Orange Beach, Alabama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orange Beach is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 6,436.

1 About the Orange Beach Community
2 Nearby Cities/Towns/Communities
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 Information
6 Sports
7 Development
8 The Wharf
9 Bama Bayou
10 Education
11 Politics
12 Links to Orange Beach Websites
13 References

[edit] About the Orange Beach Community

Orange Beach is home to the largest Charter Fishing Fleet on the Gulf of Mexico and a favorite vacation spot for many. The city was founded by boat builders and charter fishermen. For more information on the history of Orange Beach read, "The Best Place to Be- The Story of Orange Beach, Alabama" by Margaret Childress Long & Michael D. Shipler.

Orange Beach is fortunate to have so much in the way of artistic talent, including musicians, painters, photographers, sculptors and writers. To learn more about the artisans in Orange Beach please visit the Orange Beach Art Center or The Everything Orange Beach! Artists' Pages.

[edit] Nearby Cities/Towns/Communities

[edit] Geography

Orange Beach is located at 30°17'29.411" North, 87°33'43.146" West (30.291503, -87.561985)^GR1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.5 km² (11.4 mi²). 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²) of it is land and 2.6 km² (1.0 mi²) of it (8.69%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,784 people, 1,779 households, and 1,090 families residing in the city. The population density was 140.5/km² (363.9/mi²). There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 281.9/km² (730.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.82% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 2.03% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. 2.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,779 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the city the population was spread out with 16.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,542, and the median income for a family was $51,222. Males had a median income of $34,063 versus $24,787 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,082. About 6.2% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Information

Orange Beach in the summer time can claim a tremendous population growth. At that time, the population can swell to well over 200,000 making it the fourth largest city in the state behind Birmingham, Mobile and Gulf Shores (Gulf Shores, adjacent to Orange Beach, can swell up to a population of 300,000 during the summer). In the summer of 2004, an estimated 678,098 non-residents of baldwin county were on Baldwin County beaches at one time (excluding the cities of Fairhope, Foley and Magnolia Springs which have inland beaches on the Intracoastal Waterway or Mobile Bay).

[edit] Sports

The city of Orange Beach has a NAFL football team.They are the Alabama Lightning ,and they play in the Sports Plex across from The Wharf. Their rivals are the Port City Monarchs, based in Mobile. The Orange Beach Soccer Complex has hosted the Southeastern Conference Women's Soccer Championship in 2005 ^[1] and will host again in 2006. ^[2]

[edit] Development

The City of Orange Beach in past years has outshown its neighbor city to the west by adding to its city's landscape. Most of the city is on Pleasure Island, a man-made Island formed when the Intracoastal Waterway was formed which separated it from mainland Baldwin County. Downtown Orange Beach is situated on the end of the island so there in no place for downtown to grow but westward along the island. As the city itself grows so does its needs to satisfy its visitors. The Intracoastal Waterway, also known as "The New Alabama Gulf Coast", is now under Major development on both sides of the channel. 34 different projects are currently underway. Some of the most notable development along the waterway are The Wharf, Bama Bayou, Portage Crossing,Colonial Pinnicales at Craft Farms,Bon Secour Village and Five Waters.Political corruption led to what many say is over development. This caused citizens to suffer as their way of life was adversely affected so a few developers could change zoning laws for their benefit.Thus causing traffic problems and local government officials who worked for outside developers and not listening to the wishes of the citizens.

[edit] The Wharf

The Wharf-Orange Beach is a mixed-use development that is part of the new downtown area. As you come on to the island from the Foley Beach Express, The Wharf is directly in your path. Once you are off the bridge, turn left or right, and you will be at The Wharf. It is mostly a lifestyle center complete with a two story shopping district with restaurants and a 15 screen Rave movie theater. On this property, there are 4 condominiums and one hotel (Long's Bayou, Levin's Bend, Marsh Brige, Boggy Point, and The Inn at The Wharf). There is a 10,200 seat Amphitheater and a four-story parking garage. One of the main attractions of The Wharf is an eleven-story ferriswheel. There is also a marina. There are four areas at the Wharf for future development (three future parking garages, for example). As of May 28, 2006, the movie theater, the ferriswheel and the amphitheater are complete.This has truly caused a major traffic problem at the intersection of the Foley beach express and Canal Road.Many residents resented the fact that a major development was placed on this stretch of road that is only a two lane.

[edit] Bama Bayou

Previously The Riverwalk Orange Beach is located directly across from The Wharf on the mainland side of the Intracoastal Waterway. It will be complete with 150,000 square feet of retail shopping, a 68,000 square-foot convention center,Bayou Beach, one yet-to-be-named condominiums, a water park, and a state-of-the-art Gulf World Marine Park where you can swim with dolphins.

[edit] Education

Orange Beach is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.

Orange Beach has one school, Orange Beach Elementary School, which serves grades kindergarten through 5. Students continue on to Gulf Shores Middle School (Grades 6-8) and Gulf Shores High School (9-12), which are both in [Gulf Shores, Alabama|Gulf Shores].

[edit] Politics

Mayor Russo resigned effective January 25, 2006. Mayor Pro Tem Pete Blaloc was appointed Mayor on January 26, 2006.

Russo was Indicted on State and Federal Charges of, among other things, Use of Office for Personal gain, Failing to Disclose Confilcts of Interest and Misdemeanor Drug Possession.