mobile alabama mobile french pronunciation county seat alabama united_states population city limits united states census making populous city alabama populous largest municipality gulf_coast new_orleans louisiana florida alabama port mobile located head mobile bay north central gulf_coast port mobile played key role economic health city beginning city key trading center french native americans current role 12th largest port united_states mobile principal municipality region residents composed solely largest metropolitan statistical area state mobile largest city mobile total population second largest state population mile radius mobile mobile began capital colonial french louisiana years mobile colony france britain lastly spain mobile united_states_of_america annexation president alabama joined surrendered gulf_coast cultural centers mobile art museums symphony orchestra professional opera professional ballet company large concentration historic architecture mobile known having oldest organized carnival celebrations united_states festival began celebrated decade 18th century french catholic colonial settlers mobile host formally organized carnival mystic society known celebrate parade united_states beginning integrated mystic society parade etymology city gained mobile tribe french colonists encountered living area mobile bay debated alabama historians descendants native american tribe small fortress town conceal thousand native warriors attack expedition spanish explorer mobile tribe obtained permission colonists seven years founding mobile settlement settle near fort history colonial european settlement mobile began french colonists constructed fort louis seven mile bluff capital french colony founded french canadian brothers establish control france louisiana claims appointed royal governor french louisiana mobile roman catholic parish established july parish french catholic parish established gulf_coast united_states ship delivered french women colony passengers contracted yellow fever stop havana girls recovered numerous colonists neighboring native americans contracted disease turn died early period occasion african slaves transported aboard french supply ship caribbean population colony fluctuated years growing persons descending persons years later disease additional disease series floods resulted ordering relocation settlement miles present location confluence new earth constructed new site time appointed administration colony population reached persons capital moved leaving mobile serve regional military trading center construction new brick fort stone foundation began renamed honor prince treaty paris signed ending seven years war britain won defeating france treaty france ceded territories east mississippi_river britain area expanded british west florida colony british changed fort charlotte wife queen king british eager lose useful inhabitants promised religious tolerance french colonists ultimately french colonists remained mobile permanent jewish settlers came mobile result new british rule religious tolerance jews allowed officially reside colonial french louisiana decree passed france king forbade exercise religion roman catholicism ordered jews france colonies colonial era jews mobile merchants traders jewish communities savannah georgia charleston south_carolina added commercial development mobile total population estimated town borders smaller french colonial period american revolutionary war mobile refuge loyalists fleeing colonies british dealing rebellious colonists atlantic coast spanish entered war ally france took opportunity order governor louisiana expedition east retake captured mobile campaign spanish wished eliminate british threat louisiana colony west mississippi_river received france treaty paris actions american colonies partially evidenced presence representative strong trade ties residents mobile west florida remained loyal spanish renamed fort held mobile spanish west florida seized united_states general war 19th century time mobile included population roughly people city included alabama territory mississippi gained alabama granted mobile population increased time river frontage areas alabama mississippi settled developed cotton plantation economy use slave labor mobile population exploded came settled attorneys cotton factors doctors merchants professionals seeking capitalize trade areas mobile situated trade location tied river system served principal navigational access alabama large mississippi city population 1830s onward mobile expanded city commerce primary focus cotton slave trades slaves transported ship slave trade businesses city related slave trade people clothes food supplies slave traders city businesses attracted merchants north population new_york_city deeply involved cotton industry mobile slave trading center state 1850s surpassed montgomery prosperity stimulated building boom underway building elaborate structures city seen point cut short yellow fever waterfront developed terminal facilities brick warehouses exports cotton grew proportion amounts produced mobile second new_orleans cotton exports nation economy focused crop mobile fortunes tied cotton city financial crises mobile owned relatively slaves compared plantation areas households domestic slaves slaves worked waterfront slaves enter united_states african trade brought mobile slave ship 1920s survivor slave trade jewish families lived mobile including attorney charleston south_carolina elected united_states congress early jewish families descendants jews earliest colonial settlers charleston savannah mobile population city limits reached people 27th largest city united_states 4th largest soon free population including city consisted citizens free people color additionally slave owners county held people quarter total county population people american civil war mobile confederate city submarine sink enemy ship built mobile famous naval engagements war resulting union taking control mobile bay august april days surrender city surrendered union army avoid destruction union victories nearby spanish fort city suffered great loss people died result explosion federal ammunition depot street explosion left foot deep hole depot location sank ships docked resulting fires destroyed northern portion city mobile began civil war effectively ended local democrats gained control city government