Mobile, Alabama

{{Main|History of Mobile, Alabama}}

{{ For timeline}}

{{Further|Alabama Creole people}}

The city gained its name from the Mobile tribe that the French colonists encountered living in the area of Mobile Bay.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: The New History of Alabama's First City, pp. 17–20. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} Although it is debated by Alabama historians, they may have been descendants of the Native American tribe whose small fortress town, Mabila, was used to conceal several thousand native warriors before an attack in 1540 on the expedition of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.Thomason (2001), Mobile, pp. 12–13. About seven years after the founding of the French Mobile settlement, the Mobile tribe, along with the Tohomé, gained permission from the colonists to settle near the fort.Thomason (2001), Mobile, pp. 20 and 24{{cite web |title=The Old Mobile Project Newsletter |publisher =University of South Alabama Center for Archaeological Studies |url=http://www.usouthal.edu/archaeology/pdf/issue-17.pdf |access-date=November 19, 2007}}

File:Mobile1725.jpg in 1725]]

File:Fort Condé 2.jpg

The European settlement of Mobile began with French colonists, who in 1702 constructed Fort Louis de la Louisiane, at Twenty-seven Mile Bluff on the Mobile River, as the first capital of the French colony of La Louisiane. It was founded by French Canadian brothers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, to establish control over France's claims to La Louisiane. Bienville was appointed as royal governor of French Louisiana in 1701. Mobile's Roman Catholic parish was established on July 20, 1703, by Jean-Baptiste de la Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier, Bishop of Quebec.Higginbotham, Jay. Old Mobile: Fort Louis de la Louisiane, 1702–1711, pages 106–107. Museum of the City of Mobile, 1977. {{ISBN|0-914334-03-4}}. The parish was the first French Catholic parish established on the Gulf Coast of the United States.

In 1704, the ship Pélican delivered 23 Frenchwomen to the colony; passengers had contracted yellow fever at a stop in Havana.Thomason (2001), Mobile, pp. 20–21. Though most of the "Pélican girls" recovered, numerous colonists and neighboring Native Americans contracted the disease in turn and many died. This early period was also the occasion of the importation of the first African slaves, transported aboard a French supply ship from the French colony of Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean, where they had first been held. The population of the colony fluctuated over the next few years, growing to 279 persons by 1708, yet shrinking to 178 persons two years later due to disease.

These additional outbreaks of disease and a series of floods resulted in Bienville ordering in 1711 that the settlement be relocated several miles downriver to its present location at the confluence of the Mobile River and Mobile Bay.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: The New History of Alabama's First City, pp. 17–27. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} A new earth-and-palisade Fort Louis was constructed at the new site during this time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/other_museums.php|title=History Museum of Mobile|website=Museumofmobile.com|access-date=March 4, 2022}}

The capital of La Louisiane was moved in 1720 to Biloxi, leaving Mobile to serve as a regional military and trading center. In 1723 the construction of a new brick fort with a stone foundation began and it was renamed Fort Condé in honor of Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon.{{cite web |title=Historic Fort Conde |work=Museum of Mobile |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/other_museums.php |access-date=October 18, 2007}}

In 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Seven Years' War, which Britain won, defeating France. By this treaty, France ceded its territories east of the Mississippi River to Britain. This area was made a part of the expanded British West Florida colony.{{cite web |title=Early European Conquests and the Settlement of Mobile |work=Alabama Department of Archives and History |url=http://www.alabamamoments.state.al.us/sec02qs.html |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716172205/http://www.alabamamoments.state.al.us/sec02qs.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all}} The British changed the name of Fort Condé to Fort Charlotte, after Queen Charlotte.{{cite web |title=Mobile: Alabama's Tricentennial City |work=Alabama Department of Archives and History |url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/mobile/mobile3.html |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-date=August 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810204644/http://archives.state.al.us/mobile/mobile3.html |url-status=dead}}

