text:
Dauphin Island, Alabama

Dauphin Island is an island town in Mobile County, Alabama, United States, on a barrier island of the same name, in the Gulf of Mexico. It incorporated in 1988. The population was 1,778 at the 2020 census, up from 1,238 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Mobile metropolitan area. The island (originally named Massacre Island) was renamed for Louis XIV of France's great-grandson and heir, the dauphin, the future Louis XV of France. The name of the island is often mistaken as Dolphin Island; the word dauphin is French for dolphin, but historically, the term was used as the title of the heir apparent to the French monarch.

The island is one of the Mississippi–Alabama barrier islands, with the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay to the north. The island's eastern end helps define the mouth of Mobile Bay. The eastern, wider portion of the island is shaded by thick stands of pine trees and saw palmettos, but the narrow, western part of the island features scrub growth and few trees.

Dauphin Island is home to Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the Estuarium public aquarium, the Dauphin Island Airport, boat ramps, a large public pier that sits on dry land, historic sites, several restaurants, new condominium developments, and numerous private homes. Beaches attract tourism, and fishing is a popular activity in the waters around the island. The island is connected to the mainland by the Gordon Persons Bridge.

Although the island has several bird sanctuaries, the main one is the 164 acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Because Dauphin Island is the first land encountered by many birds as they migrate north from South America, many species can be found resting there before continuing their journey.

In May 2012, the central public beach began charging for access. This marked the second beach on the island to charge the public following the creation of the privately owned West End Beach.

History
Serpentine shell middens, perhaps 1,500 years old, attest to at least seasonal occupation by the Native American Mississippian Mound Builder culture. Shell Mound Park, along the island's northern shore, is administered by the Alabama Marine Resources Division.

In 1519, the Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda was the first documented European to visit, staying long enough to map the island with remarkable accuracy.

The island's French history began on January 31, 1699, when the explorer Pierre Le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville, one of the founders of French Louisiana, arrived at Mobile Bay and anchored near the island on his way to explore the mouth of the Mississippi River. D'Iberville mistakenly named it Île du Massacre (Massacre Island) because of a large pile of human skeletons discovered there. In reality, the site was a Mississippian burial mound which had been broken open by a hurricane, not a massacre site; however, the dramatic misnomer stuck.

D'Iberville later established a port for Fort Louis de La Louisiane on the island due to its abundant timber, reliable supply of fresh water, and deep-water harbor. The settlement consisted of a fort, a chapel, government-owned warehouses, and residences.

The island served as a major trading depot where goods from Saint-Domingue (Haiti), Mexico, Cuba and France were unloaded and a short-lived fur trade was conducted. Before a channel was dredged, Mobile Bay was too shallow and its sandbars too treacherous for ocean-going vessels to travel up the bay and Mobile River to Fort Louis de La Louisiane. Thus, smaller boats carried the cargo within Mobile Bay to and from Dauphin Island.

In 1719 the first African slaves of Alabama arrived at Dauphin Island. After the French and Indian War (known in Europe as the Seven Years' War) ended in 1763, the island was ceded to the British. After the American Revolutionary War, the territory again came under Spanish jurisdiction, being part of the Province of West Florida until 1812.

In 1795 after the Treaty of San Lorenzo was signed between Spain and the United States, new settlers began migrating to Alabama from Virginia, North & South Carolina and Georgia.

In 1805, the Chickasaw, Cherokee and Choctaw people were forced to cede their lands to the government. The Creek tribes aggressively fought to hold their lands, but eventually were forced to cede in 1813.

Fort Gaines on the eastern tip of the island was built between 1821 and 1848. It was occupied by Confederate forces in 1861 and captured by the Union Army during the Battle of Mobile Bay. The phrase, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," was supposedly spoken by U. S. Admiral David Farragut just a few hundred yards from Dauphin Island's shore.

The first Sand Island Light, authorized in 1834, was replaced by a structure 150 ft high, at a cost of $35,000, that was destroyed by Confederate forces. The present lighthouse (1873; in use until 1970), has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its ownership was recently transferred from the U.S. Department of Interior to the town of Dauphin Island.

In 2023, a large alligator was spotted riding waves and sunbathing on the beach of Dauphin Island. Onlookers posted photos of the alligator to social media, which subsequently went viral. While alligators traditionally live in freshwater, they are able to tolerate salt water as well according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Geography
Dauphin Island is 15 mi long from east to west, separating the Gulf of Mexico to the south from the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay to the north. The island is less than 0.25 mi wide for most of its length, except for the eastern quarter of the island, which is over 1 mi wide. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the island has a land area of 6.3 sqmi, while the town's total area is much greater: 166.0 sqmi, with 159.9 sqmi of it, or 96.2% of the town, in the water of the surrounding Gulf and bays.

The Dauphin Island Bridge, officially the Gordon Persons Bridge, is the island's sole road connection to the Alabama mainland, carrying State Route 193, which leads north 27 mi to Tillmans Corner in the southwest outskirts of Mobile. Downtown Mobile is 37 mi north of the island.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dauphin Island has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,371 people (but falling in the 2010 census to 1238: see below) with 601 households and 418 families residing in the town. The population density was 221.2 /mi2. There were 1,691 housing units at an average density of 272.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 96.43% White (1,322 persons), 0.44% Black or African American (6 persons), 1.60% Native American (22 persons), 0.58% Asian (8 persons), and 0.95% from two or more races (13 persons). Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 601 households, out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.66. In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,219, and the median income for a family was $50,476. Males had a median income of $35,179 versus $24,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,552. About 6.0% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,238 people, 582 households, and 373 families residing in the town. The population density was 199.7 /mi2. There were 1,818 housing units at an average density of 295.2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 97.3% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 582 households, out of which 13.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.55.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 41.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,731, and the median income for a family was $54,844. Males had a median income of $47,308 versus $37,292 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,771. About 11.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 0% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,778 people, 585 households, and 424 families residing in the town.

Education
The town is served by the Mobile County Public School System. It has one public school, Dauphin Island Elementary School. Middle school students go on to Alba Middle School in Bayou La Batre and Alma Bryant High School in Bayou La Batre.

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is located on the east end of the island on grounds formerly occupied by the 693rd Radar Squadron, Dauphin Island Air Force Station, US Air Force, and is home to the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.

Coat of arms
At the top of Dauphin Island's coat of arms is the historic Fort Gaines with two cannons facing north and south, which represent Dauphin Island's role during the Civil War. The boat is a shrimping vessel which represents the livelihood of many of the residents of the island. The dolphin is a mammal seen quite often in the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay waters surrounding the island. The birds are pelicans, which are numerous around the island and the entire Gulf coast. The fleur-de-lis represents the presence of France on the island from 1699 to 1764. The sailing ship is a Spanish galleon to represent Spain's role in settling the area between 1781 and 1813.

Hurricanes
Over the centuries, many hurricanes have struck the island. Some recent storms include:
 * In 1969, Hurricane Camille flooded 70% of the island and was the worst storm to strike the area until Hurricane Frederic.
 * In 1979, Hurricane Frederic (September 12) destroyed the bridge to the mainland, which had been opened in 1955.
 * In 1985, Hurricane Elena brought wind gusts of over 130 mph to the island.
 * In 1997, Hurricane Danny caused extensive flooding on the east end of the island.
 * In 1998, Hurricane Georges destroyed 41 houses on the island.
 * In 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused nearly one-fourth of the island to be covered with approximately two feet of water.
 * On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought damage to parts of Dauphin Island. Some homes on the west end of the island were destroyed, and the Katrina Cut was formed as a channel splitting off the western part. However, most areas of the central and east end of the island experienced little flooding from the storm surge. The approach road to the island fared better than expected. The damage to most East End beachfront homes was limited to decks, stairs and storage buildings. In DeSoto Landing, a gated Gulf-front subdivision on Dauphin Island, the main homes had no water entering the homes unless a window or roof system failed; many avoided surge waters entirely. Damage was limited due to Sand Island (Pelican Island), a large sandbar south of DeSoto Landing which broke the force of battering waves. An oil drilling platform grounded near the island as the hurricane passed by. It was identified by its owners, Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., as the Ocean Warwick, pushed nearly 60 mi from its original location by the hurricane.
 * On September 14, 2020, storm surge from offshore Hurricane Sally flooded the island.

