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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
Judge grants probation to doctor who was key prosecution witness at steroids trial
Mar 19, 2010 4:25 pm
A South Carolina doctor whose testimony was crucial in the prosecution of owners of a Mobile pharmacy that supplied thousands of dosages of steroids will not have to spend ...
Mar 19, 2010 3:19 pm
Carbon Hill, Ala., officials look to change civic center rental rules after a "free-for-all" party, a Hyundai supplier breaks ground today, a first-grader is foun...
Baldwin County reopens county road 32
Mar 19, 2010 3:03 pm
Baldwin County Highway Department officials have announced the reopening of Baldwin County 32 between Harry Jones Road and Dry Branch Road. Baldwin County Highway...
Alabama, Florida compete to build Gulf of Mexico's longest pier
Mar 19, 2010 2:30 pm
When it opens in May, the Navarre Beach pier will reach 1,545 feet into the Gulf. That will be about 5 feet longer than the $16.2 million pier the Alabama Department of Co...
Robertsdale approves cost of living raises
Mar 19, 2010 2:08 pm
ROBERTSDALE, Ala. -- While city revenue is less than expected, spending cuts have kept the budget in line enough to allow municipal employees to get a cost-of-living raise,...
Cardboard City to raise money for Baldwin homeless program
Mar 19, 2010 2:02 pm
FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- Young people in church groups from around Baldwin County will bed down on the ground in cardboard shelters Friday to get a sense of what a growing number ...
Arts & Crafts time in Fairhope
Mar 19, 2010 2:00 pm
FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- One of the first sure signs of spring, for many people on the Eastern Shore, is a sudden invasion of Fairhope by hundreds of white tents containing artist...
Mobile school budget cuts could cost 350 teachers their jobs
Mar 19, 2010 1:30 pm
The Mobile County school board on Thursday got its first glimpse of what a third year of budget cuts could look like -- about 350 fewer teachers; 120 fewer central office e...
EADS wants time to prepare Air Force tanker bid
Mar 19, 2010 1:22 pm
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. edged closer to a decision to challenge Boeing Co. for the U.S. Air Force tanker contract, saying in a statement this morning ...
Mississippi attorney general's opinion sought on South Alabama-MGCCC deal
Mar 19, 2010 12:45 pm
A Mississippi attorney general's opinion will be sought on the agreement that would allow the University of South Alabama to operate a satellite campus on the Miss...