The British were eager not to lose any useful inhabitants and promised religious tolerance to the French colonists; ultimately 112 French colonists remained in Mobile.Thomason (2001), Mobile, pp. 44–45 The first permanent Jewish settlers came to Mobile in 1763 as a result of the new British rule and religious tolerance. Jews had not been allowed to officially reside in colonial French Louisiana due to the Code Noir, a decree passed by France's King Louis XIV in 1685 that forbade the exercise of any religion other than Roman Catholicism, and ordered all Jews out of France's colonies. Most of these colonial-era Jews in Mobile were merchants and traders from Sephardic Jewish communities in Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina; they added to the commercial development of Mobile.Zietz, Robert (1994). The Gates of Heaven: Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim, the first 150 years, Mobile, Alabama, 1844–1994. Mobile, Alabama: Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim, pp. 7–39 In 1766 the total population was estimated to be 860, though the town's borders were smaller than during the French colonial period. During the American Revolutionary War, West Florida and Mobile became a refuge for loyalists fleeing the other colonies.Delaney, Caldwell. The Story of Mobile, page 45. Mobile, Alabama: Gill Press, 1953. {{ISBN|0-940882-14-0}}

While the British were dealing with their rebellious colonists along the Atlantic coast, the Spanish entered the war in 1779 as an ally of France. They took the opportunity to order Bernardo de Galvez, Governor of Louisiana, on an expedition east to retake West Florida.{{cite book |title=The Fort Barrancas Story |author=David P. Ogden |date=January 2005 |publisher=Eastern National Parks |isbn=978-1-888213-15-7 |page=2}} He captured Mobile during the Battle of Fort Charlotte in 1780, as part of this campaign. The Spanish wished to eliminate any British threat to their Louisiana colony west of the Mississippi River, which they had received from France in the 1763 Treaty of Paris. Their actions were condoned by the revolting American colonies, partially evidenced by the presence of Oliver Pollack, representative of the American Continental Congress. Due to strong trade ties, many residents of Mobile and West Florida remained loyal to the British Crown. The Spanish renamed the fort as Fortaleza Carlota, and held Mobile as a part of Spanish West Florida until 1813, when it was seized by United States General James Wilkinson during the War of 1812.{{cite web |title=James Wilkinson |work=War of 1812 |url=http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/people/wilkinson.html |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103184211/http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/people/wilkinson.html |archive-date=November 3, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

File:Southern Hotel Water Street.jpg photo of the Southern Hotel on Water Street in 1934. It was completed in 1837 and demolished soon after this photograph was taken.]]

By the time Mobile was included in the Mississippi Territory in 1813, the population had dwindled to roughly 300 people.{{cite book |last=Thomason |first=Michael |title=Mobile: the new history of Alabama's first city |page=65 |publisher=Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-8173-1065-7}} The city was included in the Alabama Territory in 1817, after Mississippi gained statehood. Alabama was granted statehood in 1819; Mobile's population had increased to 809 by that time.

Mobile was well situated for trade, as its location tied it to a river system that served as the principal navigational access for most of Alabama and a large part of Mississippi. River transportation was aided by the introduction of steamboats in the early decades of the 19th century.

{{cite book|title=The Transportation Revolution, 1815–1860 |last=Taylor|first= George Rogers|year=1969 |isbn= 978-0873321013}} By 1822, the city's population had risen to 2,800.

The Industrial Revolution in Great Britain created shortages of cotton, driving up prices on world markets.{{cite book|title= Empire of Cotton: A Global History|last=Beckert |first= Sven|year= 2014|publisher =Vintage Books Division Penguin Random House |location=US|isbn= 978-0-375-71396-5}} Much land well suited to growing cotton lies in the vicinity of the Mobile River, and its main tributaries the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers. A plantation economy using slave labor developed in the region and as a consequence Mobile's population quickly grew. It came to be settled by attorneys, cotton factors, doctors, merchants and other professionals seeking to capitalize on trade with the upriver areas.

File:Convent Visitation 01.jpg, completed in 1855]]

From the 1830s onward, Mobile expanded into a city of commerce with a primary focus on the cotton and slave trades. Many slaves were transported by ship in the coastwise slave trade from the Upper South. There were many businesses in the city related to the slave trade – people to make clothes, food, and supplies for the slave traders and their wards. The city's booming businesses attracted merchants from the North; by 1850 10% of its population was from New York City, which was deeply involved in the cotton industry.[http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/161/cotton-in-a-global-economy-mississippi-1800-1860 Eugene R. Dattel, "Cotton in a Global Economy: Mississippi (1800–1860)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615105736/http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/161/cotton-in-a-global-economy-mississippi-1800-1860 |date=June 15, 2019}}, October 2006, Mississippi History Now, online publication of the Mississippi Historical Society Mobile was the slave-trading center of the state until the 1850s, when it was surpassed by Montgomery.{{cite book |last=Thomason |first=Michael |title=Mobile: The New History of Alabama's first city |pages=79–80 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-8173-1065-7}}

