Josephine, Alabama

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Alabama, United States}}

{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Josephine, Alabama

|image_alt = Photograph of Bamahenge showing pillars erected in a grassy area and trees in the background

|settlement_type = Unincorporated community

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|image_skyline = Bamahenge.jpg

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|image_caption = Bamahenge, a full-scale fiberglass replica of Stonehenge, is located on the grounds of Barber Marina outside of Josephine

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|pushpin_map=Alabama#USA

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = Alabama

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Baldwin

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|timezone = Central (CST)

|utc_offset = -6

|timezone_DST = CDT

|utc_offset_DST = -5

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|elevation_ft = 10

|coordinates = {{coord|30|19|36|N|87|31|52|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}

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|area_code = 251

|blank_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank_info = 121057{{cite gnis|121057|Josephine}}

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Josephine is an unincorporated community in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.

History

The community is named for Josephine Ross, who was the daughter of the first postmaster.{{cite web|last1=Jackson|first1=John|title=Historic Josephine|url=http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/people/history/article_2dc1934c-a369-11e1-aada-0019bb2963f4.html|website=gulfcoastnewtoday.com|publisher=Gulf Coast News Today|accessdate=7 January 2016}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} A post office operated under the name Josephine from 1881 to 1959.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=AL&county=Baldwin | title=Baldwin County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=7 January 2016}}

Raphael Semmes, who served as the captain of the commerce raider CSS Alabama during the Civil War, had a summer home in Josephine.{{cite book|author=O. Lawrence Burnette|title=Historic Baldwin County: A Bicentennial History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4TJZPSXl-rMC&pg=PA18|date=1 January 2007|publisher=HPN Books|isbn=978-1-893619-80-7|pages=18}} In 1898, the McPherson family bought the Semmes property. They operated the Mexiwana Hotel on the site of the Semmes home until 1935. A school, which served grades 1–6, operated in Josephine from 1903 to 1917. The community was also home to a bakery before it moved to Foley.{{cite web|title=Josephine, Alabama - History|url=http://www.josephinecommunity.com/History.htm|website=josephinecommunity.com|publisher=Josephine Homeowners Association|accessdate=7 January 2016}}

A small sand mound, built by Native Americans who lived in the area, is located near the site of the former Josephine post office.{{cite book|author1=Clarence Bloomfield Moore|author2=Nancy Marie White|title=The Northwest Florida Expeditions of Clarence Bloomfield Moore|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zTfrK4HkcaUC&pg=PA18|date=27 September 1999|publisher=University of Alabama Press|isbn=978-0-8173-0992-3|pages=18}} Bamahenge, a full-scale fiberglass replica of Stonehenge, is located on the grounds of Barber Marina outside of Josephine.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Brian |title=Stonehenge replica known as Bamahenge hidden in a stand of trees in Josephine |url=https://www.al.com/gulf-coast/2013/08/stonehenge_replica_hidden_in_a.html |work=Press-Register |date=16 August 2013 |language=en}}

References

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