Tourist attractions
The old walled Fort Gaines is on the east end of Dauphin Island. A ferry from nearby Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores brings both vehicles and pedestrians to the island. One of the closest attractions to the ferry dock is The Estuarium, a fresh- and saltwater aquarium highlighting species native to Alabama.

The Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council features works by local artists, as well as information on the history of Dauphin Island. It organizes the annual Dauphin Island Native American Festival.

title: Dauphin Island, Alabama


text:
Grand Bay, Alabama

Grand Bay is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area. The population was 3,460 at the 2020 census.

History
According to local accounts, George Cassibry was the first white person to settle in Grand Bay. He came to the area in 1853, establishing a home site near the headwaters of Franklin Creek located today near the intersection of Highway 90 and Ramsey Road. Exploration and settlement of the area was well underway by the mid-nineteenth century.

During the Civil War, the town saw brief military action as a column of troops under U.S. General Gordon Granger reached the town as a preliminary move in the siege of Mobile. In 1870 the U.S. Postal Service established a post office at a location near the center of the current community.

Settlement began in earnest when the Grand Bay Land Company began offering ten-acre lots for sale in the early 1900s. The lots were marketed to people living in and around Chicago and other northern cities as a way to live self-sufficiently in a mild climate. Supposedly, ten acres planted in pecan and satsuma trees would be enough to supply the needs of anyone. The timber industry also attracted many to the area. Much of the region south of Grand Bay to the coast along the Mississippi Sound was clearcut.

For a time, the town flourished. A weekly newspaper was published there, and telegraph service was offered to the region through an operator at Grand Bay. The town had a number of businesses including a hotel, drug store, several general merchandise stores and a bank. However, hurricanes in 1906 and 1910, along with a severe freeze, sent many scurrying back north. Their efforts, however, have not gone unnoticed even today. Cogon grass, a highly-invasive rhizome, first introduced to the area as packing material in satsuma trees imported from Asia, has now become a serious Southeastern agricultural problem.

In 1993, the old Grand Bay State Bank building became the temporary site of the El Cazador Museum, and held treasure from the El Cazador. The area in and around the old bank building now forms the Grand Bay Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Grand Bay is located in southwestern Mobile County at 30.47417°N, -88.34194°W (30.474055, -88.341836), along U.S. Route 90, a few miles inland from the Mississippi Sound. US 90 leads northeast 26 mi to Mobile and southwest 16 mi to Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Mississippi state line is 3 mi west of Grand Bay. Alabama State Route 188 leads southeast from Grand Bay 8 mi to Bayou La Batre and 26 mi to Dauphin Island.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Grand Bay CDP has a total area of 8.7 sqmi, of which 0.02 sqmi, or 0.23% are water. The community drains north to Franklin Creek and south to a tributary of it; Franklin Creek flows west to the Escatawpa River in Mississippi, part of the Pascagoula River watershed.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,918 people, 1,364 households, and 1,078 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 452.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,441 housing units at an average density of 166.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.00% White, 8.88% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 1,364 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,941, and the median income for a family was $43,654. Males had a median income of $33,177 versus $21,920 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,741. About 6.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,672 people, 1,339 households, and 1,021 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 420 PD/sqmi. There were 1,498 housing units at an average density of 172.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.9% White, 9.4% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 1,339 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,722, and the median income for a family was $52,353. Males had a median income of $42,057 versus $27,277 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,141. About 9.8% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,460 people, 1,252 households, and 1,067 families residing in the CDP.

Government and local services
While Grand Bay is unincorporated, the area is served by the Grand Bay Water Works Board for water service and an active volunteer fire department for fire protection. The Mobile County Sheriff's Department maintains a satellite office in Grand Bay as well. Grand Bay Water Works also provides limited sewer service for Breitling Elementary School and the business district around the Interstate 10 exchange. The Mobile County Commission, a three-member elected panel, provides all other services including road and street repair.

Grand Bay is located within District 3 of the Mobile County Commission, which is represented by current commissioner Randall Dueitt (R). In the Alabama Legislature, Grand Bay is located within House District 105, whose current representative is Chip Brown (R). In the State Senate, Grand Bay is located within District 35, which is currently represented by David Sessions (R), a native of Grand Bay.

In the US House, Grand Bay, and all of Mobile County is located within the 1st Congressional District, which is currently represented by Jerry Carl (R).

Watermelon Festival
A July 4 tradition since 1973, the current version of the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival offers tourists and locals an opportunity to sample locally grown watermelon while enjoying local music, arts & crafts, and informative displays from area merchants and service providers.

The annual celebration has a long and storied history, having begun during the earliest years of the 20th Century. As the community and surrounding area changed during World War II, the annual celebration was discontinued. It was revived in 1973 by the Grand Bay Junior Chamber of Commerce. Currently, it is sponsored by the Grand Bay Independent Order of Odd Fellows #73. It is currently held at the Odd Fellows Festival Park and local baseball park just north of U.S. Highway 90 on the west side of Grand Bay. It begins on July 3 from 3-7 p.m. and continues on July 4 from 10 a.m. and concludes at 6 p.m. There is also a fantastic fireworks show that starts at dusk (about 8:15 p.m.)  The website for the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival is: www.grandbaywatermelonfestival.org.

Pecans and fruit
Much of the rural land around Grand Bay is planted in pecan trees, another reminder of the Grand Bay Land Company days. Many of the pecan orchards have been converted from agricultural production for use as residential home sites. However, pecan production is still an important business and provides supplemental income to residents who work in nonagricultural jobs.

In addition, the area has become home to a large peach business and satsumas, once destroyed by freezing temperatures, have now returned to commercial production in a more weather-hardy variety.

Grand Bay watermelons, however, remain the produce most identified with the community.

Community center
The Grand Bay-St. Elmo Community Center is a multi-use facility located on the east side of Grand Bay at 11610 Highway 90. The building is near the intersection of Highway 90 and Ramsay Road Extension. Constructed in 2005, the center operates on a non-profit basis. Facilities are available for rent to the public. The Center is located on the site of the former Grand Bay Elementary School for Colored, a racially segregated elementary school established in 1919.

Economy
The business section of Grand Bay stretches east to west along Highway 90 for about two miles from Festival Park Road on the west side to Highway 188 on the east, and north to south along Grand Bay Wilmer Road from Highway 90 to Old Pascagoula Road. Recent development has centered on two areas, primarily at the intersection of Grand Bay-Wilmer Road and US 90, and at the intersection of Grand Bay-Wilmer Road and Interstate 10.

Education
Mobile County Public Schools operates area public schools. Some residents are zoned to Breitling Elementary School while others are zoned to Cora Castlen Elementary School. All residents are zoned to Grand Bay Middle School and Alma Bryant High School in Irvington.

Notable people

 * Taylor Harper, former state legislator and current lobbyist
 * Melinda Haynes, award-winning author
 * Bob Henley, MLB player for Montreal Expos
 * Joe Hilley, New York Times best-selling author
 * Don Hultz, NFL player
 * David Sessions, member Alabama House of Representatives
 * Harold Page Smith, United States Navy admiral
 * August P. Trovaioli, educator, artist and art historian
 * Mark Woodyard, MLB player for Detroit Tigers

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Grand Bay, Alabama


text:
Man on the Moon (film)

Man on the Moon is a 1999 biographical comedy-drama film about the late American entertainer Andy Kaufman, starring Jim Carrey as Kaufman. The film was directed by Miloš Forman and also features Danny DeVito, Courtney Love and Paul Giamatti.

