Familypedia
Register
Advertisement
This article is based on the corresponding article in another wiki. For Familypedia purposes, it requires significantly more historical detail on phases of this location's development. The ideal article for a place will give the reader a feel for what it was like to live at that location at the time their relatives were alive there. Also desirable are links to organizations that may be repositories of genealogical information..
Please help to improve this page yourself if you can.


Baldwin County, Alabama
Seal of Baldwin County, Alabama
Seal
Map of Alabama highlighting Baldwin County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the U.S
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded December 21, 1809
Seat Bay Minette
Largest city Daphne
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

2,026.93 sq mi (5,250 km²)
1,596.35 sq mi (4,135 km²)
430.58 sq mi (1,115 km²), 21.24%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

231,767
114/sq mi (44/km²)
Website www.co.baldwin.al.us
There is also a Baldwin County, Georgia.

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. He had never lived in what became Alabama. As of 2020 the population was 231,767.[1] The county seat is Bay Minette. The largest county in Alabama by area, it includes a portion of Mobile Bay.

The Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan area includes all of Baldwin County.

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 was included in the separate Alabama Territory. Statehood was gained by Alabama in 1819.[2]

There have been numerous border changes to the county and numerous armies have invaded.[3]

In the first days of Baldwin County, the town of McIntosh Bluff on the Tombigbee River was the county seat. (It is now included in Washington County, west of Baldwin County.) The county seat was transferred to the town of Blakeley in 1810, and then to the city of 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, however, the city of Daphne resisted relocation.

To relocate the county seat to Bay Minette, the men of the town devised a scheme. To lure the Sheriff and his deputy out of the 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 (27 km) to Daphne, stole the Baldwin County Courthouse records, and delivered them to the city of Bay Minette, where Baldwin County's county seat remains. A New Deal mural, completed by WPA artists during the Great Depression, depicts the events. It hangs in the Bay Minette post office .[4]

Due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Baldwin County frequently endures tropical weather systems, including hurricanes. In recent years, the county was declared a disaster area in September 1979 due to damage from Hurricane Frederic[5], in July 1997 due to Hurricane Danny[6], in September 1998 from Hurricane Georges[7], in September 2004 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan[8], and again in August 2005 due to damage from Hurricane Katrina.[9]

Geography[]

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 2,026.93 square miles (5,249.7 km2), of which 1,596.35 square miles (4,134.5 km2) (or 78.76%) is land and 430.58 square miles (1,115.2 km2) (or 21.24%) is water.[10] It is the 12th largest county east of the Mississippi River and is larger than both the states of Delaware and Rhode Island.

Morning at Gulf State Park

Baldwin County's beaches

Major highways[]

  • I-10 (AL) Interstate 10
  • I-65 (AL) Interstate 65
  • US 31 U.S. Highway 31
  • US 90 U.S. Highway 90
  • US 98 U.S. Highway 98
  • Alabama 59 State Route 59
  • Alabama 104 State Route 104
  • Alabama 180 State Route 180
  • Alabama 182 State Route 182

Airports[]

  • Bay Minette, 1R8, has a single runway 08/26 that is 5,497'
  • Fairhope, 4R4, has a single runway 01/19 that is 6,604'
  • Foley, 5R4, has a single runway 18/36 that is 3,700'
  • 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 International Airport.

Adjacent counties[]

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 (68 km) of the Tensaw River in northern Baldwin county have received the designation. Officials believe the "pristine water" will become an important eco-tourism destination.[11]

National protected area[]

  • Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics[]

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1820 1,713
1830 2,324 +35.7%
1840 2,951 +27.0%
1850 4,414 +49.6%
1860 7,530 +70.6%
1870 6,004 −20.3%
1880 8,603 +43.3%
1890 8,941 +3.9%
1900 13,194 +47.6%
1910 18,178 +37.8%
1920 20,730 +14.0%
1930 28,289 +36.5%
1940 32,324 +14.3%
1950 40,997 +26.8%
1960 49,088 +19.7%
1970 59,382 +21.0%
1980 78,556 +32.3%
1990 98,280 +25.1%
2000 140,415 +42.9%
2010 182,265 +29.8%
2020 231,767 +27.2%
Source: "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.  Census Bureau

2010[]

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

2000[]

As of the census[12] 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 mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.15% White, 10.29% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of American, 12.5% English, 11.4% German and 9.9% 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 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.

