Editing Grand Bay, Alabama

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Grand Bay, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "A community in action"
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Mobile_County_Alabama_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Grand_Bay_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Mobile County, Alabama|Mobile County]] and the state of [[Alabama]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Mobile County, Alabama|Mobile]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web|title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 22, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 22.53
|area_total_sq_mi         = 8.70
|area_land_km2            = 22.47
|area_land_sq_mi          = 8.68
|area_water_km2           = 0.06
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
|elevation_ft             = 82
|elevation_m              = 25
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0131024&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Grand Bay CDP, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 22, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 3460
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 153.99
|population_density_sq_mi = 398.85
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|28|26|N|88|20|30|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 36541
|area_code                = [[Area code 251|251]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-31024
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0155081
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
'''Grand Bay''' is an [[unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Mobile County, Alabama|Mobile County]], [[Alabama]], United States. It is part of the [[Mobile metropolitan area]]. The population was 3,460 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/>

== History ==

According to local accounts, George Cassibry was the first 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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxIbAAAAYAAJ&dq=cassibry+grand+bay+alabama&pg=RA8-PA329 |title=Southern Farm and Home: A Magazine of Agriculture, Manufactures and Domestic Economy |date=1871 |publisher=J.W. Burke |language=en}}</ref> Exploration and settlement of the area was well underway by the mid-nineteenth century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alabama |first=Geological Survey of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8GTPAAAAMAAJ&dq=grand+bay+land+company+alabama&pg=PA148 |title=Biennial Report on the Geology of Alabama |date=1858 |publisher=M.D.J. Slade |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kicoAAAAYAAJ&dq=grand+bay+lumber+alabama&pg=PA595 |title=De Bow's Review |date=1859 |publisher=J.D.B. De Bow |language=en}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|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, Alabama|Mobile]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Andrews |first=Christopher Columbus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lOSHxLOy-8QC&dq=granger+grand+bay+alabama&pg=PA19 |title=History of the Campaign of Mobile: Including the Coöperative Operations of Gen. Wilson's Cavalry in Alabama |date=1889 |publisher=Van Nostrand |isbn=978-0-608-43455-1 |language=en}}</ref> In 1870 the U.S. Postal Service established a post office at a location near the center of the current community.<ref name="grandbay.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandbay.org/History.htm |title=Have you ever wondered how Grand Bay got its name |access-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007073042/http://www.grandbay.org/History.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2008 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kUPAQAAIAAJ&dq=turpentine+grand+bay+alabama&pg=PA432 |title=National Magazine |date=1911 |language=en}}</ref> Supposedly, ten acres planted in pecan and [[citrus unshiu|satsuma]] trees would be enough to supply the needs of anyone.<ref name="grandbay.org"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harper |first=Roland McMillan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RKTPAAAAMAAJ&dq=grand+bay+land+company+alabama&pg=PA170 |title=Economic Botany of Alabama |date=1913 |publisher=University of Alabama |language=en}}</ref>

For a time, the town flourished.<ref>{{Cite book |last=South |first=North & |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0k1t1w5vXQAC&dq=turpentine+grand+bay+alabama&pg=RA1-PA10 |title=North & South Vol. IV. No. 1. May, 1905 |date=1905 |language=en}}</ref> A weekly newspaper was published there, and telegraph service was offered to the region through an operator at Grand Bay.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Freeman |first=Abraham Clark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9xg8AAAAIAAJ&dq=western+union+v.+henderson&pg=PA148 |title=The American State Reports: Containing the Cases of General Value and Authority Subsequent to Those Contained in the "American Decisions" [1760-1869] and the "American Reports" [1869-1887] Decided in the Courts of Last Resort of the Several States [1886-1911] |date=1891 |publisher=Bancroft-Whitney Company |language=en}}</ref> The town had a number of businesses including a hotel, drug store,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4mILAAAAYAAJ&dq=drug+store+grand+bay+alabama&pg=PA189 |title=The Southern Reporter |date=1916 |publisher=West Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref> several general merchandise stores and a bank.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Entity Records {{!}} Alabama Secretary of State |url=https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=749211&page=name&file= |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=arc-sos.state.al.us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Department |first=Alabama Banking |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uwYSAAAAYAAJ&dq=statement+state+bank+of+grand+bay+alabama&pg=RA6-PA64 |title=Annual Report of the Superintendent of Banks of the State of Alabama for the Fiscal Year Ending ... |date=1912 |publisher=Brown Printing Company, state printers and binders |language=en}}</ref> However, hurricanes in 1906 and 1910, along with a severe freeze, sent many scurrying back north.<ref>Ballard, Gussie Alexander, ''Remember Our Yesterdays'', Pelican Publishing Company, New Orleans, (1960)</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cogongrass.org/conference07/miller1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725134115/http://www.cogongrass.org/conference07/miller1.pdf |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }}</ref>