The prosperity stimulated a building boom that was underway by the mid-1830s, with the building of some of the most elaborate structures the city had seen up to that point. This was cut short in part by the Panic of 1837 and yellow fever epidemics.{{cite book |last=Thomason |first=Michael |title=Mobile: the new history of Alabama's first city |pages=69–71 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-8173-1065-7}} The waterfront was developed with wharves, terminal facilities, and fireproof brick warehouses. The exports of cotton grew in proportion to the amounts being produced in the Black Belt; by 1840 Mobile was second only to New Orleans in cotton exports in the nation.

With the economy so focused on one crop, Mobile's fortunes were always tied to those of cotton, and the city weathered many financial crises. Mobile slaveholders owned relatively few slaves compared to planters in the upland plantation areas, but many households had domestic slaves, and many other slaves worked on the waterfront and on riverboats. The last slaves to enter the United States from the African trade were brought to Mobile on the slave ship Clotilda. Among them was Cudjoe Lewis, who in the 1920s became the last survivor of the slave trade."[https://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2714041?uid=3738232&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103223509871 Cudjo's Own Story of the Last African Slaver]", Journal of Negro History 12 (1927), 648 Jstor

File:Steamer loading cotton in Mobile.jpgs bound for inland Alabama and Mississippi being loaded at Mobile's dockyards]]

By 1853, fifty Jewish families lived in Mobile, including Philip Phillips, an attorney from Charleston, South Carolina, who was elected to the Alabama State Legislature and then to the United States Congress. Many early Jewish families were descendants of Sephardic Jews who had been among the earliest colonial settlers in Charleston and Savannah.Zietz, Robert (1994). The Gates of Heaven: Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim, The First 150 Years, Mobile, Alabama, 1844–1994. Mobile, Alabama: Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim. pp. 7–39

By 1860 Mobile's population within the city limits had reached 29,258 people; it was the 27th-largest city in the United States and 4th-largest in what would soon be the Confederate States of America.{{cite web|title=Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1860 |work=United States Bureau of the Census |url=https://www.census.gov/population/documentation/twps0027/tab09.txt |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011126145022/http://www.census.gov/population/documentation/twps0027/tab09.txt |archive-date=November 26, 2001 |url-status=dead}} The free population in the whole of Mobile County, including the city, consisted of 29,754 citizens, of which 1,195 were free people of color.{{cite web|title=Census Data for the Year 1860 |work=Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research |url=http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/censusbin/census/cen.pl?year=860 |access-date=November 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506121628/http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/censusbin/census/cen.pl?year=860 |archive-date=May 6, 2007}} Additionally, 1,785 slave owners in the county held 11,376 people in bondage, about one-quarter of the total county population of 41,130 people.

During the American Civil War, Mobile was a Confederate city. The H. L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy ship, was built in Mobile.{{cite web|title=H. L. Hunley |work=Naval Historical Center |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-3.htm |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014220553/http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-3.htm |archive-date=October 14, 2007}} One of the most famous naval engagements of the war was the Battle of Mobile Bay, resulting in the Union taking control of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: the new history of Alabama's first city, page 113. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} On April 12, 1865, three days after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, the city surrendered to the Union army to avoid destruction after Union victories at nearby Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley.

File:Mobile Cotton Exchange.jpg and Chamber of Commerce building, completed in 1886]]

On May 25, 1865, the city suffered great loss when some three hundred people died as a result of an explosion at a federal ammunition depot on Beauregard Street. The explosion left a {{convert|30|ft|m|0|adj=on}} deep hole at the depot's location, and sank ships docked on the Mobile River; the resulting fires destroyed the northern portion of the city.Delaney, Caldwell. The Story of Mobile, pp. 144–146. Mobile, Alabama: Gill Press, 1953. {{ISBN|0-940882-14-0}}

Federal Reconstruction in Mobile began after the Civil War and effectively ended in 1874 when the local Democrats gained control of the city government.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: the new history of Alabama's first city, page 153. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} The last quarter of the 19th century was a time of economic depression and municipal insolvency for Mobile. One example can be provided by the value of Mobile's exports during this period of depression. The value of exports leaving the city fell from $9 million in 1878 to $3 million in 1882.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: the new history of Alabama's first city, p. 145. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}}

File:Van Antwerp Building 1907.jpg, completed in 1907]]

The turn of the 20th century brought the Progressive Era to Mobile. The economic structure developed with new industries, generating new jobs and attracting a significant increase in population.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: The New History of Alabama's First City, pages 154–169. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} The population increased from around 40,000 in 1900 to 60,000 by 1920. During this time the city received $3 million in federal grants for harbor improvements to deepen the shipping channels. During and after World War I, manufacturing became increasingly vital to Mobile's economic health, with shipbuilding and steel production being two of the most important industries.

