Area Info

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are  seaside resorts in Alabama. Both Cities are devoted to beachfront hotels, condominiums, vacation houses and a tourism/real estate based economy. Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and nearby Perdido Key, FL have large beaches, fronting the Gulf of Mexico between New Orleans, Louisiana and Florida. Orange Beach offers direct access to the Gulf of Mexico for vessels, via Perdido Pass. The greater area is home to a large charter fishing fleet. Gulf Shores is served by Jack Edwards Airport, which is located on the north side of town.

Unincorporated Ft. Morgan, the City of Gulf Shores and the City of Orange Beach are contiguous from west to east. The Intracoastal Waterway forms a canal starting at Mobile Bay to the west, and cuts through to the east, into Wolf Bay. The beach from Ft. Morgan to Perdido Pass is about 30 miles (48 km) long. From there, a bridge connects Orange Beach  which continues to the Florida state line and onto Perdido Key. If you were to continue travelling east you would reach Pensacola, FL.

The Alabama Gulf Coast beach is known for its bright, “sugar white” quartz sand. Although quite abrasive to CDs, sunglasses etc., it is powdery, soft and comfortable to the feet. The Gulf of Mexico waters along the beachfront tend to have an emerald green tint due to the proximity of the Mobile Bay estuary to the west, where the Mobile river meets the Gulf of Mexico. The prevailing west to east current along the beach brings suspended silt from the Mobile river delta toward the Florida panhandle, giving the water its green tint.

Orange Beach is located at 30°17’29.411″ North, 87°33’43.146″ West (30.291503, -87.561985).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 10.4 square miles (26.9 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (8.69%) is water.

Demographics

2000 Census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,784 people, 1,779 households, and 1,090 families residing in the city. The population density was 363.9 people per square mile (140.5/km²). There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 730.3/sq mi (281.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.82% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 2.03% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. 2.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,779 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the city the population was 16.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,542, and the median income for a family was $51,222. Males had a median income of $34,063 versus $24,787 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,082. About 6.2% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Sports

The City of Orange Beach hosts many sporting events and tournaments at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The Sportsplex, located north of the Gulf State Park and a short distance from The Wharf, comprises a football/soccer stadium with a seating capacity of 1,500 seats. The facility also has several baseball and softball fields. The Backcountry Trail system through the Gulf State Park has a trailhead located at the Sportsplex.

The Sportsplex has hosted the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament on numerous occasions in addition to the NCAA Division II men and women’s soccer tournament. The facility once served as home to the Alabama Lightning of the North American Football League.

A little known attraction, the tallest Ferris wheel in the Southeast at a height of 112 feet, is located at The Wharf in Orange Beach.

Orange Beach is home to the Orange Beach Running Club which meets every Monday evening to run a 5K.

Education

Orange Beach is part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system. Orange Beach Elementary School is the city’s only school and serves students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Students in grades sixth through eighth attend Gulf Shores Middle School and those in grades ninth through twelfth attend Gulf Shores High School in neighboring Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Columbia Southern University is a private online-only university that is located in Orange Beach.

Recreation

Orange Beach, Alabama offers a wide selection of family beach vacation opportunities. From condos directly on the beach to just across the street, Golf course condo communities, beach houses and everything in between.

Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 7,590.

Foley is a principal city of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Baldwin County.

Foley was founded by John B. Foley of Chicago. As Mr. Foley was traveling to President McKinley’s funeral in 1901, he met a railroad agent that told him of this area in South Baldwin County. Mr. Foley came down the following year, liked what he saw and bought up between 40,000 acres (160 km²) and 50,000 acres (200 km²) of land. He returned to Chicago and formed the Magnolia Land Company. As he began to sell off acreage, he realized the need for a better way for the people to come to Foley. Mr. Foley used some of his own money to lay the rails so the train could come from Bay Minette. The first railroad station was built in 1905. The original station burned in 1908 and was replaced the following year by the station that is now the City’s museum. Mr Foley donated parcels of land for a school and churches. The first train to service Foley was a wood burner called the “Pine Knot Special.” It would leave Foley in the morning and make a return trip in the afternoon. As people cleared the land, the would place liter knots in a wood box for the engineer to use as was needed. Foley was incorporated in 1915 with G. I. Weatherly serving as its first mayor.

Geography

Foley is located at 30°24’20.138″ North, 87°40’53.432″ West (30.405594, -87.681509).

According to the U.S. Census bureau, the city has a total area of 14.3 sq mi (37 km²), of which, 14.3 sq mi (37 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,590 people, 3,126 households, and 2,106 families residing in the city. The population density was 531.5 people per square mile (205.2/km²). There were 3,468 housing units at an average density of 242.8/sq mi (93.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.49% White, 21.86% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,126 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,596, and the median income for a family was $38,427. Males had a median income of $28,523 versus $20,660 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,364. About 7.1% of families and 0.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Foley is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.

An elementary school, an intermediate school, a middle school, and a high school serve Foley.

The Foley Public Library has in excess of 50,000 volumes, internet computers, children’s reading programs and public meeting rooms for civic organizations. Its web site is www.foleylibrary.org.

Schools

Post-secondary schools

Fortis College

Secondary schools

High schools

• Foley High School (9-12)

Middle schools

• Foley Middle School (7-8)

Primary schools

• Foley Intermediate School (5-6)
• Foley Elementary School (K-4)