Grand Bay, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grand Bay, Alabama
|
|
|---|---|
| Motto(s):
"A community in action"
|
|
Location in Mobile County and the state of Alabama
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Mobile |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.70 sq mi (22.53 km2) |
| • Land | 8.68 sq mi (22.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 3,460 |
| • Density | 398.85/sq mi (153.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36541
|
| Area code(s) | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-31024 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0155081 |
Grand Bay is a small community in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined for collecting population data. Grand Bay is part of the larger Mobile metropolitan area. In 2020, about 3,460 people lived there.
Contents
History of Grand Bay
Early Settlers
The first known white settler in Grand Bay was George Cassibry. He arrived in 1853. He built his home near Franklin Creek, where Highway 90 and Ramsey Road are today. People started exploring and settling this area in the mid-1800s.
Civil War Times
During the American Civil War, Grand Bay saw some military action. U.S. General Gordon Granger led troops through the town. This was a step in the plan to take over Mobile. In 1870, the U.S. Postal Service opened a post office here.
Growth and Challenges
Grand Bay really started to grow in the early 1900s. The Grand Bay Land Company sold ten-acre plots of land. They advertised these plots to people in cities like Chicago. The idea was that people could live simply in a warm climate. They believed that ten acres of pecan and satsuma trees would provide enough for a family. The timber industry also brought many people to the area. Large parts of the land south of Grand Bay were cleared of trees.
For a while, the town did very well. It had a weekly newspaper and telegraph service. There was a hotel, a drug store, general stores, and a bank. However, two big hurricanes in 1906 and 1910 caused a lot of damage. A very cold winter also hurt the fruit trees. Many people decided to move back north. A plant called Cogon grass came to the area as packing material with satsuma trees. This grass is now a big problem for farms in the Southeast.
Historic Sites
In 1993, the old Grand Bay State Bank building became a museum. It temporarily held treasure from the ship El Cazador. The area around the old bank is now called the Grand Bay Historic District. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Geography and Location
Grand Bay is located in the southwestern part of Mobile County. Its exact coordinates are 30.474055 degrees North and 88.341836 degrees West. It sits along U.S. Route 90, a few miles from the Mississippi Sound. US 90 goes northeast 26 miles to Mobile. It goes southwest 16 miles to Pascagoula, Mississippi. The border with Mississippi is only 3 miles west of Grand Bay. Alabama State Route 188 goes southeast from Grand Bay. It leads 8 miles to Bayou La Batre and 26 miles to Dauphin Island.
The Grand Bay area covers about 8.7 square miles (22.5 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with only a small amount of water. Water from the community flows into Franklin Creek. Franklin Creek then flows west into the Escatawpa River in Mississippi. This river is part of the larger Pascagoula River system.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 3,185 | — | |
| 1990 | 3,383 | 6.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,918 | 15.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,672 | −6.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,460 | −5.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Grand Bay in 2010
In 2010, Grand Bay had 3,672 people living there. There were 1,339 households, and 1,021 of these were families. The population density was about 420 people per square mile. Most people (86.9%) were White. About 9.4% were Black or African American. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population. About 2.3% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
About 29.9% of households had children under 18. Most households (56.5%) were married couples. The average household had 2.68 people. The average family had 3.07 people.
The median age in Grand Bay was 40.4 years. About 23.8% of the population was under 18. About 15.9% were 65 or older. The median income for a household was $47,722. For families, it was $52,353. About 13.8% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Grand Bay in 2020
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,891 | 83.55% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 323 | 9.34% |
| Native American | 12 | 0.35% |
| Asian | 49 | 1.42% |
| Other/Mixed | 121 | 3.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 64 | 1.85% |
As of the 2020 United States census, Grand Bay had 3,460 people. There were 1,252 households and 1,067 families.
Grand Bay Watermelon Festival
The Grand Bay Watermelon Festival is a fun tradition. It has been held every July 4th since 1973. Visitors can try local watermelon. They can also enjoy music, arts and crafts, and displays from local businesses.
The festival has a long history. It first started in the early 1900s. It stopped during World War II. But it was brought back in 1973. Now, the Grand Bay Independent Order of Odd Fellows #73 sponsors it. The festival takes place at the Odd Fellows Festival Park. This is just north of U.S. Highway 90. It starts on July 3rd from 3-7 p.m. It continues on July 4th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is also a great fireworks show around 8:15 p.m. You can find more information at www.grandbaywatermelonfestival.org.
Local Agriculture
Pecans and Fruit
Many pecan trees grow around Grand Bay. These are a reminder of the Grand Bay Land Company's past. Some pecan orchards have been turned into places for homes. But growing pecans is still important. It helps residents earn extra money.
The area also has a large peach growing business. Satsumas, a type of citrus fruit, are also grown again. Newer types of satsumas can handle colder weather better.
However, Grand Bay watermelons are still the most famous produce from the community.
Community Center
The Grand Bay-St. Elmo Community Center is a building for many uses. It is located at 11610 Highway 90. This is near the intersection of Highway 90 and Ramsay Road Extension. The center was built in 2005. It operates as a non-profit organization. People can rent the facilities for events. The center is on the site of the former Grand Bay Elementary School for Colored. This was a segregated school built in 1919.
Economy and Business
The main business area of Grand Bay is along Highway 90. It stretches for about two miles. Businesses are also found along Grand Bay Wilmer Road. Recent growth has happened at two main spots. These are where Grand Bay-Wilmer Road meets US 90 and Interstate 10.
Education in Grand Bay
Mobile County Public Schools manages the public schools in the area. Some students go to Breitling Elementary School. Others go to Cora Castlen Elementary School. All students in Grand Bay attend Grand Bay Middle School. They then go to Alma Bryant High School in Irvington.
Famous People from Grand Bay
Many notable people have connections to Grand Bay:
- Taylor Harper – A former state legislator and current lobbyist.
- Melinda Haynes – An author who has won awards for her books.
- Bob Henley – A baseball player who played for the Montreal Expos.
- Joe Hilley – A New York Times best-selling author.
- Don Hultz – A player in the National Football League (NFL).
- David Sessions – A member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
- Harold Page Smith – A United States Navy admiral.
- August P. Trovaioli – An educator, artist, and art historian.
- Mark Woodyard – A baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers.
See also
In Spanish: Grand Bay (Alabama) para niños