During this time, social justice and race relations in Mobile worsened, however. The state passed a new constitution in 1901 that disenfranchised most blacks and many poor whites; and the white Democratic-dominated legislature passed other discriminatory legislation. In 1902, the city government passed Mobile's first racial segregation ordinance, segregating the city streetcars. It legislated what had been informal practice, enforced by convention. Mobile's African-American population responded to this with a two-month boycott, but the law was not repealed. After this, Mobile's de facto segregation was increasingly replaced with legislated segregation as whites imposed Jim Crow laws to maintain supremacy.

In 1911 the city adopted a commission form of government, which had three members elected by at-large voting. Considered to be progressive, as it would reduce the power of ward bosses, this change resulted in the elite white majority strengthening its power, as only the majority could gain election of at-large candidates. In addition, poor whites and blacks had already been disenfranchised. Mobile was one of the last cities to retain this form of government, which prevented smaller groups from electing candidates of their choice. But Alabama's white yeomanry had historically favored single-member districts in order to elect candidates of their choice.[http://www.protectcivilrights.org/pdf/voting/AlabamaVRA.pdf James Blacksher, Edward Still, Nick Quinton, Cullen Brown, and Royal Dumas, "Voting Rights in Alabama 1982–2006"], July 2006, RenewtheVRA.org, accessed March 12, 2015

File:Alabama - Mobile Bay through Mobile - NARA - 23934849 (cropped).jpg

The red imported fire ant was first introduced into the United States via the Port of Mobile. Sometime in the late 1930s they came ashore off cargo ships arriving from South America. The ants were carried in the soil used as ballast on those ships.{{cite web |url=http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/documents/FACT/RedImportedFireAntsJusttheFacts-Sep2007.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617063432/http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/documents/FACT/RedImportedFireAntsJusttheFacts-Sep2007.pdf |archive-date=June 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all}} They have spread throughout the South and Southwest.{{cite web |title=History of the Red Imported Fire Ant |url=https://fireant.tamu.edu/learn/history-of-the-red-imported-fire-ant/ |website=Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project |publisher=Texas A&M |access-date=22 May 2025}}

File:Liberty ship at sea.jpg of the type built at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company during World War II. Twenty were completed in Mobile.]]

File:Type T2-SE-A1 tanker Hat Creek underway at sea on 16 August 1943.jpg, a T2 tanker completed by Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company in 1943. The company built 102 of these oil tankers during WWII.]]

During World War II, the defense buildup in Mobile shipyards resulted in a considerable increase in the city's white middle-class and working-class population, largely due to the massive influx of workers coming to work in the shipyards and at the Brookley Army Air Field.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: The New History of Alabama's First City, pp. 213–217. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} Between 1940 and 1943, more than 89,000 people moved into Mobile to work for war effort industries.

Mobile was one of eighteen United States cities producing Liberty ships. Its Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO) supported the war effort by producing ships faster than the Axis powers could sink them. ADDSCO also churned out a copious number of T2 tankers for the War Department. Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation, a subsidiary of Waterman Steamship Corporation, focused on building freighters, {{sclass|Fletcher|destroyer}}s, and minesweepers. The rapid increase of population in the city produced crowded conditions, increasing social tensions in the competition for housing and good jobs.{{Cite web |title=The Four Towns: Mobile |url=https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/mobile |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=The War {{!}} Ken Burns {{!}} PBS |language=en}}

In May 1943, a race riot broke out between whites and blacks. ADDSCO management had long maintained segregated conditions at the shipyards, although the Roosevelt administration had ordered defense contractors to integrate facilities. That year ADDSCO promoted 12 blacks to positions as welders, previously reserved for whites; and whites objected to the change by rioting on May 24. The mayor appealed to the governor to call in the National Guard to restore order, but it was weeks before officials allowed African Americans to return to work.[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1475 Scotty E. Kirkland, "Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO)"]. Encyclopedia of Alabama online, 2008, update August 10, 2015