In 2000, the largest denominational groups were Evangelical Protestants (with 38,670 adherents) and Mainline Protestants (with 16,399 adherents).[13] The largest religious bodies were The Southern Baptist Convention (with 27,789 members) and The Catholic Church (with 10,482 members).[13]

Government[]

Baldwin County was one of the earliest counties in Alabama where the old-line Southern Democrats began splitting their tickets, and today, it is one of the most solidly Republican counties in Alabama. No Republican has failed to win a majority in the county since 1968, when it was easily carried by George Wallace running on a segregationist third-party ticket. The county has not gone for a straight Democratic ticket since 1960.

United States presidential election results for Baldwin County, Alabama[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 83,544 76.17% 24,578 22.41% 1,557 1.42%
2016 72,883 76.55% 18,458 19.39% 3,874 4.07%
2012 66,016 77.22% 18,424 21.55% 1,051 1.23%
2008 61,271 75.26% 19,386 23.81% 756 0.93%
2004 52,971 76.42% 15,599 22.50% 750 1.08%
2000 40,872 72.37% 13,997 24.78% 1,611 2.85%
1996 29,487 62.58% 12,776 27.11% 4,856 10.31%
1992 26,270 56.52% 12,195 26.24% 8,011 17.24%
1988 25,933 72.86% 9,271 26.05% 391 1.10%
1984 24,964 75.55% 7,272 22.01% 809 2.45%
1980 18,652 65.78% 8,448 29.80% 1,253 4.42%
1976 13,256 50.40% 9,191 34.94% 3,855 14.66%
1972 15,104 82.20% 2,923 15.91% 348 1.89%
1968 2,154 11.87% 1,821 10.04% 14,167 78.09%
1964 10,870 81.12% 0 0.00% 2,530 18.88%
1960 4,812 45.24% 5,647 53.09% 177 1.66%
1956 4,293 51.02% 3,878 46.08% 244 2.90%
1952 3,179 48.04% 3,386 51.17% 52 0.79%
1948 767 22.26% 0 0.00% 2,678 77.74%
1944 695 25.49% 2,002 73.41% 30 1.10%
1940 617 17.62% 2,681 76.58% 203 5.80%
1936 434 14.63% 2,338 78.80% 195 6.57%
1932 544 19.57% 2,098 75.47% 138 4.96%
1928 1,388 51.05% 1,317 48.44% 14 0.51%
1924 549 27.76% 1,023 51.72% 406 20.53%
1920 556 28.70% 1,230 63.50% 151 7.80%
1916 216 18.95% 766 67.19% 158 13.86%
1912 37 4.00% 623 67.28% 266 28.73%
1908 109 17.06% 439 68.70% 91 14.24%
1904 126 20.52% 454 73.94% 34 5.54%
1900 396 43.00% 444 48.21% 81 8.79%
1896 404 34.21% 726 61.47% 51 4.32%
1892 382 27.64% 912 65.99% 88 6.37%
1888 547 43.04% 724 56.96% 0 0.00%



The county is governed by a four-member county commission, elected from single-member districts. A sheriff, coroner, and revenue commissioner are elected in at-large positions countywide. The sheriff of Baldwin County is Hoss Mack (R).[15]

The commissioners are as follows:

District 1: James E. Ball (R)

District 2: Joseph Davis III (R)

District 3: Billie Jo Underwood (R)

District 4: Charles F. Gruber (R)

The coroner is Brian Pierce (R) and the district attorney is Robert Wilters (R).

