Spanish Fort, Alabama
| Spanish Fort, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Motto: A City of Spirit! | |
 Location of Spanish Fort in Baldwin County, Alabama. | |
| Coordinates: 30°40′7″N 87°55′20″W / 30.66861°N 87.92222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Baldwin |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Michael M. McMillan |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 34.96 sq mi (90.54 km2) |
| • Land | 30.25 sq mi (78.35 km2) |
| • Water | 4.71 sq mi (12.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 6,798 |
| • Estimate (2016)[2] | 8,327 |
| • Density | 275.26/sq mi (106.28/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 36527, 36577 |
| Area code(s) | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-71976 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1669449 |
| Website |
www |
Spanish Fort is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 6,798.[3] It is a suburb of Mobile and is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan area.
Geography
Spanish Fort is located at 30°40'7.403" North, 87°55'19.844" West (30.668723, -87.922179),[4] above the east shore of the Blakeley River where it enters Mobile Bay. U.S. Routes 90 and 98 (Battleship Parkway) lead west across the Mobile River and its distributaries 9 miles (14 km) to Mobile. Interstate 10 passes just to the south of Spanish Fort, with access from exits 35 and 38, and leads west across Mobile Bay to Mobile as well.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Spanish Fort has a total area of 33.4 square miles (86.5 km2), of which 28.7 square miles (74.3 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12.2 km2), or 14.08%, is water.[3]
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 2,364 | — | |
| 1980 | 3,415 | 44.5% | |
| 1990 | 3,732 | 9.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,423 | 45.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,798 | 25.4% | |
| Est. 2016 | 8,327 | [2] | 22.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 2013 Estimate[6] | |||
2010 Census data
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 6,798 people, 2,861 households, and 1,910 families residing in the city. The population density was 237 people per square mile (91.4/km²). There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 97.3 per square mile (37.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.0% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,861 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $65,244, and the median income for a family was $76,469. Males had a median income of $58,958 versus $36,695 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,856. About 1.8% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Economic development
Since incorporating on July 19, 1993, Spanish Fort has seen significant growth. Eastern Shore Centre, an open air regional shopping complex, opened on November 17, 2004. Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shops, J. C. Penney, and Kohl's, contributed to the municipality's substantial commercial development, despite having ongoing issues with vacancies.
History
The city of Spanish Fort is rich in history dating as far back as 1712 with the founding of Mobile by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville of France. Spanish Fort was originally the site of a trading post established by French-occupied Mobile. Following the French and Indian War, a large area on the Gulf Coast including the trading post was ceded to the British in 1763. During the Revolutionary War after the Spanish took Mobile and surrounding areas in the Battle of Fort Charlotte, a presidio or military fort was built on the site of the old trading post. This "Spanish Fort" was the site of a counterattack by British forces dispatched from Pensacola in 1781. The British were driven back and unsuccessful in recapturing the area. Following the War of 1812, Spanish Fort, as it was now commonly referred to, was officially property of the United States.
During the American Civil War, Spanish Fort was heavily fortified as an eastern defense to the city of Mobile. Fort Huger, Fort (Battery) Tracey, Fort (Battery) McDermott, Fort Alexis, Red Fort, and Old Spanish Fort were all part of the Mobile defenses in what is now Spanish Fort. After the Union victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Mobile nevertheless remained in Confederate hands. Union forces embarked on a land campaign in early 1865 to take Mobile from the east. Spanish Fort was the site of the Battle of Spanish Fort in the Mobile Campaign of the war. Its fall allowed Union forces to concentrate on Fort Blakeley to the north, and hence destroy the last organized resistance east of the Mississippi River. The falls of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley permitted Union troops to subsequently enter Mobile unopposed after the conclusion of the Civil War.
Education
Spanish Fort is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system. Two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school serve Spanish Fort.
Schools
Secondary schools
- Spanish Fort High School (9-12)
- Spanish Fort Middle School (6-8)
Elementary schools (both K-5)
- Spanish Fort Elementary School
- Rockwell Elementary School
See also
Notes
- ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 17, 2017.
- 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Spanish Fort city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
External links
- City of Spanish Fort official website
- Historic Blakeley State Park, north of the city
- 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center
Coordinates: 30°40′07″N 87°55′20″W / 30.668723°N 87.922179°W