quarter 19th century time economic depression municipal mobile example provided value mobile exports period depression value exports leaving city fell million million 20th century turn 20th century brought mobile economic structure developed new industries generating new jobs attracting significant increase population population increased time city received million federal grants harbor improvements shipping channels world war manufacturing increasingly vital mobile economic health steel production important industries time social justice race relations mobile worsened state passed new constitution blacks poor whites white democratic dominated legislature passed legislation city government passed mobile racial segregation ordinance city informal practice enforced convention mobile african american population responded month boycott law repealed mobile facto segregation increasingly replaced segregation whites imposed laws maintain supremacy city adopted commission form government members elected large voting considered progressive reduce power ward bosses change resulted elite white majority strengthening power majority gain election large candidates addition poor whites blacks mobile cities retain form government prevented smaller groups candidates choice alabama white historically favored single member districts order elect candidates choice red imported fire introduced united_states port mobile late 1930s came ashore cargo ships arriving south_america ants carried soil ballast ships spread south southwest world war defense buildup mobile shipyards resulted considerable increase city white middle class working class population largely massive influx workers coming work shipyards people moved mobile work war effort industries mobile eighteen united_states cities producing liberty ships supported war effort producing ships faster axis powers sink number subsidiary focused building class destroyers rapid increase population city produced crowded conditions increasing social tensions competition housing good jobs race riot broke whites blacks management long maintained segregated conditions shipyards roosevelt administration ordered defense contractors integrate facilities year promoted blacks positions previously reserved whites whites objected change rioting mayor appealed governor national_guard restore order weeks officials allowed african americans return work keeping away safety late 1940s transition postwar economy hard city thousands jobs lost shipyards decline defense industry eventually city social structure began liberal replacing primary economic force paper chemical industries began expand longer needed defense old military bases converted civilian uses following war african americans served veterans supporters stepped activism gain enforcement constitutional rights social justice especially jim crow south 1950s city mobile integrated police force accepted students races unlike rest state early 1960s city buses lunch voluntarily alabama legislature passed cater act allowing cities counties set industrial development boards issue municipal bonds incentives attract new industry local areas city mobile establish board mobile republican mayor reconstruction driving force founding believing members better qualified attract new businesses industry area considered new rival years political emerged victorious prompted attracting new industry chamber effectively shut mobile city government economic development decisions african american students brought case denied admission nearly decade ruled brown segregation public schools unconstitutional federal district court ordered students admitted murphy school year leading school system gained congressional passage civil rights act voting rights act eventually ending legal segregation regaining effective suffrage african americans whites state way reduce african americans voting power maintaining city commission form government large voting resulted positions elected white majority african americans command majority candidates informally segregated city closed dealing mobile economy severe blow closing resulted unemployment rate city factors related industrial restructuring period economic depression lasted 1970s loss jobs created numerous problems resulted loss population residents moved away work mobile city commission form government challenged finally overturned city mobile district court finding city adopted commission form government large positions intent court proposed members city commission elected single member districts likely ending division executive functions mobile state legislative delegation finally enacted mayor council form government seven members elected single member districts approved voters white conservatives increasingly entered republican_party late 20th century african american residents city elected members democratic_party candidates choice change single member districts women african americans elected council large system beginning late 1980s newly elected mayor city council began effort termed string initiative mobile competitive city city initiated construction numerous new facilities projects restoration hundreds historic downtown buildings homes city county leaders efforts attract new business ventures area geography climate geography mobile located southwestern corner state alabama according city total area square miles km2 square miles km2 land square miles km2 total covered water elevation mobile ranges feet water street downtown feet mobile regional airport neighborhoods mobile number notable historic neighborhoods include church street east lower street old way climate mobile geographical location gulf_of_mexico provides mild subtropical climate hot humid summers mild rainy winters record low temperature set february record high set august study determined mobile city states inches average annual rainfall year period mobile averages days year inches rain snow rare mobile snowfall january mobile occasionally affected major tropical storms hurricanes city suffered major natural disaster night september hurricane passed heart city storm caused tremendous damage mobile surrounding area mobile moderate damage hurricane october hurricane september mobile suffered millions dollars damage hurricane katrina august damaged gulf_coast cities storm surge feet topped higher waves damaged eastern sections city