Upscale Community Living
South Alabama
Area Info
The character of South Alabama is largely determined by its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico: even the landlocked eastern three-quarters, cut off from the Gulf by the panhandle of Florida, is a region of gently-rising, sandy land drained by many winding, slow-moving streams. The area was not considered very good for agriculture, and so remained sparsely settled until late in the 19th century, by which time much of the native pine forest had been cut down. But the soil proved to be ideal for raising peanuts, and today the largest town in the region, Dothan, bills itself as the Peanut Capital of the World.
But it's the other corner of the region that is the best known: the area of Mobile Bay and the Gulf beaches. The city of Mobile was the first capital of French Louisiana, after its founding in 1702, and it shares much in common with the present state of Louisiana...including Mardi Gras. Mobile's first Mardi Gras "krewe" (a formally organized carnival club) dates to 1830--27 years before the first comparable organization in New Orleans.
Mobile shares much more in common with New Orleans, from its architecture (French, Spanish, and American) to its cuisine (heavily dependent on seafood) to its climate (hot and rainy in summer, but gloriously mild throughout most of the winter).
Articles
News from the Mobile Press-Register
Update: Veteran Mobile police officer resigns amid allegations of sexual contact with teen
Mar 13, 2010 1:57 am
A 20-year veteran of the Mobile Police Department has stepped down amid allegations that he had sex with a 16-year-old girl, authorities said Friday View full size...
Jakob Dylan, Neko Case added to Gulf Shores music festival lineup
Mar 13, 2010 1:12 am
GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Organizers of The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival announced several additions to the three-day event's musical lineup, including Jako...
Former Judge Herman Thomas appeals disbarments
Mar 12, 2010 11:34 pm
Alabama State Bar general counsel says there's a question about whether Thomas filed a "valid appeal." (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell) Herman Tho...
Alabama fugitive with 99 year, 99 month and 99 day sentence caught in Georgia
Mar 12, 2010 11:16 pm
GRIFFIN, Ga. -- Deputies in Georgia have arrested an escaped fugitive who was supposed to be serving 99 years, 99 months and 99 days in Alabama. View full sizeKe...
Traffic slows to a crawl along I-10 eastbound at the Wallace Tunnel
Mar 12, 2010 10:59 pm
MOBILE, Ala. -- It's not unusual and it's happened again: Traffic has slowed to a crawl on eastbound Interstate 10 at the Wallace Tunnel. View fu...
Mobile cop accused of improper sexual contact with female minor resigns
Mar 12, 2010 10:35 pm
MOBILE, Ala. -- The Mobile Police Department is investigating one of its officers for allegedly having inappropriate sexual contact with a female juvenile in 2009, accordin...
Tomorrow's forecast today for southwest Alabama
Mar 12, 2010 10:21 pm
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in low to mid-60s. Lows in the low to mid-40s. Chance of rain 10 percent, 20 percent for inland counties. This NOAA satellite image ...
Mar 12, 2010 9:59 pm
CLEBURNE, Texas -- An Auburn University instructor says he continues to look for clues in the 35-year-old disappearance of a relative, Vince Dooley to wear green for St. Pa...
Genital mutilation of 10-month-old baby girl charged against LaGrange, Ga. woman
Mar 12, 2010 9:48 pm
LAGRANGE, Ga. -- A 35-year-old LaGrange woman was charged with the female genital mutilation of her 10-month-old baby and second-degree cruelty to children a relative notic...
University of South Alabama Foundation wants to purchase USA's property at Brookley Field
Mar 12, 2010 8:48 pm
MOBILE, Ala. -- The University of South Alabama Foundation is interested in purchasing the university's facilities at Brookley Field as a way to channel promised ...