The story traces Kaufman's steps from childhood through the comedy clubs and television appearances that made him famous, including his memorable appearances on Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, Fridays and his role as Latka Gravas on the sitcom Taxi, which was popular among viewers but disruptive for Kaufman's co-stars. The film pays particular attention to the various inside jokes, scams, put-ons, and happenings for which Kaufman was famous, most significantly his long-running "feud" with wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler and his portrayal of the character of bawdy lounge singer Tony Clifton.

It was released on December 22, 1999, in the United States and May 5, 2000, in the United Kingdom by Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures in some markets. Although the film was unsuccessful commercially and received mixed reviews, Carrey received critical acclaim for his performance and won a Golden Globe, his second in a row after his award for The Truman Show. His win was in the Musical or Comedy category.

The documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond was released in 2017 and chronicles Carrey's performance as Kaufman in the film, a performance he maintained during much of the film's production.

Plot
Andy Kaufman is a struggling performer whose act fails in nightclubs because, while the audience wants comedy, he sings the Mighty Mouse theme song and refuses to tell conventional jokes. As the audience begins to believe that Kaufman may have no talent, his previously timid "foreign man" character puts on a rhinestone jacket and does a dead-on Elvis impersonation. The audience bursts into thunderous applause, realizing Kaufman had tricked them.

Soon after fooling the audience in Saturday Night Live, Kaufman catches the eye of talent agent George Shapiro, who signs him as a client and lands him a television series, Taxi, much to Kaufman's dismay, as he does not like sitcoms. Because of the money, visibility, and a promise that he can do his own television special, Kaufman accepts the role, turning his foreign man into a mechanic named Latka Gravas. Secretly, he hates doing the show and wants to quit.

Invited to catch a different act at a nightclub, Shapiro witnesses a performance by lounge singer Tony Clifton, whom Kaufman wants to guest-star on Taxi. Backstage, when he meets Shapiro in person, Clifton takes off his sunglasses and reveals that he is actually Kaufman. Clifton is a "villain character" created by Kaufman and his creative partner, Bob Zmuda. Once again, the gag is on the audience.

Kaufman's profile increases with appearances on Saturday Night Live, but he has problems with his newfound fame. When performing live, audiences dislike his unusual anti-humor and demand that he perform as Latka. At one show, he deliberately antagonizes attendees by reading The Great Gatsby aloud from start to finish. Kaufman shows up on the Taxi set as Clifton and proceeds to cause chaos until he is removed from the set. He relates to Shapiro that he never knows exactly how to entertain an audience "short of faking my own death or setting the theater on fire."

Kaufman decides to become a professional wrestler — but to emphasize the "villain" angle, he will wrestle only women (hired actresses) and then berate them after winning, declaring himself "Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion." He becomes smitten with one woman he wrestles, Lynne Margulies, and they start dating. His professional issues are deepened when, during an appearance on ABC's live television comedy show Fridays, Kaufman refuses to speak his lines.

Kaufman feuds publicly with Jerry Lawler, a professional star wrestler who challenges him to a "real wrestling match", which Kaufman accepts. Lawler overpowers and appears to seriously injure Kaufman. Lawler and an injured Kaufman (wearing a neck brace) appear on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman, ostensibly to call a truce, but instead, the feud escalates and they trade insults before getting into another fight. Kaufman pays the price when he is kicked off from SNL following a vote by audience members, weary and bored of his wrestling antics. Shapiro advises Kaufman and Lawler, who are actually best friends and have staged their feud as a joke, that he thinks they should never work together again. Shapiro later calls Kaufman to inform him that Taxi has been canceled, though Kaufman is not at all bothered.

After performing at a comedy club, Kaufman calls Lynne, Zmuda, and Shapiro to disclose that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer and may die soon. Initially, they are not sure whether to believe this, thinking it could be another Kaufman stunt, with Zmuda actually believing a fake death would be a fantastic prank. With little time to live, Kaufman arranges a booking at Carnegie Hall, his dream venue. The performance is a success, culminating with Kaufman inviting the entire audience out for milk and cookies. As his health deteriorates, a desperate Kaufman heads to the Philippines to seek a medical miracle through psychic surgery, only to find it a hoax, laughing at the irony. He dies soon after. At Kaufman's funeral, his loved ones sing along to "This Friendly World" with a video of Kaufman.

One year later, in 1985, Tony Clifton appears at Kaufman's tribute at The Comedy Store's main stage, performing "I Will Survive", while Zmuda (who would often perform as Clifton in routines where Kaufman appeared as himself) watches in the audience.

Cast

 * Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman / Tony Clifton / Latka Gravas
 * Danny DeVito as George Shapiro
 * Courtney Love as Lynne Margulies
 * Paul Giamatti as Bob Zmuda / Tony Clifton
 * Vincent Schiavelli as ABC Executive Maynard Smith
 * Peter Bonerz as TAXI Producer Ed Weinberger
 * Jerry Lawler as himself
 * Gerry Becker as Stanley Kaufman, Andy's father
 * Leslie Lyles as Janice Kaufman, Andy's mother
 * George Shapiro as Mr. Besserman
 * Richard Belzer as himself
 * Patton Oswalt as Blue Collar Guy
 * Melanie Vesey as Carol Kaufman
 * Brittany Colonna as young Carol Kaufman; Colonna is Andy Kaufman's granddaughter.
 * Michael Kelly as Michael Kaufman
 * Michael Villani as Merv Griffin
 * Bob Zmuda as Jack Burns
 * Tracey Walter as National Enquirer Editor

Several members of the cast of Taxi, including Marilu Henner, Judd Hirsch, Christopher Lloyd, Carol Kane, and Jeff Conaway make cameos, playing themselves. Danny DeVito, who was also in the cast of Taxi, co-starred in the film but did not appear as himself.

Many of Kaufman's other real-life friends and co-stars also appear in the film (although not all as themselves), including Zmuda, Shapiro, Margulies, David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, professional wrestler Jerry Lawler, wrestling announcers Jim Ross and Lance Russell, The Improv founder Budd Friedman, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, and actors Vincent Schiavelli and Chad Whitson. Michael Richards is played by Norm Macdonald in a recreation of the Fridays show skit. According to Jerry Lawler's autobiography It's Good to be the King ... sometimes, WCW wrestler Glenn Gilbertti, better known to wrestling fans as Disco Inferno, was considered for the role of Lawler.

Kevin Spacey, Edward Norton, Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and Hank Azaria auditioned for the role of Andy Kaufman.

Production
Man on the Moon was shot in Los Angeles in the winter of 1998. The film's production is notable for Carrey's rigid method acting, staying in-character as Kaufman both on and off the set for the duration of production. Carrey's adherence to the role reached the extent where he would develop unscripted tics and habits that were previously characteristic of Kaufman himself. Among other examples, Courtney Love noted how Carrey would stuff his clothing with Limburger cheese on the set when playing Kaufman's Tony Clifton character in the film, something Kaufman had done in his own performances of the character.

A documentary, Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, was released in November 2017. Using behind-the-scenes footage, the documentary covers the production of Man on the Moon with a particular focus on Carrey's overwrought method-acting as Kaufman.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the film was written by rock band R.E.M., whose 1992 song "Man on the Moon" (originally written in honor of Kaufman) gave the film its title. The soundtrack also included the Grammy-nominated song "The Great Beyond", which remains the band's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom.

Historical accuracy
The film makes a few changes to Kaufman's life story. As Kaufman (played by Carrey) explains in the film's prologue, "All the most important things in my life are changed around and mixed up for dramatic purposes."

