Ono Island, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ono Island
Community
Ono Island, Alabama Location in Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Baldwin County
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	251
Website	http://www.onoislandpoa.com

Ono Island is a cool, long island in Alabama, USA. It's about 5.5 miles (8.8 km) long and sits right where Perdido Bay meets the big Gulf of Mexico. This special island is a barrier island, which means it helps protect the mainland from ocean waves and storms.

The island is bordered by Bayou St. John to the north and Old River to the south. Nearby places include Perdido Key, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama. Ono Island is a private, gated community, meaning you need permission to enter. It's not part of any city, but the Baldwin County Commission helps manage it. Fire and police services come from nearby towns. You can get to the island by a private, guarded bridge from State Route 182.

Discovering Ono Island's Past

Ono Island has a really interesting history! Long ago, it was right on the border between lands claimed by France and Spain. In 1813, the United States, led by President James Monroe, took over Spanish lands west of the Perdido River. This made the Perdido River the boundary between the U.S. and Spain. Later, this same river became the border between Alabama and Florida.

How Ono Island Got Its Name

Before it was called Ono Island, this place had other names like "Goat Island" and "George Kee's Island." George Kee was a caretaker for land owned by Fred Scott. Scott was an early developer who got land on the island in the 1820s. He brought goats to the island, and soon there were about 2,000 of them roaming free! There were also wild hogs that people could hunt for food. At that time, only George Kee lived on the island in a small house he built.

A big hurricane in 1916 changed the island's shape. It closed off one part and created a new opening on the western side. When Florida tried to claim the land between the old and new openings, Alabama lawmakers famously said, "Oh no you don't!" And that's how the island got its unique name, Ono Island!

Life on Ono Island Today

Development on Ono Island started in the 1970s. Now, there are more than 1,100 homes here! It's a busy community with its own water tower and a fire station. The island also has a private harbor for boats.

Community Features and Services

Ono Island has lots of cool things for residents. There are two recreation centers, courts for basketball and pickleball, and a playground. You can also find a boat launch and a community green space. The main road on the island is called Ono Boulevard.

Even though it's a private community, Ono Island depends on nearby Orange Beach, Alabama for fire and police services. This helps keep everyone on the island safe.

Famous Residents and Privacy

Many interesting people have chosen to live on Ono Island. These include former athletes, authors, musicians, and business leaders. They often choose Ono Island because it offers a lot of privacy. The people who live there respect each other's privacy and don't usually share who their famous neighbors are.

Ono Island's Climate and Hurricanes

As a barrier island, Ono Island is directly exposed to strong winds, especially during hurricanes. This means the weather can be quite intense sometimes.

Understanding Hurricane Impacts

The island has been hit by several hurricanes over the years. For example, Hurricane Danny hit the area in 1997. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused a lot of damage with strong winds. More recently, Hurricane Sally impacted the island in 2020, also causing extensive damage. The nearest weather station that collects climate information for Ono Island is in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

See also

In Spanish: Isla Ono para niños