Lillian, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lillian, Alabama
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county_park_at_lillian_alabama_(8638118965).jpg)
County park at Lillian, Alabama
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Location of Lillian in Baldwin County, Alabama.
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 Lillian, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Lillian, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Baldwin |
| Government | |
| • Type | Baldwin Cty. Lillian is unincorporated |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.53 sq mi (9.14 km2) |
| • Land | 1.91 sq mi (4.94 km2) |
| • Water | 1.62 sq mi (4.20 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,330 |
| • Density | 696.70/sq mi (268.96/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36549
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| Area code(s) | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-42928 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2633315 |
Lillian is a small community in eastern Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. It's not an official city but is known as an unincorporated community and a census-designated place. This means it's a place recognized by the census for collecting population data.
Lillian is located right on U.S. Route 98. It sits on the western shore of Perdido Bay. The community is about 9.5 miles (15 km) east of Elberta. Its eastern border is also the state line between Alabama and Florida.
Contents
People Living in Lillian
Lillian is a small but growing community. The latest information from the 2020 census shows us how many people live there.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,330 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details from 2020
In 2020, the total number of people living in Lillian was 1,330. Most of the residents were White, making up about 88.80% of the population. Other groups included Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races. About 2.48% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
History of Lillian
Lillian has a long and interesting history, stretching back centuries. It was named after Lillian Kee, whose father, William Thomas Kee, was the local postmaster.
Early Land and Development
Way back in 1630, the King of Spain gave land grants to the Suarez family. These grants included the area where Lillian is today. Much later, in 1923, the Baldwin Colonization Company bought land around Lillian. They wanted to turn the area into a popular resort spot. Lillian once had its own school and even a hotel. The hotel was actually moved from Elberta to Lillian.
Lillian's Post Office
The first post office in Lillian was officially opened in 1884. This was an important step for the community, helping people send and receive mail.
The Perdido Bay Bridge
A very important part of Lillian's history is the Perdido Bay Bridge. This bridge crosses Perdido Bay and connects Lillian in Alabama to Florida.
- First Bridge: The first bridge was built in 1916. Before that, people used a ferry to travel between Alabama and Florida.
- Second Bridge: A second bridge was finished in 1930. At this time, ownership of the bridge was given to the states of Alabama and Florida.
- Tolls Removed: The bridge used to charge a fee, or "toll," to cross. But these tolls were stopped in 1943, making it free to use.
- Current Bridge: The bridge you see today was completed in 1980.
Old Spanish Cemetery
Lillian is also home to the Old Spanish Cemetery. This historic cemetery has graves that date back as far as the 16th century. It's a reminder of the area's very old past.
Lillian Swamp Nature Preserve
The Lillian Swamp is a special natural area. It is managed as a nature preserve by the Forever Wild Land Trust. This means it's protected so that nature can thrive there. The swamp is also important because it's an estuarine habitat. This means it's a place where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the bay. It's also a crucial stopover point for many migratory birds as they travel.