The famous Carnegie Hall "milk and cookies" performance, portrayed in the film as one of his last performances after being diagnosed with cancer, had in fact occurred in 1979, five years before Kaufman's death and well before his diagnosis. Also, the film is deliberately ambiguous over whether Kaufman actually died or if this was a hoax as some fans believe.

The film implies that Carol Kane was a member of the Taxi cast during the show's first season, which in real life was 1978–79. In actuality, Kane did not make her first appearance on the series until the episode "Guess Who's Coming for Brefnish", which first aired on ABC in January 1980 during the show's second season. The film implies that Taxi was canceled only once. However, the show went on for one more season on NBC.

Other inaccuracies include scenes supposedly drawn from SNL, specifically the first episode's host, who is depicted as having been Richard Belzer but was George Carlin in real life. Belzer also erroneously refers to the show as "Saturday Night Live" during the sequence, but that title wasn't adopted until season two. The scene where Lorne Michaels asks the home viewing audience to vote Kaufman off the show happened in 1982, two years after Michaels left the show as executive producer and Dick Ebersol took over.

After its release, the film attracted some criticism over various events in Kaufman's life that were left out. Max Allan Collins maintained that the filmmakers did not understand Kaufman, and that the film "does not give Kaufman the credit for his genius, that he had a complete intellectual grasp of what he was up to and a showman's instincts for how to play an audience." Significantly, these critics included Kaufman's own father Stanley, who was displeased that little of Andy's early life (before show business) and early career were portrayed.

Sam Simon, season 5 writer on Taxi, stated in a 2013 interview with Marc Maron for the WTF with Marc Maron podcast that the portrayal of Andy on the show was "a complete fiction," that Kaufman was "completely professional" and that he "told you Tony Clifton was him." Simon also stated that sources for these stories were mostly from Bob Zmuda and a "little bit of press and hype," but conceded that Kaufman would have "loved" Zmuda's version of events. However, in 2020, Screen Rant journalist Kayla Mosley backed claims that Kaufman was sometimes difficult to work with while he was on Taxi, and noted that he would only work two times a week on the set, in contrast to the five days a week the other cast and crew members of Taxi worked. Kaufman was also reluctant to work on the sitcom and was allowed to appear in only 14 episodes per season as part of his deal with the show's executives. As of 2020, occasional Taxi actress Carol Kane was the only Taxi cast member to have acknowledged attending his funeral.

Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64% based on 122 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Jim Carrey is eerily dead-on in his portrayal of Andy Kaufman, which helps to elevate Man on the Moon above the script's formulaic biopic cliches." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 58 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.

Roger Ebert, giving the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, wrote for the Chicago Sun Times: What is most wonderful about 'Man on the Moon,' a very good film, is that it remains true to Kaufman's stubborn vision. Oh, it brightens things up a little [...] But essentially it stays true to his persona: A guy who would test you, fool you, lie to you, deceive you and stage elaborate deceptions, put-ons and hoaxes.

Man on the Moon ended a string of films starring Jim Carrey that had very successful opening weekends, and grossed just $47 million against a budget of $52 million. Although the film received mixed reviews from critics, they were near unanimous in their praise for Carrey's portrayal of Andy Kaufman. Carrey won a Golden Globe for his performance, and the film was nominated for Best Musical or Comedy as well.

title: Man on the Moon (film)


text:
Mount Vernon, Alabama

Mount Vernon is a town in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area. It incorporated in 1959. At the 2020 census the population was 1,354.

Geography
Mount Vernon is located in the northeast corner of Mobile County at 31.09306°N, -88.01111°W (31.093170, -88.011209). U.S. Route 43 passes through the town to the west of its center. US 43 leads south 30 mi to Mobile and north 36 mi to Jackson.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.6 sqmi, of which 0.1 sqmi, or 2.02%, are water. Cedar Creek, an east-flowing tributary of the Mobile River, passes through the southernmost part of the town. The Mobile River itself is 2 mi to the east, with access from State Landing Road off Old Military Road.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,354 people, 457 households, and 336 families residing in the town.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 1,574 people, 556 households, and 399 families in the town. The population density was 828.4 PD/sqmi. There were 667 housing units at an average density of 351.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 73.6% Black or African American, 23.4% White, 1.7% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 0.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 556 households 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.4% of households were one person and 10.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.31.

The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% 65 or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median household income was $34,722 and the median family income was $46,111. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $23,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,790. About 2.7% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 844 people, 333 households, and 228 families in the town. The population density was 446.4 PD/sqmi. There were 395 housing units at an average density of 208.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 45.38% White, 52.96% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.24% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 333 households 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 30.0% of households were one person and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.19.

The age distribution was 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median household income was $29,861 and the median family income was $36,786. Males had a median income of $30,347 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,551. About 19.8% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.9% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The city is served by the Mobile County Public School System. Elementary and middle schoolers go to North Mobile County K-8 near Axis CDP. High schoolers go on to Citronelle High School in Citronelle.

The city's sole public school was the E.T.Belsaw/Mt. Vernon School, which covered grades Kindergarten through 8. In 2006 it had 321 students. From 2010 to 2016 several extracurricular programs at the school were discontinued. It had 98 students in 2016. Gwendolyn Pugh, Mount Vernon Town Councilor, stated that the enrollment drop was due to the extracurricular programs being removed. The county board voted to close the school in 2016.

Historic areas in and around Mt. Vernon
Mount Vernon was home to a historic psychiatric hospital, Searcy Hospital, formerly the site of the Mount Vernon Arsenal. The hospital closed in 2012.

A land marker used for surveying land known as "Ellicott's Stone" lies 6 mi south of the town to the east of US 43.

Notable people

 * John Kimbrough, former National Football League wide receiver
 * William Trent Rossell, Chief of Engineers of the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1913 and former Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia

Gallery
Photographs taken in Mount Vernon as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey:

title: Mount Vernon, Alabama


text:
Prichard, Alabama

Prichard is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 19,322 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 18,870 in 2022. Prichard borders the north side of Mobile, as well as the Mobile suburbs of Chickasaw, Saraland, and the unincorporated sections of Eight Mile.

History
Prichard began as a settlement in the 1830s, bordering Telegraph Road (known now as U.S. Highway 43). It remained largely unsettled until after the American Civil War. The Clotilda, an illegal slave ship, had arrived at Mobile Bay in July 1860 carrying 110 Africans purchased in Ouidah, Kingdom of Dahomey, on behalf of Mobile shipbuilders and merchants. It was towed into the delta north of the city, burned, and sunk to escape capture. The Africans were taken upriver by a steamboat and landed near Magazine Point. They were distributed among the investors in the voyage.

After the war, some 32 of the Africans returned there, developing Africatown as their own community. The Plateau/Magazine area was developed along Telegraph Road. Eventually, Plateau and Magazine had their territory split between Mobile and Prichard. The Africatown Historic District, considered part of Mobile, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

After 1900, Prichard began a slow, steady development. Major industries related to shipbuilding and paper mills began to develop along the waterfront, and some workers settled in Prichard.

Social tensions were high in the postwar period as veterans returned and struggled to get jobs. The summer of 1919 became known as Red Summer because of the numerous racial riots that took place in industrial cities across the country, including Chicago, Omaha, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. On June 6, 1919, James Lewis was lynched in Prichard.

Prichard was incorporated on September 16, 1925. During World War II, the defense industry and shipbuilding expanded in Mobile, and Prichard became a company town. Many Mobile shipbuilding companies built homes for their workers in Prichard. The 1940s and 1950s saw phenomenal growth in the Mobile area, which accompanied expansion of the defense and shipbuilding industries during and after World War II. During the 1950s and 1960s, Prichard annexed historic Whistler as well as parts of Eight Mile and Kushla.