In the late 1940s, the transition to the postwar economy was hard for the city, as thousands of jobs were lost at the shipyards with the decline in the defense industry. Eventually the city's social structure began to become more liberal. Replacing shipbuilding as a primary economic force, the paper and chemical industries began to expand. No longer needed for defense, most of the old military bases were converted to civilian uses. Following the war, in which many African Americans had served, veterans and their supporters stepped up activism to gain enforcement of their constitutional rights and social justice, especially in the Jim Crow South. During the 1950s the City of Mobile integrated its police force and Spring Hill College accepted students of all races. Unlike in the rest of the state, by the early 1960s the city buses and lunch counters voluntarily desegregated.

The Alabama legislature passed the Cater Act in 1949, allowing cities and counties to set up industrial development boards (IDB) to issue municipal bonds as incentives to attract new industry into their local areas. The city of Mobile did not establish a Cater Act board until 1962. George E. McNally, Mobile's first Republican mayor since Reconstruction, was the driving force behind the founding of the IDB. The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, believing its members were better qualified to attract new businesses and industry to the area, considered the new IDB as a serious rival. After several years of political squabbling, the Chamber of Commerce emerged victorious. While McNally's IDB prompted the Chamber of Commerce to become more proactive in attracting new industry, the chamber effectively shut Mobile city government out of economic development decisions.Bill Patterson, "The Founding of the Industrial Development Board of the City of Mobile: The Port City's Reluctant Use of Subsidies", Gulf South Historical Review 2000 15(2): 21–40,

In 1963, three African-American students brought a case against the Mobile County School Board for being denied admission to Murphy High School.Thomason (2001), Mobile, pp. 260–261 This was nearly a decade after the United States Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. The federal district court ordered that the three students be admitted to Murphy for the 1964 school year, leading to the desegregation of Mobile County's school system.

The civil rights movement gained congressional passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which increased the percentage of black residents able to vote,{{cite news |last1=Levins |first1=Angela |title=Voting Rights Act turns 50: What did it change? |url=https://www.al.com/news/2015/08/voting_rights_act_turns_50_w.html |work=al |date=6 August 2015 |language=en}} ended multiple forms of segregation, and allowed the NAACP to return to Mobile.{{cite web |last1=Kirkland |first1=Scott E. |title=Toward Equal Justice: A Legacy of Resistance, Sacrifice, and Service |url=https://www.mobilemuseumofart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mobile_timeline_final.pdf |website=Mobile Museum of Art |access-date=24 May 2025 |date=2021}} However, the city's commission form of government with at-large voting resulted in all positions being elected by the white majority, as African Americans could not command a majority for their candidates in the informally segregated city.{{cite web |title=Bolden v. Mobile |url=https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/embolden-v-mobile-em/ |website=Encyclopedia of Alabama}} Many forms of de facto segregation persisted for decades.{{cite news |last1=Zickgraf |first1=Ryan |title=Segregation Is Still Alive in Mardi Gras’s Birthplace |url=https://jacobin.com/2022/02/segregated-mardi-grass-carnival-parade-mobile-alabama |work=Jacobin |date=28 February 2022}}

File:Downtown Mobile 2008 03.JPG, Arthur C. Outlaw Convention Center, and the RSA Battle House Tower.]]

In 1969, the Brookley Air Force Base was closed by the Department of Defense, dealing a blow to Mobile's economy. It affected about 10% of workers in the city.{{cite web |title=Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley |url=https://www.mobileairportauthority.com/aeroplex/history/ |website=Mobile Port Authority |access-date=22 May 2025}} In total, 16,000 people lost their job.{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Garry |title=Mobile’s Economy Thrives; Port City Also Seeks Aircraft, Steel Mill Deals |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2007/02/12/mobiles-economy-thrives-port-city-also-seeks-aircraft-steel-mill-deals/27700597007/ |website=The Tuscaloosa News |agency=The Associated Press |date=11 February 2007}}

Mobile's city commission form of government was challenged and finally overturned in 1982 in City of Mobile v. Bolden, which was remanded by the United States Supreme Court to the district court. Finding that the city had adopted a commission form of government in 1911 and at-large positions with discriminatory intent, the court proposed that the three members of the city commission should be elected from single-member districts, likely ending their division of executive functions among them. Mobile's state legislative delegation in 1985 finally enacted a mayor-council form of government, with seven members elected from single-member districts. This was approved by voters. As white conservatives increasingly entered the Republican Party in the late 20th century, African-American residents of the city have elected members of the Democratic Party as their candidates of choice. Since the change to single-member districts, more women and African Americans were elected to the council than under the at-large system.