extensive flooding downtown battleship parkway elevated jubilee parkway seen photograph covered stairs entrance located blocks waterfront christmas day tornado late december city suffered tornado hits december large wedge tornado touched city tornado rapidly intensified moved north northeast speeds mph path took tornado causing damage destruction structures heaviest damage houses street street old shell road avenue addition residential structures tornado caused significant damage commercial real estate airport boulevard government street loop neighborhood avenue temple moving neighboring city tornado classified tornado national_weather_service december path taken city short distance east path taken days earlier december tornado touched near taken path ending initial damage estimates ranged million culture mobile french spanish colonial history given culture distinguished french spanish african catholic heritage addition later british american influences distinguished cities state alabama annual carnival celebration best example differences mobile birthplace celebration united_states oldest celebration dating early 18th century french colonial period carnival mobile evolved course years beginning french catholic tradition mainstream multi week celebration today bridges spectrum cultures mobile official cultural ambassadors trail meant ideals southern carnival carnival season expanded late fall winter balls city scheduled early november beginning january twelfth day christmas january carnival celebrations end midnight feast related timing day ash wednesday beginning lent day season easter mobile locals use term refer entire carnival season carnival season mystic societies build colorful parade downtown masked society members toss small gifts known throws parade spectators mystic societies essence exclusive private clubs formal balls usually invitation oriented adults carnival celebrated mobile colonial french catholic settlers carried traditional celebration old mobile site prior relocation city current site mobile carnival society established celebrations relatively small consisted local private parties early 19th century mobile formally organized masked mystic society united_states celebrate parade got start cotton factor pennsylvania began parade introduced horse drawn parade entitled gods formed oldest surviving mystic society united_states carnival celebrations mobile canceled american civil war revived city streets fat tuesday fictional chief named celebrated day occupying union_army troops mobile celebrated represented city mystic societies founded explorers integrated society parade downtown mobile society members men women races addition parade ball hold parties year members perform volunteer work featured award winning documentary order myths mobile archives libraries features history african american participation authentic artifacts era slavery portraits biographies famous african americans houses primary source material relating history mobile southern alabama university history archives located ground floor open general public contains extant records dating city creation municipality majority original records mobile colonial history spanning years housed paris london madrid located complex features manuscripts published materials available use research system serves mobile consists branches large local history division housed facility newly restored enlarged ben main library government street contains primary sources artifacts documents photographs publications history catholic history city history roman_catholic_church arts entertainment features permanent exhibits span centuries art culture museum expanded approximately square feet permanent exhibits include african asian collection gallery american art american fine art contemporary works centre living arts organization operates historic contemporary art gallery opened movie palace today performing arts center serves small concert venue city home conducted space gallery studio initially housed adjacent moved space building donated centre relocation new modern facility underwent million renovation redesign prior opening contains facilities roof building arena theater exposition hall primary concert venue city hosts wide variety events home mobile ballet year old averages attendees performance wide variety events held mobile contains exhibit hall grand ballroom sixteen meeting rooms city hosts annual day music festival live musical acts multiple stages spread downtown event attended people generated excess million city economy season nonprofit community theatre served city member speech mobile host alabama oldest continually running community theatre group named honor famous comedic actor spend teenage years mobile players debuted production december sunny theater mobile home children theater fun group began summer camps expanded year round facility recently moved community drama music art photography dance teachers group produced broadway shows including miracle 34th street fame umbrella organization arts mobile founded project mission increase cooperation artistic cultural organizations area provide forum problems art music theater literature tourism museums mobile home variety museums battleship memorial park military park shore mobile bay features world war era battleship uss alabama world war era submarine uss drum korean war vietnam war memorials variety historical military equipment showcases plus years mobile history housed historic old city hall features house museums attempt interpret lives people strata 19th century society mobile enslaved working class upper class housing city history memorabilia documents variety costumes displays seen history festival season mitchell mansion historic furnished house museums fort morgan figure predominantly local american civil war history housed historic french colonial style features artifacts resources chronicle long history medicine mobile located restored building features history fire companies mobile organization features exhibits chronicle history law enforcement mobile non profit science center located downtown features permanent traveling exhibits dome theater digital virtual theater hands chemistry laboratory located south city near mouth mobile bay houses illustrates habitats mobile bay ecosystem river delta bay barrier islands gulf_of_mexico parks attractions mobile botanical