Mobile, Prichard and Chickasaw all recorded their highest city-proper populations in 1960. In the postwar period, federally subsidized highway construction made commuting from suburbs easier and encouraged suburban housing development across the country, including in the Mobile metropolitan area. Like other cities, Prichard began to see its middle-class residents move out to newer housing, because they could afford to do so. In addition, following the Civil Rights Movement and passage of civil rights laws in the mid-1960s, the state's rigid system of Jim Crow and racial segregation was overturned. Blacks who had previously been restricted to the Bullshead/Neely/Trinity Gardens area of Prichard began moving into downtown, or East Prichard.

These two elements began to result in a population decline in the city. In 1960, Prichard recorded a population of 47,371. By 1970, the population had decreased to 41,000 and by 1990, to approximately 34,000. This was also a period of decline in shipbuilding and related industries and, with the loss of jobs, workers moved elsewhere.

In 1970, Vigor High School on Wilson Avenue, which had been Prichard's white high school during segregation, was 70% white. By 1980, it was 80% black. Although most of Prichard's remaining majority-white areas were in this district, many families had put their students into parochial or private schools. Before being moved to its current location on Lott Road in Eight Mile, Blount High School was originally located on Main Street in Prichard. Blount High School was a predominantly African American high school, established in August 1956.

In 1972, the majority-white city of Prichard elected its first black mayor, Algernon Johnson (A.J.) Cooper. He served two terms as Prichard's mayor. Later he was appointed to the administration of President Bill Clinton. In 1968, Cooper had founded the Black American Law Students Association at New York University, where he earned his law degree. While Mayor Cooper was popular with both blacks and whites, he had numerous confrontations with the Prichard City Council during his tenure.

In 1994, construction of Interstate 165 was completed, and it produced some economic benefits in East Prichard. The 1980s downtown office vacancy rate was near 80%. As of 2000, it was closer to 30%.

But the closing of factories operated by Scott Paper Company and International Paper in the 1980s and 1990s caused a major loss of jobs, greatly adding to the city's problems. It struggled with poverty, unemployment, and associated crime and drug use. The loss of the paper companies and associated jobs devastated the area and the city struggled to recover. In 1999, the city declared bankruptcy.

In 2004, the Prichard Housing Authority began demolition of the Bessemer Avenue Housing Project in Bullshead. In November of that year, Mobile County voters narrowly (500 votes out of 100,000 cast on the issue) defeated a local amendment which would have allowed Prichard to set up a special trade zone. The measure passed by a two-thirds vote in Prichard, and passed by smaller margins in the cities of Mobile and Chickasaw, but was defeated by the rest of Mobile County.

From 2010 to 2012, the city was home to the Restoration Youth Academy, a so-called Christian camp that imposed anti-gay conversion therapy. It closed in 2012 due to unpaid rent.

The enterprise reopened in Mobile, as the Saving Youth Foundation and Solid Rock Ministries, and operated until being shut down in 2015. It was closed by officials after investigations of abuse of youths and discovery of appallingly harsh conditions at the camp. The three pastors who ran the place were prosecuted for child abuse; they were convicted and sentenced in February 2017 to 20 years in prison. The case generated national media attention.

Geography
Prichard is located in central Mobile County at 30.74806°N, -88.10028°W (30.748038, -88.100384). It is bordered to the south by Mobile, to the east by Chickasaw, and to the north and northeast by Saraland. U.S. Route 45 (St. Stephens Road) runs through Prichard southwest of the city center; it leads southeast 4 mi to downtown Mobile and northwest 27 mi to Citronelle. Interstate 65 and its spur I-165 meet in Prichard. I-165 leads southeast to downtown Mobile, while I-65 leads south to Interstate 10 in southwest Mobile. To the northeast I-65 leads 164 mi to Montgomery, the state capital.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Prichard has a total area of 25.510 sqmi, of which 25.306 sqmi are land and 0.204 sqmi, or 0.80%, are water.

Neighborhoods

 * Downtown
 * East Prichard
 * Whistler
 * Eight Mile

Demographics
Prichard is a part of the Mobile metropolitan area.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 19,322 people, 7,458 households, and 4,779 families residing in the city. The population density was 763.5 PD/sqmi There were 8,934 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 11.56% White, 84.58% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.07% of the population.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 22,659 people, 8,240 households, and 5,659 families residing in the city. The population density was 896.0 PD/sqmi. There were 9,891 housing units at an average density of 391.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.80% Black or African American, 12.47% White-American, 0.38% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.004% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,240 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.8% were married couples living together, 33.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,894, and the median income for a family was $29,100. Males had a median income of $29,664 versus $21,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,137. About 28.7% of families and 33.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.5% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The current mayor of Prichard is Jimmy Gardner. Gardner was elected mayor in the 2016 municipal elections, defeating incumbent mayor Troy Ephriam.

The city is served by a five-member city council, which is composed of five districts of equal size. The city council is responsible for establishing the policies of the city of Prichard. The current council president is Earline Martin-Harris. The Prichard City Council meets every Thursday at 4:30 pm in the Council Chambers at Prichard City Hall.

City pensions controversy
In 2003, the city hired an actuary to analyze and summarize their employees’ pension plan. He warned the city that at the current rate of government spending the plan would run out of money by the summer of 2009. In September of that year, the city's pension fund ran out of money and stopped paying pensions. The city filed for bankruptcy again in October 2009.

In 2010, Councilwoman Earline Martin-Harris suggested dissolving the city and offered an alternative budget which would make all city employees part-time employees. As of April 2011, pensioners had not received their pension checks nor had a budget been passed in eighteen months.

The dispute continued into 2013, as the city did not reach an agreement with soon-to-retire employees. In response to these developments, four of these employees requested that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge William Shulman dismiss the city's bankruptcy.

Primary and secondary schools
The Mobile County Public School System serves Prichard. Elementary schools in Prichard include Collins-Rhodes Elementary School, Grant Elementary School, Indian Springs Elementary School, Robbins Elementary School, and Whitley Elementary School.

Mobile County Training Middle School and Chastang Middle School serve sections of Prichard. Some area students attend North Mobile County Middle School.

Vigor High School is in Prichard. Blount High School is in an unincorporated area in Eight Mile, adjacent to Prichard, and serving a part of Prichard. Faulkner Vocational School, a magnet school, is in Prichard.

The current Collins Rhodes school opened in 2007, replacing Eight Mile Elementary School.

Colleges and universities
The University of Mobile is also located within the city.

Public libraries
The city operates the Prichard Public Library and the Mitchell Public Library.

Notable people

 * Jimmie V. Adams, retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF), from 1991 to 1993
 * Ethel Ayler, actress, The Cosby Show
 * Delores Brumfield, former member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
 * Derrick Burroughs, professional football player with the Buffalo Bills
 * James "Thunderbird" Davis (1938 – 1992) was a Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.
 * Jacoby Glenn, American football cornerback
 * Lil Greenwood, jazz and R&B singer
 * Kennedy Winston, professional basketball player
 * Sherman Williams, professional football player with the Dallas Cowboys
 * Willie Anderson, American professional football player Cincinnati Bengals.
 * Robert Brazile Pro football Hall of Famer Houston Oilers.

title: Prichard, Alabama


text:
Saraland, Alabama

Saraland is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States, and a suburb of Mobile. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 16,171, up from 13,405 at the 2010 census. Saraland, part of the Mobile metropolitan area, is the third largest city in Mobile County.

Geography
Saraland is located at 30.82528°N, -88.09194°W (30.825186, -88.091932). It is bordered to the southwest by the city of Prichard, to the south by Chickasaw, to the east by the undeveloped northern end of Mobile, and to the northeast by Satsuma and Creola.

