Spanish Fort, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Spanish Fort is a suburb of Mobile, Alabama in Baldwin County
, Alabama
, United States
, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay
. The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 5,423.
It is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan area
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²), of which, 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²) of it is land and 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it (42.23%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,423 people, 2,035 households, and 1,518 families residing in the city. The population density
was 844.2 people per square mile (326.1/km²). There were 2,164 housing units at an average density of 336.9 per square mile (130.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.64% White
, 4.37% Black
or African American
, 0.37% Native American
, 0.74% Asian
, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,035 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.1% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $56,699, and the median income for a family was $67,844. Males had a median income of $50,240 versus $30,273 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $27,081. About 2.7% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
, an open air regional shopping complex, opened on November 17, 2004. Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shop, JC Penney, and Kohl's
, contributed to the municipality's substantial commercial development, despite having ongoing issues with vacancies.
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 portion 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 Charlotte, a "presidio" or military fort was built on the site of the old trading post. This “Spanish Fort” was the site of a counter attack 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 American Civil War
. Its fall allowed Union forces to concentrate on Fort Blakeley to the north, and hence destroy the last organized resistance to northern occupation 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.
Middle schools
Elementary schools
Baldwin County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.7% White*9.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*4.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay
Mobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
. The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 5,423.
It is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan area
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan area
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Baldwin County, the largest county by area in Alabama, which is located in the Mobile Bay region. As of 2007, the population was 171,769...
.
Geography
Spanish Fort is located at 30°40'7.403" North, 87°55'19.844" West (30.668723, -87.922179).According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²), of which, 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²) of it is land and 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it (42.23%) is water.
2000 Census data
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,423 people, 2,035 households, and 1,518 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 844.2 people per square mile (326.1/km²). There were 2,164 housing units at an average density of 336.9 per square mile (130.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.64% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.37% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.37% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.74% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 2,035 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $56,699, and the median income for a family was $67,844. Males had a median income of $50,240 versus $30,273 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $27,081. About 2.7% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economic development
Since incorporating on July 19, 1993, Spanish Fort has seen significant growth. Eastern Shore CentreEastern Shore Centre
Eastern Shore Centre is a lifestyle center located in Spanish Fort, a suburb of Mobile, Alabama, at the intersection of Malbis Parkway and Interstate 10. A landscaped perimeter road, Eastern Shore Boulevard, connects the lifestyle and power center components of this hybrid regional center...
, an open air regional shopping complex, opened on November 17, 2004. Spanish Fort Town Center, anchored by Bass Pro Shop, JC Penney, and Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
, 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-Baptist BienvilleJean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienvillepronounce] was a colonizer, born in Montreal, Quebec and an early, repeated governor of French Louisiana, appointed 4 separate times during 1701-1743. He was a younger brother of explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville...
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 portion 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 Charlotte, a "presidio" or military fort was built on the site of the old trading post. This “Spanish Fort” was the site of a counter attack 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
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Spanish Fort was heavily fortified as an eastern defense to the city of Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. 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
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
, 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
Battle of Spanish Fort
The Battle of Spanish Fort took place from March 27 to April 8, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the Western Theater of the American Civil War....
in the Mobile Campaign of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Its fall allowed Union forces to concentrate on Fort Blakeley to the north, and hence destroy the last organized resistance to northern occupation 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
High schools- Spanish Fort High SchoolSpanish Fort High SchoolSpanish Fort High School is a high school in Spanish Fort, Alabama, United States founded in the 2005-2006 school year. It serves grades 9-12. The school is a part of the Baldwin County Public School System, in Alabama.-External links:*...
Middle schools
- Spanish Fort Middle School 6 - 8
Elementary schools
- Spanish Fort School (K-5)
- Rockwell Elementary School (K-5)