Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores, Alabama
City
Condos and hotels on the beach
Motto: Small Town, Big Beach
Location in Baldwin County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 30°16′4″N 87°42′5″W / 30.26778°N 87.70139°W / 30.26778; -87.70139
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Baldwin
Government
• Mayor	Robert Craft
Area
• Total	28.0 sq mi (72.5 km2)
• Land	23.2 sq mi (60.0 km2)
• Water	4.8 sq mi (12.5 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	9,741
• Density	421/sq mi (162.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	36542, 36547
Area code(s)	251
FIPS code	01-32272
GNIS feature ID	0119462
Website	www.gulfshoresal.gov

Gulf Shores is a coastal city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 9,741,^[1] up from 5,044 at the 2000 census. Since the year 2000, Baldwin County as a whole has experienced rapid population growth, second only to Shelby County in Alabama.^[2]

Geography

Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 30°16'4.069" North, 87°42'5.285" West (30.267797, −87.701468).^[3] It is the southernmost settlement in the state of Alabama.^[4] It is served by Alabama State Route 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway), which leads north to Foley. Route 182 (Beach Boulevard) runs east-west along the shore front, while Route 180 (Fort Morgan Road) runs parallel to it, north of Little Lagoon. Gulf State Park occupies a large eastern part of the city.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.0 square miles (72.5 km²), of which 23.2 square miles (60.0 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12.5 km²), or 17.24%, is water.^[1]

Climate

The location of Gulf Shores on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico makes it vulnerable to hurricanes. In September 1979, Hurricane Frederic leveled most of the town. In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused extensive wind and flooding damage. In 2005, while the city was still cleaning up from Ivan, Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage and flooding.

Demographics

As of the census^[9] of 2010, there were 9,741 people residing in the city. The population density was 274.3 per square mile (105.9/km²). There were 6,810 housing units at an average density of 370.4 per square mile (143.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.54% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Residential area on canal.

There were 2,344 households out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.56.

16.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $41,826, and the median income for a family was $51,862. Males had a median income of $40,259 versus $22,467 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,356. About 6.8% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Gulf Shores is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system. An elementary school, middle school, high school, and a local community college serve the community.

• Faulkner State Community College
• Gulf Shores High School^[10] (grades 9-12)
• Gulf Shores Middle School^[11] (grades 7-8)
• Gulf Shores Elementary School^[12] (grades K-6)

Tourism

Like many coastal communities, tourism plays a major role in the local economy of Gulf Shores. The 2010 BP oil spill was expected to severely effect both local real estate and beach tourism. However, after a rough year, the tourism economy in Gulf Shores appears to have returned to pre-spill levels.^[13] In October 2011, the city began a branding campaign to help it stand out from other coastal destinations in the area.^[14]

Ocean fishing, beaches, boating cruises, and especially golf are major draws for the area. Chartered fishing boats and cruise boats for sunsets, dinner cruises, dolphin watching, and watersports embark regularly, and the area is home to two of the top-rated golf resorts in the Alabama - Craft Farms^[15] and Kiva Dunes.^[16] There are a total of nine signature golf clubs,^[17] as well as a state-owned 18-hole course.^[18] Other popular attractions include the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo (as featured in Animal Planet's "The Little Zoo that Could");^[19] Pelican Place at Craft Farms, a shopping mall; and Waterville USA, a family amusement/waterpark.^[20] The city is home to an annual three-day music festival on the beach each May, the Hangout Music Festival.^[21]

Jack Edwards National Airport is located in Gulf Shores.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

• Official website
• Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism

Coordinates: 30°16′04″N 87°42′05″W / 30.267797°N 87.701468°W / 30.267797; -87.701468

Municipalities and communities of Baldwin County, Alabama, United States County seat: Bay Minette Cities Bay Minette Daphne Fairhope Foley Gulf Shores Orange Beach Robertsdale Spanish Fort Towns Elberta Loxley Magnolia Springs Perdido Beach Silverhill Summerdale CDP Point Clear Unincorporated communities Barnwell Battles Wharf Belforest Bon Secour Bromley Clay City Crossroads Elsanor Fort Morgan Gasque Josephine Latham Lillian Little River Malbis Marlow Miflin Montrose Oak Ono Island Oyster Bay Perdido Pine Grove Point Clear Rabun Seacliff Seminole Stapleton Stockton Swift Tensaw Yelling Settlement Ghost town Blakeley