabama 104.svg|20px]] [[State Route 104 (Alabama)|State Route 104]] *[[Image:Alabama 180.svg|20px]] [[State Route 180 (Alabama)|State Route 180]] *[[Image:Alabama 182.svg|20px]] [[State Route 182 (Alabama)|State Route 182]] ===Airports=== *[[Bay Minette, Alabama|Bay Minette, 1R8]], has a single runway 08/26 that is 5,497' *[[Fairhope, Alabama|Fairhope, 4R4]], has a single runway 01/19 that is 6,604' *[[Foley, Alabama|Foley, 5R4]], has a single runway 18/36 that is 3,700' *[[Gulf Shores, Alabama|Gulf Shores, JKA]], has two runways, 09/27 at 6,962' and 17/35 at 3,596' There are numerous private airports and heliports in Baldwin County. Considerable military airspace overlies much of the county and adjacent bay and coastal waters. Commercial, scheduled service is from [[Mobile Regional Airport]] or [[Pensacola Regional Airport]]. ===Adjacent counties=== *[[Monroe County, Alabama]] - northeast *[[Escambia County, Florida]] - east *[[Escambia County, Alabama]] - east *[[Mobile County, Alabama]] - west *[[Washington County, Alabama]] - northwest *[[Clarke County, Alabama]] - northwest ===Environmental recognition === Two separate areas in Baldwin County have been designated "Outstanding Alabama Water" by the Alabama Environmental Management Commission which oversees the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. As of April, 2007, only two other areas in Alabama have received what is the "highest environmental status" in the state. A portion of [[Wolf Bay]] and 42 miles of the [[Tensaw River]] in northern Baldwin county have received the designation. Officials believe the "pristine water" will become an important [[eco-tourism]] destination.<ref> Gary Busby, ''Wolf Bay Listed as Outstanding Alabama Water'', The Mobile Register, Baldwin Register, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, page 1 </ref> ===National [[protected area]]=== * [[Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge]] (part) ==Demographics== As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of [[2000]], there were 200,100 people, 55,336 households, and 40,284 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 88 people per square mile (34/km²). There were 74,285 housing units at an average density of 46 per square&nbsp;mile (18/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.15% [[Race (U.S. census)|White]], 10.29% [[Race (U.S. census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.58% [[Race (U.S. census)|Native American]], 0.38% [[Race (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.54% from [[race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were [[Race (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race. 21.4% were of [[united states|American]], 12.5% [[english people|English]], 11.4% [[germans|German]] and 9.9% [[irish people|Irish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. There were 55,336 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.94. In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,250, and the median income for a family was $47,028. Males had a median income of $34,507 versus $23,069 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,826. 10.10% of the population and 7.60% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. 13.10% of those under the age of 18 and 8.90% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. ==Regions== *North Baldwin *[[Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay|Eastern Shore]] *[[Central Baldwin]] *[[South Baldwin]] *[[Southwest Baldwin]] *[[East Baldwin]] ==Municipalities== [[Image:Foleywatertower.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The water tower in central Foley.]] ===Cities=== *[[Bay Minette, Alabama|Bay Minette]] *[[Daphne, Alabama|Daphne]] *[[Fairhope, Alabama|Fairhope]] *[[Foley, Alabama|Foley]] *[[Gulf Shores, Alabama|Gulf Shores]] *[[Magnolia Springs, Alabama|Magnolia Springs]] *[[Orange Beach, Alabama|Orange Beach]] *[[Robertsdale, Alabama|Robertsdale]] *[[Spanish Fort, Alabama|Spanish Fort]] ===Towns=== *[[Elberta, Alabama|Elberta]] *[[Loxley, Alabama|Loxley]] *[[Silverhill, Alabama|Silverhill]] *[[Summerdale, Alabama|Summerdale]] ===Unincorporated areas=== <div style="-moz-column-count:4; column-count:4;"> *[[Barnwell, Alabama|Barnwell]] *[[Bayside, Alabama|Bayside]] *[[Belforest, Alabama|Belforest]] *[[Blackwater, Alabama|Blackwater]] *[[Blakeley, Alabama|Blakeley]] *[[Bon Secour, Alabama|Bon Secour]] *[[Bromly, Alabama|Bromly]] *[[Clay City, Alabama|Clay City]] *[[Crossroads, Alabama|Crossroads]] *[[Elsanor, Alabama|Elsanor]] *[[Fort Morgan, Alabama|Fort Morgan]] *[[Houstonville, Alabama|Houstonville]] *[[Josephine, Alabama|Josephine]] *[[Lillian, Alabama|Lillian]] *[[Magnolia Beach, Alabama|Magnolia Beach]] *[[Malbis, Alabama|Malbis]] *[[Marlow, Alabama|Marlow]] *[[Miflin, Alabama|Miflin]] *[[Montrose, Alabama|Montrose]] *[[Oak, Alabama|Oak]] *[[Oyster Bay, Alabama|Oyster Bay]] *[[Park City, Alabama|Park City]] *[[Perdido, Alabama|Perdido]] *[[Perdido Beach, Alabama|Perdido Beach]] *[[Perdido Key, Alabama|Perdido Key]] *[[Pine Grove, Alabama|Pine Grove]] *[[Pine Haven, Alabama|Pine Haven]] *[[Point Clear, Alabama|Point Clear]] *[[Rabun, Alabama|Rabun]] *[[River Park, Alabama|River Park]] *[[Romar Beach, Alabama|Romar Beach]] *[[Rosinton, Alabama|Rosinton]] *[[Seacliff, Alabama|Seacliff]] *[[Seminole, Alabama|Seminole]] *[[Stapleton, Alabama|Stapleton]] *[[Stockton, Alabama|Stockton]] *[[Swift, Alabama|Swift]] *[[Tensaw, Alabama|Tensaw]] *[[Turkey Branch, Alabama|Turkey Branch]] *[[Weeks Bay, Alabama|Weeks Bay]] *[[Whitehouse Fork, Alabama|Whitehouse Fork]] *[[Yupon, Alabama|Yupon]] </div> ==Education== All public schools in Baldwin County are operated by [[Baldwin County Public Schools]]. ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/ Baldwin County] * Baldwin County [http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/baldwin.jpg map of roads/towns] (map © 2007 [[University of Alabama|Univ. of Alabama]]). * [http://www.baldwineda.com Baldwin County Economic Development] {{Baldwin County, Alabama}} {{Alabama}} {{coor title dms|30|43|59|N|87|43|13|W|region:US-AL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki}} [[Category:Alabama counties]] [[Category:Baldwin County, Alabama| ]] [[de:Baldwin County (Alabama)]] [[fr:Comté de Baldwin (Alabama)]] [[bpy:বালদুৱিন কাউন্টি, আলাবামা]] [[it:Contea di Baldwin (Alabama)]] [[nl:Baldwin County (Alabama)]] [[no:Baldwin County (Alabama)]] [[nds:Baldwin County (Alabama)]] [[simple:Baldwin County, Alabama]] [[fi:Baldwinin piirikunta]] [[sv:Baldwin County, Alabama]] [[zh:鲍德温县 (亚拉巴马州)]]