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"A county older than the state," reads the official historical marker. Truly, the county was established in 1809 while still part of the Mississippi Territory. Alabama did not become a state until Dec. 14, 1819.
Ironically, the county was named for a Connecticut native who never saw Alabama. Abraham Baldwin graduated from Yale at the age of 17 with majors in theology and law. In 1784, after teaching for several years and then serving as chaplain and teacher in the Revolutionary War, Baldwin moved to Georgia to practice law.
That same year, he was elected to the state legislature and initiated progressive changes in Georgia. He helped to write the state charter and helped develop the concept of a complete state educational system which led to the founding of the University of Georgia - the first of the state universities. Baldwin was named the university's first president. During a long political career, he signed the Constitution and served in the U. S. House and Senate under George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. When Alabama became a territory, it was in deference to its many settler from Georgia that the county's name honored Abraham Baldwin.
An undercover scheme carried out in the dead of night is responsible for making Bay Minette the seat of Baldwin County. In early days the county seat was located, respectively, at McIntosh Bluff, Blakeley and Daphne. Later a legislative act stipulated a move to Bay Minette, but Daphne resisted.
The men of Bay Minette devised a scheme to lure the sheriff and deputy out of Daphne to solve a fake murder. While they were chasing the nonexistent killer, the Bay Minette men traveled the 30 miles to Daphne, stole the courthouse records, and took them to Bay Minette where the county seat remains to this day.
A healthy climate made Baldwin County one of the nation's first resort areas. Its mild winters and an average rainfall of 70 inches encourages growth and well-being in all living things. July temperatures average about 80 degrees, while January levels out at about 50 degrees. That translates into about six days per year that require a jacket. Overcoats are rarely seen, except in garage sales. Something is blooming every month of the year, and many trees stay green throughout the four seasons.
Over 100,000 people call Baldwin County home year-round, but their numbers are boosted by summer tourist and winter vacationers. The county's most popular cities are Daphne (which includes the beautiful residential community of Lake Forest), Bay Minette, Fairhope, and Foley. Little more than half the population live in rural areas. Nearly 59 percent are between the ages of 18 and 64; about 26 percent are under 18; and 15 percent are age 65 and older.
Access to Baldwin County extends east and west through U. S. Highway 98 and Interstate 10 on the north, Interstate 65 from Montgomery leads to State Route 59 in Bay Minette, which runs the length of Baldwin to the coast. Other major thoroughfares include U. S. Highways 31 and 90 and State Routes 225, 104 and 182.
Passenger and freight service is available by Greyhound-Trailways Bus Lines. More than 55 carriers and one major rail company serve the county. Nine municipal or private airports within the county are supplemented by major metropolitan airports in Mobile and Pensacola. Water transportation from the Port of Mobile permits barge navigation as far north as Birmingham. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway connects the Port of Mobile with more than 160,000 miles of inland rivers serving the Midwest and East Coast. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway provides additional water transportation, extending 1,100 miles along the lower end of Mobile Bay and throughout the Gulf Coast. Access to the Gulf of Mexico is available on the west through Mobile Bay and on the east through Perdido Bay.
Located on the shores of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Baldwin County is bordered on the west by Mobile County, on the northeast by Escambia County, Alabama, and on the east by Escambia County, Florida.
Baldwin County's government is headquartered in the county seat, Bay Minette. The county's 11 municipalities are operated under the mayor/council or city manager and council form of government.
The county is governed by a seven-member commission elected by district for four year terms. Each commissioner must reside in the district he or she represents.
Baldwin County United, an action-oriented civic organization comprised of 100 civic and governmental leaders, seeks to unite people from different backgrounds and localities to solve community problems concerning health, education, government, economic development, environment, recreation and culture.
BCU represents just one of the many ways Baldwin County residents express pride in their community by continually working to improve it. An unusually high rate activism sets Baldwin County dwellers apart.
Pitch a tent on the banks of a clear-running stream deep within a pristine forest. Wiggle your toes in the world's softest and whitest sand while Gulf waters eddy around your ankles. Hunt white-tailed deer or quail in the uplands. Sample fine wines at Alabama's largest winery, Perdido Vineyards. Taste homemade cheese varieties from Cajun to chocolate at Alabama's only licensed cheese farm, Sweet Home Farms in Elberta. Munch delectable candies and preserves from old family recipes at Punta Clara Kitchen and family museum. Step back in time to the largest Indian massacre at Fort Mims, where the death toll exceeded that of General Custer's forces at Little Big Horn.
Charter a boat, watch professional theater, shop at one of the largest factory outlets in the South, play golf or tennis, ride a horse along the beach, build a sandcastle, or canoe a winding stream. In fact, do just about anything that rates the definition "fun" without requiring snow and ice. The unequaled recreational opportunities available in this vast, culturally diverse county are a main reason more people are coming home to Baldwin County.