U.S. Route 43 (Saraland Boulevard) and Interstate 65 are the main north-south routes through Saraland. U.S. 43 leads south 9 mi to downtown Mobile and north 55 mi to Jackson, while I-65 leads south 15 mi to its terminus at Interstate 10 in southwestern Mobile, and northeast 157 mi to Montgomery, the state capital.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Saraland has a total area of 32.4 sqmi, of which 0.32 sqmi, or 0.68%, are water. The city is drained by Bayou Sara, an east-flowing tributary of the Mobile River.

History
The land area that was to become the present-day Saraland was included in a Spanish land grant to Don Diego Alvarez. Hence, descendants of Alvarez were the ones to give the community its first name: Alvarez Station. Later land squatters moved into the area and were able, legally, in 1800 to begin purchasing property. In 1807, a land office was opened in St. Stephens to handle all land transactions. Some of the pioneer families who seized the opportunity to buy up sections were named Alvarez, Rice, Hartley, Moore, LaCoste, Williams, Tool and Cleveland. Eventually, Alvarez Station was called Cleveland Station. The present name of the city is reported to have been given by C.J. DeWitt, a retired minister editor who moved south in 1890 for health reasons. He opened the first post office on the Southern Railroad in 1895. The community is purported to be the namesake of his beloved wife, Sara.

Saraland was sparsely populated during the first part of the 20th century, until an industrial and population boom occurred in neighboring Mobile. Northward expansion of Mobile in the 1940s and 50s brought about the incorporation of Saraland in 1957. At the time of incorporation, the city reported only 125 residents. By the 1960 U.S. Census, annexations had swelled the population to 4,595. In 1980, census figures cited 9,844 Saraland residents. As of the 2020 census, Saraland's population had grown to 16,171.

The worst rail disaster in the history of Amtrak occurred just east of Saraland on Big Bayou Canot on September 22, 1993. At approximately 2:53 AM, Amtrak's Sunset Limited train, powered by three locomotives, and en route from Los Angeles to Miami with 220 passengers and crew aboard, crossed the Bayou Canot bridge at high speed and derailed at a kink in the track caused by a barge captain who rammed the bridge by making a wrong turn in the waterway and failed to report the accident. 47 people, of whom 42 were passengers, were killed, many by drowning, others by fire. Much of the rescue efforts were average citizens of the community who journeyed out in the early morning hours in small fishing boats to help at the scene.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 12,288 people in 4,810 households, including 3,602 families, in the city. The population density was 560.9 PD/sqmi. There were 5,138 housing units at an average density of 234.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 88.50% White, 8.97% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,810 households 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 21.2% of households were one person and 8.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median household income was $38,318 and the median family income was $43,471. Males had a median income of $35,431 versus $22,787 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,470. About 7.4% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 13,405 people in 5,208 households, including 3,757 families, in the city. The population density was 558.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,828 housing units at an average density of 266.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 83.7% White, 12.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,208 households 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.8% of households were one person and 10.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.01.

The age distribution was 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median household income was $48,721 and the median family income was $54,845. Males had a median income of $44,201 versus $31,235 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,192. About 8.8% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,171 people, 5,171 households, and 3,615 families residing in the city.

Transportation

 * [[Image:I-65.svg|25px]] Interstate 65
 * [[Image:US 43.svg|25px]] US 43
 * [[Image:Alabama 158.svg|25px]] SR 158
 * [[Image:Alabama 213.svg|25px]] SR 213
 * [[Image:Alabama 13.svg|25px]] SR 13

Economy

 * Royal Dutch Shell used to operate the Saraland Refinery in Saraland, now owned by Vertex Energy.
 * Alorica Telecommunications Center
 * China Doll (brand)

Redwing Carriers, Inc. in Saraland had been identified as having a Superfund site which was at risk from climate change, due to high wildfire hazard potential, flood hazard, or potential for damage in Category 4 or 5 hurricanes. As of September 2, 2014, Redwing Carriers, Inc. in Saraland was removed from the National Priorities List (NPL) because no hazardous waste remains on site.

Public schools
Saraland is served by the Saraland Board of Education. Residents are zoned to Saraland Early Education Center, Saraland Elementary School, Saraland (formerly Adams) Middle School, and Saraland High School.

In June 2006, the City of Saraland voted to break away from the Mobile County Public School System and form its own school system. The school district came into effect in autumn 2008; at the time Saraland Elementary and Adams Middle were a part of the city district, but high schoolers had to attend county schools because Saraland High School was not yet open. Prior to the split of the City of Saraland from the county system in 2009, Saraland was zoned to Satsuma High School. 2011 was the final year in which Saraland residents were permitted by the county to attend county schools.

Several years prior to 2009 officials of Saraland, Satsuma, and Chickasaw contemplated forming the "Delta School District."

Private schools
Private schools within Saraland include Evangel Christian School, North Mobile Christian School, and the Saraland Yeshiva right outside of the city limits.

Notable people

 * Matt Peacock (baseball), Professional Baseball Pitcher
 * Ann Casey, retired professional wrestler
 * Jay Prosch, National Football League fullback for the Houston Texans
 * Velus Jones, Jr, National Football League wide receiver for the Chicago Bears.
 * Cordale Flott, National Football League Cornerback for the New York Giants.

title: Saraland, Alabama


text:
Satsuma, Alabama

Satsuma is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 6,749, up from 6,168 at the 2010 census. Known prior to 1915 as "Fig Tree Island", the city was named after the satsuma orange, which was successfully cultivated and grown in Alabama starting in 1878, a gift from Emperor Meiji of Japan. Satsuma is a part of the Mobile metropolitan area.

History
The area was inhabited for thousands of years by differing cultures of indigenous peoples.

 * 1878 – Farmers introduced Mandarin Satsuma oranges to Alabama from Japan for cultivation.
 * 1900 – Satsuma area known as Fig Tree Island
 * 1910 – Pace Orange Orchard had about 100 acre of pecans and satsuma trees on the area.
 * 1915 – Town named "Satsuma"
 * 1918 – Norman E. McConaghy hired as manager of the Satsuma Orange & Pecan Groves Company
 * 1922 – Packing house built; still stands above Mac's Landing
 * 1912-1924 – Satsuma trees damaged by cold weather and citrus canker
 * 1959 – Plans for a town charter submitted to the County of Mobile and the State of Alabama were approved. April 6, 1959, was the first municipal election.
 * 2011 – Satsuma breaks away from the Mobile County school system and starts working on its own curriculum.

Geography
Satsuma is in northeastern Mobile County; it is bordered to the southwest by Saraland, to the northeast by Creola, and to the southeast by an undeveloped extension of the city of Mobile. U.S. Route 43 and Interstate 65 are the main highways through Saraland, intersecting at the northern edge of the city. Downtown Mobile is 13 mi to the south.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Satsuma has a total area of 7.4 sqmi, of which 0.05 sqmi, or 0.68%, are water. The city is bordered to the east by Gunnison Creek, a tidal tributary of Bayou Sara, which leads to the Mobile River.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 5,687 people in 2,017 households, including 1,688 families, in the city. The population density was 873.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,107 housing units at an average density of 323.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.72% White, 5.05% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,017 households 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 14.8% of households were one person and 6.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.10.

The age distribution was 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median household income was $50,496 and the median family income was $53,180. Males had a median income of $39,123 versus $24,851 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,972. About 4.7% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 6,168 people in 2,290 households, including 1,774 families, in the city. The population density was 948.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,416 housing units at an average density of 371.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 88.7% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,290 households 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.8% of households were one person and 8.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% 65 or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median household income was $59,289 and the median family income was $63,333. Males had a median income of $46,938 versus $33,791 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,087. About 0% of families and 0.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,749 people, 2,205 households, and 1,705 families residing in the city.

Education
Satsuma is served by the Satsuma City School System, following the successful separation from the Mobile County Public School System in 2012.

