Editing Saraland, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Saraland, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = "Gateway to Progress"
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map = File:Mobile County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Saraland Highlighted 0168160.svg
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Alabama
|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          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Dr. Howard Rubenstein
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1957
|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 21, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 83.84
|area_total_sq_mi         = 32.37
|area_land_km2            = 83.27
|area_land_sq_mi          = 32.15
|area_water_km2           = 0.57
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.22
|elevation_ft             = 13
|elevation_m              = 4
|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=1600000US0168160&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Saraland city, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 16171
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 194.20
|population_density_sq_mi = 502.97
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|49|31|N|88|5|31|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 36571
|area_code                = [[Area code 251|251]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-68160
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0153329
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.saraland.org}}
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|map_caption = Location in Mobile County, Alabama
}}
'''Saraland''' is a city in [[Mobile County, Alabama|Mobile County]], [[Alabama]], United States, and a [[suburb]] of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the city was 16,171,<ref name="Census 2020"/> 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 {{coord|30|49|31|N|88|5|31|W|type:city}} (30.825186, -88.091932).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the southwest by the city of [[Prichard, Alabama|Prichard]], to the south by [[Chickasaw, Alabama|Chickasaw]], to the east by the undeveloped northern end of Mobile, and to the northeast by [[Satsuma, Alabama|Satsuma]] and [[Creola, Alabama|Creola]].

[[U.S. Route 43]] (Saraland Boulevard) and [[Interstate 65]] are the main north–south routes through Saraland. U.S. 43 leads south {{convert|9|mi|0}} to downtown Mobile and north {{convert|55|mi}} to [[Jackson, Alabama|Jackson]], while I-65 leads south {{convert|15|mi}} to its terminus at [[Interstate 10]] in southwestern Mobile, and northeast {{Convert|157|mi}} to [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], the state capital.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Saraland has a total area of {{convert|32.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.32|sqmi|km2}}, or 0.68%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> The city is drained by Bayou Sara, an east-flowing tributary of the [[Mobile River]].

== History ==
<!--http://www.saraland.org/Default.asp?PN='CityHall'&P='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, Alabama|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.<ref name="Census 2020"/>

The worst rail disaster in the history of [[Amtrak]] occurred just east of Saraland on [[Big Bayou Canot rail accident|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.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 4595
|1970= 7840
|1980= 9833
|1990= 11751
|2000= 12288
|2010= 13405
|2020= 16171
|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|accessdate=June 6, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 12,288 people in 4,810 households, including 3,602 families, in the city.  The population density was {{convert|560.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 5,138 housing units at an average density of {{convert|234.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|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.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

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 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 13,405 people in 5,208 households, including 3,757 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|558.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,828 housing units at an average density of {{convert|266.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|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.<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 4, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

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===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Saraland racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0168160&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|12,378
|76.54%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,261
|13.98%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|225
|1.39%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|189
|1.17%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|6
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|801
|4.95%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|311
|1.92%
|}
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 in Alabama|Interstate 65]]
*[[Image:US 43.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 43|US 43]]
*[[Image:Alabama 158.svg|25px]] [[Alabama State Route 158|SR 158]]
*[[Image:Alabama 213.svg|25px]] [[Alabama State Route 213|SR 213]]
*[[Image:Alabama 13.svg|25px]] [[Alabama State Route 13|SR 13]]

==Economy==
*[[Royal Dutch Shell]] used to operate the Saraland Refinery in Saraland, now owned by Vertex Energy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wkrg.com/news/shell-sells-mobile-chemical-lp-refinery-to-vertex-energy/|title=Shell sells Mobile Chemical LP Refinery to Vertex Energy|date=May 27, 2021}}</ref>
*Alorica Telecommunications Center
*[[China Doll (brand)|China Doll]], a brand of rice and beans.

Redwing Carriers, Inc. in Saraland had been identified as having a [[List of Superfund sites|Superfund site]] which was at risk from [[Climate change in the United States|climate change]], due to high wildfire hazard potential, flood hazard, or potential for damage in Category 4 or 5 hurricanes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2019/11/22/report-climate-change-threatens-11-alabama-superfund-sites/|title=Report: Climate change threatens 11 Alabama superfund sites|last=Burkhalter|first=Eddie|date=November 22, 2019|website=Alabama Political Reporter|language=en-US|access-date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=US EPA|first=OSRTI|title=REDWING CARRIERS, INC. (SARALAND) Site Profile|url=https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/CurSites/srchsites.cfm|access-date=June 10, 2020|website=cumulis.epa.gov|language=en}}</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===

====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]].<ref>"[http://saralandcity.schoolinsites.com/?PN=Schools2 Schools]." Saraland City Schools. Retrieved on October 22, 2010.</ref>

In June 2006, the City of Saraland voted to break away from the [[Mobile County Public School System]] and form its own school system.<ref>"[http://www.saralandcoc.com/education.php Education]." Saraland Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on October 22, 2010.</ref> 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.<ref>Lucio, Diana. "[http://www.wkrg.com/local/article/saraland_school_system_coming_soon/6561/Nov-04-2007_1-56-am/ Saraland School System Coming Soon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808164434/http://www.wkrg.com/local/article/saraland_school_system_coming_soon/6561/Nov-04-2007_1-56-am |date=2009-08-08 }}." ''[[WKRG]]''. Saturday November 3, 2007. Retrieved on October 22, 2010.</ref> Prior to the split of the City of Saraland from the county system in 2009, Saraland was zoned to [[Satsuma High School]].<ref>Cannon, Jason. "[http://www.demopolistimes.com/2009/06/23/vickers-accepts-saraland-position/ Vickers accepts Saraland position]." ''[[Demopolis Times]]''. Tuesday June 23, 2009. Retrieved on November 17, 2012.</ref> 2011 was the final year in which Saraland residents were permitted by the county to attend county schools.<ref>Philips, Rena Havner. "[http://blog.al.com/live/2011/12/mobile_county_school_system_se.html Mobile County school system sees dropping enrollment]." ''[[Mobile Press-Register]]''. Monday December 12, 2011. Retrieved on November 17, 2012.</ref>

Several years prior to 2009 officials of Saraland, [[Satsuma, Alabama|Satsuma]], and [[Chickasaw, Alabama|Chickasaw]] contemplated forming the "Delta School District."<ref>Philips, Rena Havner. "[http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/123814532499410.xml&coll=3 Chickasaw officials to examine possible school split]." ''[[Mobile Press-Register]]''. Friday March 27, 2009. Retrieved on March 31, 2009.</ref>

====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]]<ref name="cacint">{{cite web|url=http://mrkurtnielsen.com/CAC/Interview-Anncasey01.html|title=Ann Casey: More than just a pretty face|author=Kociaba, Bill|publisher=[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]|accessdate=March 14, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Jay Prosch]], [[National Football League]] [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] for the [[Houston Texans]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Prosch|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16875/jay-prosch|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 15, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Velus Jones Jr.|Velus Jones Jr]], [[National Football League]] [[wide receiver]] for the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bears select Velus Jones with No. 71 pick in 2022 draft |url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/bears-select-velus-jones-with-no-71-pick-in-2022-draft |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Cordale Flott]], [[National Football League]] [[Cornerback]] for the [[New York Giants]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cordale Flott #28 New York Giants|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/cordale-flott/ | access-date=September 18, 2023 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|United States}}
* {{Official website|www.saraland.org}}
* [http://www.saralandchamber.com/ Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce]
{{Coord|display=title|30.825186|-88.091932}}

{{Mobile County, Alabama}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Mobile County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1957]]