Located in Lillian is the Perdido Bay Campground Resort, a KOA affiliate that provides just about everything you would want to do at a campground.
There are air conditioned cabins, a tent area, recreation and game room plenty of outdoor sports facilities including shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, a pool, and a boating and fishing pier.
The campground in open year-round and offers reasonable rates. The Perdido Bay Campground Resort's motto is "Camp where the Sapniards did under 200-year old oaks on historic Perdido Bay.
At the smack of a mallet and ball, polo ponies thunder across a manicured green under a Kodachrome sky. Champagne glasses clink and cheers break forth along the sidelines. Moments later golden October light bathers the field as Great Britain's Polo Team - led by Maj. Ronald Ferguson, father of the Duchess of York - concedes defeat to the Point Clear Polo Team. This is Baldwin County on a Sunday afternoon.
Just 50 miles south, a four-day blitz of art, culture and seafood sampling winds down at the Annual Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores. Thousands of people have come from neighboring states to enjoy jazz, gospel, Cajun, and steel drum music. Native American dancers, cloggers and outstanding modern dance troupes have shared the stage with dozens of other performers. Visual art of every medium, hot air balloons, and a sailing regatta provide colorful backdrops for the throngs who stroll the beaches lined with concessionaires of succulent seafood. This is Baldwin County on the same Sunday afternoon.
A highway hamburger stand in Robertsdale looks like any other fast-food restaurant until you spot the rack of personal coffee mugs behind the counter, indicating this is more to the residents than a grab and gulp stop. At one table, three prosperous-looking farmers reminisce about their childhoods a half-century ago. Conversation lags at the other tables as residents and strangers eavesdrop on vignettes of long-ago marble games when lunches were toted to school in lard cans. The audience brings out the best in the storytellers who scoot their chairs around for better eye contact. Before long the scene resembles an old country store without the pot-bellied stove or pickle barrels. Florescent lights, air conditioning and modern decor do not inhibit the old-time camaraderie developing among the patrons. It's still Baldwin County on the same Sunday afternoon.
The diversity of lifestyles in Baldwin County defies all stereotypes. There is, quite simply, no other place like it. At 110 miles long and an average 20 miles wide, Baldwin County is one of the largest U. S. counties east of the Mississippi River. Within its boundaries the landscape changes from a glittering Gulf Coast of sparkling water and snow white beaches into a rolling farmland and deep forest threaded by fresh water creeks to numerous to have names. Perhaps the landscapes set the tone for living, because every lifestyle is available to county residents except the harried rat race of the big city. Creativity flourishes amid countless performing and visual art groups. Vast spaces of undeveloped land are still available for those who want to raise livestock or agricultural crops. The laid-back atmosphere of the Gulf Coast invites new residents and new businesses to serve the increasing demand of tourists. Friendly small towns and unincorporated communities are scattered throughout the county, ready to welcome newcomers into their schools, civic clubs and churches.
First or second careers are waiting for people who have always wanted to develop a tennis resort, manage a fish camp, own a pecan grove, work on a charter boat, start a desk-top publishing company, set up a manufacturing or distribution company, market a new invention, plan an upscale retirement community, or relocate a construction company to a place where mild winters allow year-round building. Opportunities in Baldwin County are limited only by your imagination.
France, Italy, Greece, Germany, Yugoslavia, Russia, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and a dozen other countries have contributed to the county's ancestry, making it a thoroughly American melting pot of fine people. Working together in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and fishing to make their county prosper, they possess an attitude of perseverance and goodwill that is unique. Museums, parks, historical landmarks and annual festivals pay tribute to their heritage.
Affordable real estate and some of the lowest property taxes in the nation help young families and retirees choose Baldwin County for their new homes. From undeveloped wilderness to totally maintained resort developments, there is property available in Baldwin County for every taste and pocketbook
Listen... to the satisfying "plop" of a sinker dropping into the dawn-colored water of a backwoods fishing hole. Or the splash of hooves galloping through the surf. Or the creak of the mast as a fresh breeze fills the sails on your catamaran. Feel... the pull of that big snapper, the last catch of the day before the chartered boat heads toward shore for the night... or the cool shade within a historic fort, just as welcome today as it was for Civil War soldiers stationed there. Smell... the sharp, green cypress fragrance of ancient forests; a fisherman's tarred nets drying in the hot sun; a faint scent of lavender in Victorian linens at an antique shop. See... a glamorous midway under the stars; or alligators, sea turtles and exotic birds in protected natural habitats. Recreation in Baldwin County awakens all the senses with a variety of choices unmatched anywhere.
Whatever your pleasure, Baldwin County has it all. Exclusive clubs and late-night, big-city entertainment share the stage with water sports, amusement parks, championship golf, tennis courts and just about any activity except those requiring snow. The variety of recreational options rates high with the many people choosing this area for retirement.