Satsuma voted on April 12, 2011, to create its own school system. The Satsuma City School System is served by two schools, Robert E. Lee Elementary (K-6) and Satsuma High School (7-12).

Before separation from Mobile
Before the Satsuma City School System was founded, the schools that served Satsuma included Robert E. Lee Primary School (Kindergarten through 2), Robert E. Lee Intermediate School (3 through 5), North Mobile County Middle School (6-8), Satsuma High School (9-12). Lee Primary, Lee Intermediate, and Satsuma High were in the city of Satsuma, while North Mobile County Middle was in Axis.

Before the Saraland City Schools system formed, Satsuma residents attended Adams Middle School in Saraland. In 2003, officials of Satsuma, Saraland, and Chickasaw contemplated forming the "Delta School District." Such a split would have required an act from the Alabama Legislature. In June 2006, the City of Saraland voted to break away from the Mobile County Public School System and form its own school system. On September 7, 2010 North Mobile County Middle School opened, replacing the role of Adams Middle School in Saraland, because residents outside of Saraland are no longer zoned to Adams Middle.

Satsuma residents considered leaving Mobile County schools since circa 2001. In 2010, the City of Satsuma began conducting a study on whether it can split from the Mobile County school system. Tom Williams, a council member of Satsuma, said he began considering splitting once Mobile County decided to situate the new middle school in Axis, 12 mi from Satsuma, since students have longer bus rides to the school and that the school is further away from fire and police stations. The Mobile County government built the school outside of the Satsuma city limits so the city government would be unable to possess the school if it opted to secede.

title: Satsuma, Alabama


text:
Theodore, Alabama

Theodore is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 6,270 at the 2020 census. It is a part of the Mobile metropolitan area. Prior to 1900 this area was known as "Clements", but it is now named for William Theodore Hieronymous, a sawmill operator and postmaster.

Geography
Theodore is located in southern Mobile County at 30.55069°N, -88.18088°W. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Mobile (the original center of Theodore is now within the Mobile city limits) and to the northwest by Tillmans Corner. Interstate 10 forms the border between Theodore and Tillmans Corner, with access from Exit 13 (Theodore Dawes Road). I-10 leads northeast 14 mi to downtown Mobile and west 27 mi to the Pascagoula, Mississippi, area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Theodore CDP has a total area of 8.0 sqmi, of which 0.002 sqmi, or 0.03%, are water.

Demographics
Theodore first appeared on the 1890 U.S. Census as a village. It did not appear again on the census until 1980 when it was designated a CDP (census-designated place).

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,811 people, 2,483 households, and 1,926 families living in the CDP. The population density was 571.6 PD/sqmi. There were 2,697 housing units at an average density of 226.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.11% White, 25.58% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,483 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDPwas $33,750, and the median income for a family was $36,500. Males had a median income of $32,297 versus $19,679 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,129. About 16.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 23.5% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,130 people, 2,293 households, and 1,681 families living in the CDP. The population density was 770 PD/sqmi. There were 2,473 housing units at an average density of 309.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.7% White, 13.3% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,293 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,473, and the median income for a family was $44,950. Males had a median income of $33,673 versus $23,658 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,384. About 17.9% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,270 people, 2,035 households, and 1,465 families residing in the CDP.

Education
The community is in the Mobile County Public School System.

Two elementary schools, Mary Borroughs and Nan Gray Davis, serve sections of the CDP. All residents are zoned to Hankins Middle School and Theodore High School.

Points of interest

 * Bellingrath Gardens
 * Mobile Greyhound park
 * Fowl River

Notable people

 * Paul Bearer (William Moody), wrestling manager for The Undertaker
 * Bernie Carbo, former Major League Baseball player
 * Kentrail Davis, minor league baseball player
 * Rodger McFarlane, first executive director of Gay Men's Health Crisis.
 * C. J. Mosley, College football linebacker for Alabama and current NFL linebacker for the New York Jets
 * Etric Pruitt, professional football player
 * Willie Quinnie, former NFL wide receiver
 * Geoff Ramsey, co-founder of Rooster Teeth and Achievement Hunter
 * Andre Royal, former NFL linebacker

title: Theodore, Alabama


text:
Tillmans Corner, Alabama

Tillmans Corner, or Tillman’s Corner, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 17,731. It is part of the Mobile metropolitan area, and is the largest census-designated place in Alabama.

Geography
Tillmans Corner is located in southern Mobile County at 30.58333°N, -88.19778°W (30.583293, -88.197876). It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Mobile and to the southeast by Theodore. Interstate 10 forms the border between Tillmans Corner and Theodore, with access from Exit 13 (Theodore Dawes Road). I-10 leads northeast 14 mi to Downtown Mobile and west 27 mi to Pascagoula, Mississippi.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Tillmans Corner CDP has a total area of 13.0 sqmi, of which 0.04 sqmi, or 0.30%, are water.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,685 people, 5,904 households, and 4,457 families residing in the community. The population density was 896.8 PD/sqmi. There were 6,347 housing units at an average density of 362.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the community was 93.57% White, 3.16% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 1.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,904 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the community, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $34,309, and the median income for a family was $40,409. Males had a median income of $30,613 versus $21,637 for females. The per capita income for the community was $16,901. About 11.9% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,398 people, 6,604 households, and 4,690 families residing in the community. The population density was 1,300 PD/sqmi. There were 7,109 housing units at an average density of 546.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the community was 82.2% White, 11.4% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 3.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,604 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the community, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $38,031, and the median income for a family was $44,784. Males had a median income of $38,617 versus $25,544 for females. The per capita income for the community was $18,291. About 18.4% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,731 people, 6,400 households, and 4,384 families residing in the CDP.

Education
It is within the Mobile County Public School System.

Sections of the current CDP are served by Nan Gray Davis, Griggs, Haskew, and Meadowlake elementary schools. Middle schools serving sections of Tillmans Corner include Hankins Middle School and Burns Middle School. Much of it is zoned to Theodore High School while a small portion is zoned to Davidson High School.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Tillmans Corner has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

title: Tillmans Corner, Alabama


text:
Beatrice, Alabama

Beatrice is a town in Monroe County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1901. At the 2020 census the population was 204, down from 301 in 2010 and 412 in 2000.

Geography
Beatrice is located in northern Monroe County at 31.73306°N, -87.20667°W (31.733178, -87.206773). Alabama State Routes 21 and 47 pass through the town. Together they lead southwest 17 mi to Monroeville, the county seat, and east 5 mi to Riley. State Route 265 leads north from Beatrice 20 mi to Camden.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Beatrice has a total area of 1.4 sqmi, all land.

2020 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 412 people, 158 households, and 106 families residing in the town. The population density was 304.8 PD/sqmi. There were 203 housing units at an average density of 150.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 26.94% White, 72.57% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American and 0.24% Pacific Islander. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 158 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $15,833, and the median income for a family was $15,625. Males had a median income of $30,417 versus $15,469 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,661. About 39.6% of families and 44.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 54.5% of those under age 18 and 29.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Beatrice has one school local to the town region, J.F. Shields High School. The school has approximately 260 students, living in Beatrice and other nearby towns. The school maintains a Student-Teacher ratio of 15:1, rating in the top 20% of the Alabama state. The school marks with the ACT test.

Notable people

 * Butch Avinger, former NFL player
 * John Drew, former NBA player (Atlanta Hawks), graduate of J. F. Shields
 * Thad McClammy, politician

title: Beatrice, Alabama


text:
Excel, Alabama

Excel is a town in Monroe County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 557. The current mayor is Jenny Countryman.

Excel is the birthplace of former University of Alabama and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. Excel High School (3A) provides education for children in and around the town of Excel.

Excel incorporated in February 1948.