Regions[]

  • North Baldwin
  • Eastern Shore
  • Central Baldwin
  • South Baldwin
  • Southwest Baldwin
  • East Baldwin

Municipalities[]

Foleywatertower

The water tower in central Foley.

Cities[]

  • Bay Minette
  • Daphne
  • Fairhope
  • Foley
  • Gulf Shores
  • Orange Beach
  • Robertsdale
  • Spanish Fort

Towns[]

  • Elberta
  • Loxley
  • Magnolia Springs
  • Perdido Beach
  • Silverhill
  • Summerdale

Unincorporated areas[]

  • Barnwell
  • Bayside
  • Belforest
  • Blackwater
  • Blakeley
  • Bon Secour
  • Bromly
  • Clay City
  • Crossroads
  • Elsanor
  • Fort Morgan
  • Houstonville
  • Josephine
  • Lillian
  • Magnolia Beach
  • Malbis
  • Marlow
  • Miflin
  • Montrose
  • Oak
  • Oyster Bay
  • Park City
  • Perdido
  • Perdido Key
  • Pine Grove
  • Pine Haven
  • Point Clear
  • Rabun
  • River Park
  • Romar Beach
  • Rosinton
  • Seacliff
  • Seminole
  • Stapleton
  • Stockton
  • Swift
  • Tensaw
  • Turkey Branch
  • Weeks Bay
  • Whitehouse Fork
  • Yupon

Education[]

The Baldwin County Board of Education oversees most public education in the county. Numerous private and parochial schools also serve the area.

Local government[]

The county is governed by a four member county commission each elected by districts. A sheriff, coroner, revenue commissioner are elected countywide. The sheriff of Baldwin County is Hoss Mack (R) [16]

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Baldwin County, Alabama
  • Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Baldwin County, Alabama

References[]

  1. ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01/01003.html As of March 28, 2007
  2. ^ "Various Historical Compilations about Baldwin County, Alabama". Baldwin County, Alabama. http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=156. Retrieved 2007-05-25. 
  3. ^ "ADAH Historical Markers—Baldwin County: A County Older than the State". Texts of historical markers placed by Alabama Historical Society. Alabama Department of Archives & History. http://www.archives.state.al.us/markers/ibaldwin.html. Retrieved 2007-10-29. 
  4. ^ "History-Compilations". Co.baldwin.al.us. http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=156. Retrieved 2010-07-22. 
  5. ^ "Alabama Disaster History". FEMA website. http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters_state.fema?id=1. Retrieved 2007-06-22. 
  6. ^ "Special Title I Assistance to Victims in Presidentially Declared Major Disaster Areas - Alabama, Vermont, Washington State and Michigan". hudclips.org. 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. Retrieved 2007-06-22. 
  7. ^ "Designated Counties for Alabama Hurricane Georges". FEMA website. http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=570. Retrieved 2007-06-22. 
  8. ^ "Designated Counties for Hurricane Ivan". FEMA website. http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=3683. Retrieved 2007-06-22. 
  9. ^ "Alabama Hurricane Katrina". FEMA website. http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=4825. Retrieved 2007-06-22. 
  10. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  11. ^ Gary Busby, Wolf Bay Listed as Outstanding Alabama Water, The Mobile Register, Baldwin Register, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, page 1
  12. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  13. ^ a b "County Membership Reports". thearda.com. http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/01001_2000.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-22.  Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "thearda" defined multiple times with different content
  14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 
  15. ^ "Association". Alabama Sheriffs. http://www.alabamasheriffs.com/?PageID=131&IsNav=true. 
  16. ^ "Association". Alabama Sheriffs. http://www.alabamasheriffs.com/?PageID=131&IsNav=true. Retrieved 2010-07-22. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 30°43′59″N 87°43′13″W / 30.73306, -87.72028


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Baldwin County, Alabama. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
Advertisement