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 (ship)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places - Alabama (AL), Mobile County |url=https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/al/mobile/districts.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
Grand Bay is located in southwestern Mobile County at {{coord|30|28|27|N|88|20|31|W|type:city}} (30.474055, -88.341836),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along [[U.S. Route 90]], a few miles inland from the [[Mississippi Sound]]. US 90 leads northeast {{Convert|26|mi}} to [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] and southwest {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]]. The [[Mississippi]] state line is {{convert|3|mi|0}} west of Grand Bay. [[Alabama State Route 188]] leads southeast from Grand Bay {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Bayou La Batre, Alabama|Bayou La Batre]] and {{convert|26|mi}} to [[Dauphin Island, Alabama|Dauphin Island]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Grand Bay CDP has a total area of {{convert|8.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2}}, or 0.23% are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> 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.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1980= 3185
|1990= 3383
|2000= 3918
|2010= 3672
|2020= 3460
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,918 people, 1,364 households, and 1,078 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|452.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,441 housing units at an average density of {{convert|166.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.00% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 8.88% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.79% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.92% from two or more races. [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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]]<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=August 4, 2015 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 3,672 people, 1,339 households, and 1,021 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|420|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,498 housing units at an average density of {{convert|172.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.9% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 9.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.7% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.7% from two or more races. [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanics]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Grand Bay racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0131024&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,891
|83.55%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|323
|9.34%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|12
|0.35%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|49
|1.42%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|121
|3.5%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|64
|1.85%
|}
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).<ref>{{Cite web|title=District 3 : Mobile County|url=https://www.mobilecountyal.gov/district-3/|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=www.mobilecountyal.gov}}</ref> 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.<ref>See photos online at http://www.al.com/press-register/photos/gallery.ssf?cgi-bin/view_gallery.cgi/bama/view_gallery.ata?g_id=1942 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203232201/http://www.al.com/press-register/photos/gallery.ssf?cgi-bin%2Fview_gallery.cgi%2Fbama%2Fview_gallery.ata%3Fg_id=1942 |date=February 3, 2008 }}</ref>

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&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandbay.org/GrandBayCommunityCenter.htm |title=Rental Grand Bay Alabama |access-date=January 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810030057/http://www.grandbay.org/GrandBayCommunityCenter.htm |archive-date=August 10, 2009 }}</ref> 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 [[U.S. Route 90|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 in Alabama|Interstate 10]].

==Education==
[[Mobile County Public Schools]] operates area public schools.<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st01_al/place/p0131024_grand_bay/DC10BLK_P0131024_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Grand Bay CDP, AL]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on November 27, 2018.</ref> Some residents are zoned to Breitling Elementary School while others are zoned to Cora Castlen Elementary School.<ref>"[http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/MCPSS/MobileCounty/Departments/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Breitling%20Elementary.pdf Breitling Elementary Map]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Mobile County Public School System]]. Retrieved on November 27, 2018.</ref><ref>"[http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/MCPSS/MobileCounty/Departments/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Castlen%20Elementary.pdf Cora Castlen Elementary Zone]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Mobile County Public School System]]. Retrieved on November 27, 2018.</ref> All residents are zoned to Grand Bay Middle School and [[Alma Bryant High School]] in [[Irvington, Alabama|Irvington]].<ref>"[http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/MCPSS/MobileCounty/Departments/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Grand%20Bay%20Middle.pdf Grand Bay Middle Zone]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Mobile County Public School System]]. Retrieved on November 27, 2018.</ref><ref>"[http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/MCPSS/MobileCounty/Departments/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Bryant%20High%20School.pdf Bryant High School Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726153313/http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/MCPSS/MobileCounty/Departments/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Bryant%20High%20School.pdf |date=2020-07-26 }}." [[Mobile County Public School System]].  Retrieved on November 26, 2018.</ref>

==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 (United States)|admiral]]
*[[August P. Trovaioli]], educator, artist and art historian
*[[Mark Woodyard]], MLB player for [[Detroit Tigers]]

==See also==
* [[Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Grand Bay Savanna Little River Road Addition State Nature Preserve]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.grandbayonline.com Community website]
{{Coord|display=title|30.474055|-88.341836}}

{{Mobile County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Mobile County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1900]]