Point Clear, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Point Clear, Alabama
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Point Clear, Alabama Post Office
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Location in Baldwin County and the state of Alabama
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Baldwin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.63 sq mi (11.99 km2) |
| • Land | 4.59 sq mi (11.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,076 |
| • Density | 452.09/sq mi (174.54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36564
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| Area code(s) | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-61488 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0155211 |
Point Clear is a small community in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. It is a special type of place called a census-designated place (CDP). This means the government counts the people living there, even though it's not an official city or town. In 2010, about 2,125 people lived in Point Clear. It is part of the larger Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan area.
Contents
Where is Point Clear?
Point Clear is located in Alabama, right on the coast. It covers about 4.63 square miles (11.99 square kilometers) of land. A very small part of it is water. The community is found at 30°29'48.505" North and 87°54'35.489" West.
How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 49 | — | |
| 1980 | 1,812 | — | |
| 1990 | 2,125 | 17.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,876 | −11.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,125 | 13.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,076 | −2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Point Clear's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 2,076 people living in Point Clear. These people lived in 793 households, and 639 of those were families.
Most of the people in Point Clear are White (about 65%). About 29% are Black or African American. A smaller number of people are Asian, Pacific Islander, or from other backgrounds. About 2% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Point Clear's Role in World War II
During World War II, a famous hotel in Point Clear, the Grand Hotel, played a secret and important role. In 1944, it became the main base for something called "Operation Ivory Soap."
What was Operation Ivory Soap?
The United States Army Air Corps needed a way to fix their planes far away in the Pacific Ocean. They were using a strategy called "leapfrogging," which meant jumping from one island to another to get closer to Japan. To do this, they needed mobile air depots, which were like moving repair shops for planes.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Thompson led Operation Ivory Soap from the Grand Hotel. The hotel became a training center for soldiers. They learned important skills like swimming, navigation, how to handle cargo, and how to work on ships.
Why was it called "Ivory Soap"?
The name "Ivory Soap" came from the idea that, just like Ivory soap floats, the special plane repair units the military wanted to use would also be able to "float" or move easily to different locations.
Impact of the Training
About 5,000 soldiers were trained at the Grand Hotel. These trained Army seamen helped in big battles in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Guam. Their training helped save many lives and planes during the war. The Grand Hotel is still open today on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay.
A Popular Summer Spot
For a long time, even back in the 1800s, Point Clear has been a popular place for wealthy families to spend their summers. Families from cities like Mobile and New Orleans would come here.
In the past, when there were outbreaks of diseases like yellow fever, people believed that Point Clear had "good air" because of the cool breeze from Mobile Bay. They thought this air would keep them healthy.
Most people arrived in Point Clear by ferry boat at a place called Zundel's Wharf. Because of this, many of the old homes, sometimes called "cottages," were built facing Mobile Bay. There was also a boardwalk along the water that connected the homes to Zundel's Wharf. You could still see parts of the old pier from Zundel's property before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
See also
In Spanish: Point Clear (Alabama) para niños
