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Orange Beach, Alabama facts for kids

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Orange Beach, Alabama
Condominiums and hotels on the beach
Condominiums and hotels on the beach
Flag of Orange Beach, Alabama
Flag
Official seal of Orange Beach, Alabama
Seal
Location of Orange Beach in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Location of Orange Beach in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Country United States
State Alabama
County Baldwin
Founded Mid-1860s
Incorporated August 1, 1984
Area
 • Total 15.931 sq mi (41.261 km2)
 • Land 14.716 sq mi (38.114 km2)
 • Water 1.215 sq mi (3.1474 km2)
Elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 8,095
 • Estimate 
(2023)
8,534
 • Density 580.0/sq mi (223.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
36561
Area code(s) 251
FIPS code 01-57144
GNIS feature ID 0124297
Sales tax 10.0%

Orange Beach is a fun resort city located in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. It's a popular spot for vacations. In 2020, about 8,095 people lived here. By 2023, the population grew to an estimated 8,534 people.

About Orange Beach

Orange Beach is found on Perdido Key, right along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. It is the easternmost town on Alabama's Gulf Coast. To the east, you'll find Perdido Key, Florida. To the west, the city of Gulf Shores is nearby.

The city covers a total area of about 15.93 square miles (41.26 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 14.72 square miles (38.11 square kilometers). The rest is water.

Weather and Climate

Orange Beach has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild to warm winters. The summers are hot and humid.

Here is a quick look at the weather in Orange Beach:

Climate data for Orange Beach, Alabama
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29)
87
(31)
92
(33)
97
(36)
101
(38)
105
(41)
107
(42)
108
(42)
103
(39)
98
(37)
89
(32)
83
(28)
108
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 61
(16)
64
(18)
70
(21)
75
(24)
83
(28)
88
(31)
90
(32)
90
(32)
87
(31)
79
(26)
71
(22)
64
(18)
77
(25)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 43
(6)
45
(7)
52
(11)
57
(14)
65
(18)
72
(22)
74
(23)
74
(23)
70
(21)
59
(15)
51
(11)
45
(7)
59
(15)
Record low °F (°C) 4
(−16)
9
(−13)
19
(−7)
29
(−2)
38
(3)
52
(11)
66
(19)
60
(16)
44
(7)
28
(−2)
25
(−4)
7
(−14)
4
(−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.72
(145)
4.86
(123)
6.32
(161)
3.97
(101)
4.41
(112)
5.17
(131)
7.09
(180)
6.11
(155)
6.75
(171)
4.26
(108)
4.43
(113)
4.02
(102)
63.11
(1,602)
Source: IntelliCast.com

The sea temperature is also important for a beach city. Here are the average sea temperatures:

Average sea temperature:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
62.2 °F (16.8 °C) 62.1 °F (16.7 °C) 65.1 °F (18.4 °C) 70 °F (21 °C) 77.2 °F (25.1 °C) 82.9 °F (28.3 °C) 84.6 °F (29.2 °C) 85.3 °F (29.6 °C) 83.7 °F (28.7 °C) 78.3 °F (25.7 °C) 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) 65.7 °F (18.7 °C) 74 °F (23 °C)

Population Changes

The number of people living in Orange Beach has grown over the years.

Historical population
Census Pop.
1990 2,253
2000 3,784 68.0%
2010 5,441 43.8%
2020 8,095 48.8%
2023 (est.) 8,534 56.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census
Perdido Key Florida-Alabama SR 292 west01
Alabama Welcome sign near Orange Beach
Orange Beach Sun and Booms
Orange Beach in 2010
Orange Beach Beach Walkway
Orange Beach boardwalk

Population in 2020

In 2020, Orange Beach had 8,095 residents. There were 3,793 households and 2,343 families. The city had many housing units, about 14,545 in total.

Most residents, about 91.8%, identified as White. About 2.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

  • About 15.5% of the people were under 18 years old.
  • About 2.1% were under 5 years old.
  • About 28.5% were 65 years or older.

Population in 2010

In 2010, the city's population was 5,441 people. There were 2,492 households.

  • About 18.7% of the people were under 18 years old.
  • About 19.2% were 65 years or older.

The average age of residents was 45.5 years. The median income for a household was $66,656.

Sports and Fun Activities

Orange Beach is a great place for sports and outdoor fun.

Orange Beach Sportsplex

The city has a large sports center called the Orange Beach Sportsplex. It hosts many sporting events and tournaments. The Sportsplex has:

  • A football/soccer stadium with seats for 1,500 people.
  • Several baseball and softball fields.

You can also find a trailhead here for the Backcountry Trail system. This trail goes through the Gulf State Park.

The Sportsplex has hosted big events like the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament. It also hosted the NCAA Division II men's and women's soccer tournaments.

Other Activities

  • A huge, 112-foot-high Ferris wheel is located at The Wharf in Orange Beach.
  • The Orange Beach Running Club meets every Monday evening for a 5K run.

Schools and Learning

Orange Beach has its own school system called Orange Beach City Schools.

  • Orange Beach Elementary School serves students from kindergarten to sixth grade.
  • Orange Beach Middle and High School is for students in seventh through twelfth grade.

Before 2019, older students went to schools in nearby Gulf Shores. Now, Orange Beach has its own middle and high school, which opened in 2020.

Columbia Southern University is also located in Orange Beach. It is a private university that offers online courses. It has campuses on Canal Road and Beach Express road.

Getting Around

You can get around Orange Beach using the BRATS service. BRATS stands for the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System. It provides a countywide dial-a-ride transit service.

Recreation

Ferris wheel in Orange Beach AL
Ferris Wheel at The Wharf

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Orange Beach (Alabama) para niños

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