Baldwin County has always been a fisherman's paradise. Numerous rivers, bayous and lakes teem with bass, catfish, perch and other tasty freshwater fish. Redfish, flounder, sheepshead, pompano and other saltwater catches attract anglers to Mobile Bay and Perdido Bay.
The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Charter Fleet, located at Orange Beach, offers more than 50 boats licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard. Experienced captains will arrange half-day, full-day or longer trips . The majority of the boats are equipped with modern electronic fish-finding equipment. All the boats supply tackle, bait and ice. You bring only food and drink
Ancient cypress and pines provide habitat for countless birds and animals native to the coastal region on this 4,000-acre preserve west of Gulf Shores. Bird watchers and other nature lovers ramble miles of nature trails far removed from the bustle of civilization. Great blue herons, giant sea turtles, and alligators are among the natives who call Bon Secour home.
Happy trails abound on Pleasure Island. Gentle mounts are available for a romantic romp through the surf or family trail ride through the Alabama countryside. Reservations are recommended, but you can also check on same-day availability for a spur-of-the-moment gallop.
The Point Clear Polo Club sponsors match play throughout the year, with an annual challenge against a British team.
Waterville, U. S. A.
Splash down for fun in Gulf Shores at this 17-acre family fun park whose motto is "the wetter, the better." The surf is always up at the 500,000-gallon wave pool with 3-foot waves. Five different body slides provide more than one-quarter mile of wet thrills. The Raging River is a white-water tube trip, while the Gulf Stream appeals to those who prefer a float down by a lazy river. More than 80 lifeguards assure your family's safety. A specially designed activity area, Sanfles Island, provides hours of supervised fun for small ones. Landlubbers enjoy the lounge areas, gift shops, gameroom and snack bar.
Located on Route 59 - Waterville, U. S. A. adjoins two beautifully landscaped miniature gold courses at Waterville Golf and Games.
It's a wild world at Zooland on Route 59, one-half mile north of Waterville, U. S. A. Exotic and native animals live peacefully in their natural exhibits. Allow at least one afternoon to enjoy the beautiful nature walks, petting zoo, tropical bird aviary, and more within the lush unspoiled environment.
Adventure golf is the name of the game at this 18-hole fun stop on Route 59 just north of the Intracoastal Waterway. The course winds among tropical palm trees, brilliant flowers, caves, lagoons, boats and two waterfalls. Special rates are available for groups.
Golfing on the Gulf Coast is as popular as surf and sand sports. It's no wonder, when balmy winters and long summer evenings allow many more golfing hours per year. Stunning courses designed by the top names in Baldwin County, many of which have entire communities built around them for those residents who consider golf a lifestyle.
For more than a quarter of a century the Gulf Shores Golf Club has attracted fans to the heart of Gulf Shores. Arnold Palmer considers his Cotten Creek Course at Craft Farms among the finest of the more than 100 courses he has designed. Lakeview Country Club's newest course was designed by Von Hagge and Devlin, famous gold course architects. Gulf State Park contains some of Alabama's most beautiful greens tacked within its nature reserve and shoreline. The Grand Hotel at Point Clear hosts numerous tournaments each year. Holly Hills Country Club in Bay Minette features nine holes set within a magnificent stand of wild dogwoods and stately pines.
Just east of Gulf Shores is a one-stop vacation spot with 6,000 acres of magnificent wilderness, 468 camping sites, two freshwater lakes, lakeside cabins, an 825-foot public pier, a beachfront lodge, a convention center, and a championship gold course. It's no wonder that two million people visit Gulf State Park each year.
Awesome in size, monumental in America's history, the USS Alabama dominates Battleship Park at the mouth of Mobile Bay. Star performer in many fierce battles of World War II, the 35,000-ton vessel seems ready to lift anchor and get underway at any moment. The 680-foot ship stands as a memorial to the courageous seamen who served on her decks, 2,500 at a time. Today more than 300,000 visitors annually explore her from bow to stern.
Although the battleship is the main attraction at the park, it is not the only site to see at the facility. The USS Drum offers visitors an inside view of a 311-foot submarine. Many aircraft - from all branches of the military - are on display, including the Marine "Corsair" which was know as "whistling death" to the Japanese in World War II. More contemporary displays include the "Calamity Jane," a gigantic B-52 bomber used in Vietnam. The park is open daily except for Christmas.
Shop til you drop is more than a slogan at this new factory outlet center featuring more than 80 top-of-the-line, factory-direct stores. Savings up to 75 percent off regular retail attract shoppers from far and wide who scoop up everything from home furnishings to the latest fashions. Gulf Coast architecture amid beautifully landscaped grounds makes this unusual shopping center a visual treat as well as a thrifty shopping stop. Open seven days a week on Route 59 in Foley.
Premium wines from native Scuppernong grapes and Alabama apples are featured at Alabama's largest winery. Approximately 80,000 gallons are produced annually at the vineyard located northeast of Bay Minette off Interstate 65. Tours include complimentary tasting.
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