gardens feature variety flora spread acres contains native acre gardens home located acre botanical garden historic square foot mansion dates 1930s rivers delta resource center facility allows visitors learn access mobile middle spanish rivers established serve easily accessible gateway mobile river delta addition offering boat adventure tours contains small theater exhibit hall meeting facilities walking trails canoe landing mobile public parks limits special note square historic park assumed current form named mobile founder principal gathering place citizens city remains popular today cathedral square block performing arts park lower street historic district overlooked conception fort reconstruction city original fort built original fort serves official welcome center colonial era living history museum spanish plaza downtown park honors spanish phase city features arches friendship fountain presented mobile city spain largest parks acres features lakes natural spaces contains park historic architecture mobile architectural examples cottage later architectural styles found city include victorian types shotgun types spanish city currently major historic districts old way garden lower street church street east mobile number historic structures city including numerous churches private homes mobile historic churches include christ conception roman_catholic_church saint francis catholic church chapel chapel historic churches campus historic roman catholic survive convent historic school building local landmark government street surviving examples cottages city restored hospital buildings civil war fire station built example style built successful 19th century african american good example queen anne style scottish rite temple surviving example egyptian revival architecture city mobile example style city historic established shortly colonial era replaced colonial trace remains contains ground tombs monuments spread acres founded height yellow fever nearby acre established served mobile primary burial site 19th early 20th centuries approximately features tombs carved monuments statues established mobile covers acres contains plots poor sisters charity sisters mercy addition historically significant mobile jewish community dates 1820s city historic jewish older demographics united states census determined people residing city limits mobile mobile center alabama second largest metropolitan area consists estimated population census indicated households children age living married couples living female husband present male wife present non families households individuals living years age older racial makeup city black african american white native american asian pacific races races population latino population average household size average family size estimated sex couple households comprised households age distribution population consisted age years median age years male population female population median income household city capita income city government government mobile consisted mayor seven member city council mayor elected large council members elected seven city council single member districts votes required conduct council business form city government chosen voters previous form government city commissioners elected large ruled substantially minority vote violate voting rights act case city mobile appeals case took time reach settlement establishment new electoral system municipal elections held years mayor elected new system single member district voting served second term mayor term old system defeated outlaw election went serve mayor terms string initiative series projects designed stimulate redevelopment city core credited reviving downtown mobile retirement endorsed successor elected african american mayor mobile elected second term opposition administration continued focus downtown redevelopment bringing industries city ran term beaten took office november november seven member city council district district education public facilities public schools mobile operated enrollment students employs approximately public school employees budget operates mobile boards advanced alabama high school students founded identify challenge educate future leaders private facilities mobile large number private schools nature belong mobile private catholic institutions include little pure heart notable private protestant institutions include independent educational preparatory school assumed current configuration founded merged form primary secondary major colleges universities mobile schools include undergraduate public doctoral level university established university composed doctor program college nursing special programs year private church christ affiliated university based montgomery alabama mobile campus established offers bachelor degrees offers associate degrees legal studies arts science chartered catholic college southeastern united_states oldest jesuit college country year private college offers graduate programs nursing theological studies undergraduate divisions programs include nursing philosophy theology political science year private baptist affiliated university neighboring city founded consists community college founded public historically african american community college campuses mobile offers wide array associate degrees post secondary type institutions campus mobile include beauty culture white sons barber college healthcare mobile serves central gulf_coast regional center medicine physicians major medical centers city limits beds largest nonprofit hospital state founded beds founded maryland beds roots old city owned associated medical school teaching hospital mobile level trauma center regional burn center beds founded mobile profit facility additionally operates beds dedicated exclusively care women minors opened center home academic cancer research center central gulf_coast region operated acute care beds closed facility end october declining revenues beds psychiatric hospital city houses residential unit children acute unit children age segregated hospital unit adults undergoing evaluation ordered city broad array surgical centers emergency home health care services assisted living facilities skilled nursing facilities economy steel ship building retail services construction medicine manufacturing mobile major industries experiencing economic decline decades mobile