History
The first settlers arrived in Excel around 1875. Around the turn of the century, Excel was connected by rail, allowing for economic expansion through the shipping of lumber and farm products. The rail line ceased operation in 1935, and Excel's growth slowed by 1937.

Geography
Excel is located at 31.42722°N, -87.34056°W (31.427308, -87.340587).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 723 people, 270 households, and 205 families residing in the town. The population density was 425.3 PD/sqmi. There were 295 housing units at an average density of 173.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.1% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.1% some other race, and 2.4% from two or more races. 0.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 270 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were headed by married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68, and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

For the period 2007–2011, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $34,667, and the median income for a family was $39,167. Male full-time workers had a median income of $40,000 versus $36,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,863. About 10.7% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Excel, Alabama


text:
Frisco City, Alabama

Frisco City is a town in Monroe County, Alabama, United States. The population was 1,170 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Frisco City is located at 31.43361°N, -87.40139°W (31.4334985, -87.4013750).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.04 sqmi, of which 4.03 sqmi is land and 0.01 sqmi, or 0.12%, is water.

History
What would become Frisco City started out as two mid-19th century communities named Lufkin and Snider. It initially incorporated as the town of Jones Mill in 1909. It was named for the owner of the local grist mill. Four years later on November 4, 1913, the town was renamed as Roy for Roy Megargel, owner of the Gulf, Florida, and Alabama Railroad (GFA). The renaming was done on the condition that "Roy" would receive a rail line to the Town.

When Megargel failed to deliver on his promise, the town reverted to its name of Jones Mill in 1919 (also referred to as Jones Mills plural). Megargel failed to keep his name on Jones Mill, but later received a community named for him, that of Megargel, a census-designated place.

In 1925, the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad bought the GFA Railroad and agreed to complete what Megargel was not able to. In 1928, the line was completed, and in gratitude, the town formally renamed itself as Frisco City (taken from San Francisco).

Climate
Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 1,170 people, 520 households, and 331 families residing in the city. There were 579 housing units.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 1,309 people, 531 households, and 352 families in the town. The population density was 326 PD/sqmi. There were 623 housing units at an average density of 155.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 49.3% Black or African American, 45.4% White, 1.3% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. 1.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 531 households 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 22.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.2% of households were one person and 9.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% 65 or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median household income was $23,884 and the median family income was $28,512. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $19,327 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,181. About 34.6% of families and 38.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 60.7% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 1,460 people, 589 households, and 405 families in the town. The population density was 361.9 PD/sqmi. There were 665 housing units at an average density of 164.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 52.95% White, 43.56% Black or African American, 1.51% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 589 households 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 30.1% of households were one person and 14.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.

The median household income was $26,176 and the median family income was $32,663. Males had a median income of $26,898 versus $19,464 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,170. About 19.5% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.8% of those under age 18 and 29.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Alfred Malone, professional football player

title: Frisco City, Alabama


text:
Monroeville, Alabama

Monroeville is the county seat of Monroe County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census its population was 5,951.

Monroeville is known as the hometown of two writers, Truman Capote and Harper Lee, who were childhood friends in the 1930s. Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird earned her the Pulitzer Prize and became a tourist draw for the town. In 1997, the Alabama Legislature designated Monroeville the "Literary Capital of Alabama". Monroeville is also the home of Walter McMillian, who was defended by Bryan Stevenson in overturning a wrongful conviction and featured in his memoir Just Mercy (2014), as well as the 2019 eponymous movie adaptation. Monroeville is also the birthplace of Cynthia Tucker, born March 13, 1955, an American journalist whose weekly column is syndicated by Universal Uclick. She received a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2007 for her work at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she served as editorial page editor. She was also a Pulitzer finalist in 2004 and 2006.

History
Occupied for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, this area was ceded by the historic tribe to the U.S. government in the 1830s and the era of Indian Removal.

The town was first known as Walker's Mill and Store, named for Major Walker, the area's first European-American settler. In 1832, the legislature relocated the county seat to Monroeville from Claiborne on the Alabama River. The settlement was briefly renamed "Centerville" due to its location in the center of the county, and then was formally changed to Monroeville. The town was not formally incorporated until April 15, 1899.

Geography
Monroeville is located at 31.51806°N, -87.3275°W (31.518075, -87.327543).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.7 km2, of which 34.6 km2 is land and 0.02 sqkm, or 0.05%, is water.

Almost all of the urban area lies on Bama fine sandy loam. Less developed areas around town are mostly on Saffell gravelly sandy loam or Flomaton gravelly loamy sand.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 6,862 people, 2,687 households, and 1,870 families living in the city. The population density was 525.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,016 housing units at an average density of 231.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 53.09% White, 44.84% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,687 households 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.0% of households were one person and 11.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.4 males.

The median household income was $28,229 and the median family income was $36,476. Males had a median income of $35,600 versus $20,184 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,070. About 20.4% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 6,519 people, 2,656 households, and 1,723 families living in the city. The population density was 488 PD/sqmi. There were 3,056 housing units at an average density of 228.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 55.7% White, 42.1% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,656 households 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 30.5% of households were one person and 12.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% 65 or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median household income was $31,593 and the median family income was $49,548. Males had a median income of $41,324 versus $31,033 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,553. About 23.3% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.3% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over today.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 5,951 people, 2,106 households, and 1,259 families residing in the city.

Education
Monroeville was formerly home of Alabama Southern Community College, which has been consolidated with the former Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton and Faulkner Community College headquartered in Bay Minette, Alabama. It no longer the administrative center, but now has a branch campus of Coastal Alabama Community College, a state-supported, fully accredited, comprehensive two-year college serving southwest Alabama. Its main campus and administrative offices are in Bay Minette.

Literary fame
Author Harper Lee was born and raised in Monroeville. Her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which received the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, explored the fictional town of Maycomb, inspired by her hometown. Her other novel, Go Set a Watchman, is also set in Maycomb. Truman Capote, best known for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and his non-fiction novel In Cold Blood, spent part of his childhood in Monroeville. Lee and Capote were neighbors and remained close friends into adulthood. Capote's early novels, including Other Voices, Other Rooms and The Grass Harp, draw heavily on his childhood in Monroeville. Capote has acknowledged being the inspiration for the character of Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird, while Lee in turn was the inspiration for the character of Idabel in Other Voices, Other Rooms.

Novelist Mark Childress and Cynthia Tucker, syndicated columnist and winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, were also born in Monroeville.

Annual cultural events
As of 2006, an estimated 30,000 tourists visited Monroeville annually due to its association with the novel and adaptations of To Kill a Mockingbird. Each May, the Monroe County Heritage Museum stages an amateur play based on the book on the grounds of the courthouse. The interior of the courthouse was used as a reference for the film version of the book. It is the venue for the later amateur productions. The all-volunteer cast has been invited to perform in Washington, D.C., Kingston upon Hull and Jerusalem. In 1997, the Alabama Legislature designated Monroeville and Monroe County the "Literary Capital of Alabama".

Television
In the television show Private Practice, created and produced by Shonda Rhimes, the fictional character Charlotte King was born in Monroeville.

Notable people

 * Marsha Barbour, first lady of the State of Mississippi from 2004 to 2012
 * Chris Booker, Major League Baseball player
 * Truman Capote, author
 * Mark Childress, novelist
 * Marva Collins, educator
 * Amasa Coleman Lee, lawyer and legislator
 * Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
 * Walter McMillian, exonerated and freed in 1993 after being sentenced to death in a wrongful conviction
 * Allison Moorer, folk singer
 * Fannie E. Motley, first African-American student to graduate from Spring Hill College
 * Marie Rudisill, author and television personality
 * Bill Selby, former utility player from to  with the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians
 * Cynthia Tucker, syndicated columnist who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
 * Tytus Howard, current tackle for the Houston Texans

title: Monroeville, Alabama