economy began rebound late 1980s roughly new jobs created new companies founded existing companies expanded defunct companies founded based mobile included current companies based city include morrison addition discussed currently headquartered mobile major industry port mobile mobile underwent largest expansion history expanding container processing storage facility increasing container storage docks cost million positioning mobile rapid container processing growth despite expansion container capabilities addition massive new cranes port went 9th largest 12th largest nation shipyards began major comeback mobile founding subsidiary australian company expanded production facility united_states defense commercial aluminum announced october winning new defense contract completing square feet building complex island expand workforce workers employees atlantic marine operated major shipyard site acquired british defense million business company continues operate site service shipyard employing approximately workers plans expand industrial complex airport located miles south central business district city currently largest industrial transportation complex region companies spread acres notable employers include facilities mobile regional airport mobile division plans family aircraft assembly plant mobile formally announced ceo mobile convention center july plans include million factory assembly aircraft planned employ roughly time workers fully operational construction scheduled begin producing aircraft year assembly plant company factory built united_states announced february hired alabama based construction oversee construction facility german technology broke ground billion combined carbon steel processing facility miles north mobile originally projected eventually employ people facility operational july company carbon mill steel slab making unit rio_de_janeiro sale citing rising production costs worldwide decrease demand steel division including portion plant sold finnish steel company employers according mobile comprehensive annual financial report employers city unemployment rate unemployment rate adjusted july compared rate alabama entire nation transportation air local airline passengers served mobile regional airport direct connections major hub airports served service dallas fort worth international airport service service mobile downtown airport serves corporate cargo private aircraft rail mobile served class railroads including csx alabama class iii railroad links mobile mississippi converge port mobile provides freight transport service companies engaged railroads include railway rail ship service veracruz switching railroad city served amtrak passenger train service service suspended effects hurricane katrina roadways major interstate highways spur converge mobile interstate runs northeast southwest city interstate starts mobile interstate runs north interstate connects interstate north city joins interstate downtown mobile mobile served major highway systems united_states highways mobile traveling east west north mobile routes east mobile bay neighboring alabama interstate leaves downtown george wallace tunnel river bay jubilee parkway spanish fort leaves downtown river bay battleship parkway alabama travels usa bridge north downtown routed mobile public transportation features buses fixed routes neighborhood service public transportation bus service provided cooperation provides service eastern downtown mobile operates monday friday lines provides bus service mobile locations united_states mobile served taxi services water port mobile public direct access miles inland waterways serving great lakes ohio tennessee river valleys tennessee gulf_of_mexico owns operates public port mobile public handle bulk roll roll heavy lift port home private bulk terminal operators number highly specialized repair companies largest floating dry docks gulf_coast city home port cruise ships cruise ship port home holiday left city november larger newer ship place carnival fantasy operated mobile arrived early carnival announced despite fully booked cruises company cease operations mobile october cessation cruise service left city annual debt service million dollars related terminal longer operates city towed port following engine room fire largest cruise ship dock cruise terminal mobile later eclipsed carnival conquest docked mobile port new temporarily closed larger commercial ships routinely arrive port mobile media print mobile alabama oldest active newspaper published paper focuses mobile baldwin counties city mobile serves southwestern alabama southeastern mississippi mobile alternative newspaper mobile area local magazine mobile bay monthly mobile beacon alternative focusing african american communities mobile website focus living mobile television mobile served locally number air television stations include cbs fox nbc religious religious pbs region served wear abc pbs religious independent america jewelry television independent pensacola florida area mobile mobile pensacola fort designated market area defined nielsen_media_research ranked 61st nation television season radio fourteen radio stations transmit mobile radio stations transmit mobile content ranges hip hop ranks mobile radio market united_states autumn sports football mobile home football stadium opened current capacity stadium fourth largest stadium state stadium home featuring best college seniors ncaa football bowl originally known mobile alabama bowl later bowl played stadium features opponents sun belt mid american conferences hosted graduating high school seniors respective states compete june mobile established football team went undefeated inaugural season program member currently plays baseball mobile hank aaron stadium home minor league baseball team south alabama baseball proud tradition producing professional stars basketball basketball respected mid major regularly competing sun belt conference championship play home games mitchell center sports facilities public includes courts hard court holes falls course recently named best par course america played annually mobile bay classic took place held mobile mobile home trail run races historic downtown mobile run annual event trail run premier road races united_states attracting runners world sister cities mobile registered sister city arrangements following cities
Mobile, Alabama