Beginning in the late 1980s, newly elected mayor Mike Dow and the city council began an effort termed the "String of Pearls Initiative" to make Mobile into a competitive city.{{cite web |title=Mobile Wins Title of All American City |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/mapsnfacts/all_america.php |access-date=November 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017135508/http://cityofmobile.org/mapsnfacts/all_america.php |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} The city initiated construction of numerous new facilities and projects, and the restoration of hundreds of historic downtown buildings and homes. City and county leaders also made efforts to attract new business ventures to the area.{{cite web |title=2005 State of the City |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/news.php?view=full&news=679 |access-date=November 15, 2007}}

File:Ashland Place Mobile AL 05.JPG]]

Mobile is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama.{{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}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|180.07|sqmi}}, with {{convert|139.48|sqmi}} of it being land, and {{convert|40.59|sqmi|1}}, or 22.5% of the total, being covered by water. The elevation in Mobile ranges from {{convert|10|ft|0}} on Water Street in downtown to {{convert|211|ft|0}} at the Mobile Regional Airport.{{cite web |title=Welcome to Mobile |work=Mobile Chamber of Commerce |url=http://www.mobilechamber.com/meet_neig.pdf |access-date=November 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201063553/http://www.mobilechamber.com/meet_neig.pdf |archive-date=December 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

Mobile has a number of notable historic neighborhoods. These include Ashland Place, Campground, Church Street East, De Tonti Square, Leinkauf, Lower Dauphin Street, Midtown, Oakleigh Garden, Old Dauphin Way, Spring Hill, and Toulminville.{{NRISref|version=2010a|dateform=mdy}}{{Cite GNIS|155253|Spring Hill}}{{cite web |title=19th Century Spring Hill Neighborhood Thematic Resource |work=National Register Information System |publisher=National Park System |url={{NRHP url |id=64000005}} | access-date=July 13, 2012}}

File:KatrinaMobileCourthouseSteps.jpg in 2005]]

Mobile's geographical location on the Gulf of Mexico provides a mild subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with hot, humid summers and mild, rainy winters. The record low temperature was {{Convert|-1|F|C}}, set on February 13, 1899, and the record high was {{convert|105|F|C}}, set on August 29, 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/daily/36603 |title=February Daily Averages for Mobile, AL (36603) |publisher=NOAA |access-date=February 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113232346/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/daily/36603 |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/daily/36603?climoMonth=8 |title=August Daily Averages for Mobile, AL (36603) |publisher=NOAA |access-date=February 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113061421/http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/daily/36603?climoMonth=8 |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}

A 2007 study determined that Mobile is the wettest city in the contiguous 48 states, with {{convert|66.3|in|sigfig=3}} of average annual rainfall over a 30-year period.Thompsen, Andrea (May 22, 2007) "[http://www.livescience.com/environment/070518_rainy_cities.html Study Reveals Top 10 Wettest United States Cities.]" Mobile averages 120 days per year with at least {{convert|0.01|in|1}} of rain. Precipitation is heavy year-round. On average, July and August are the wettest months, with frequent and often-heavy shower and thunderstorm activity. October stands out as a slightly drier month than all others. Snow is rare in Mobile. The most recent snowfall event occurred January 21, 2025, which produced record-breaking accumulations of up to 8.5 inches within the city and near-blizzard conditions.{{cite web |last1=US Department of Commerce |first1=NOAA |title=Historic January 21, 2025 Snowstorm |url=https://www.weather.gov/mob/2025_January_Snow |website=www.weather.gov |access-date=24 January 2025 |language=EN-US}}{{cite web |last1=herzmann |first1=daryl |title=KMOB Winter Storm Warning #1 |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/event/2025-O-NEW-KMOB-WS-W-0001/radar/USCOMP-N0Q-202501211200/tab/info/update/202501211917 |website=Iowa Environmental Mesonet |access-date=24 January 2025 |language=en}} The snowfall event previous to this one was on December 8, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KMOB/2017/12/8/DailyHistory.html|title=Weather History for Mobile, AL – Weather Underground|website=Wunderground.com|access-date=April 15, 2018}}

Mobile is occasionally affected by major tropical storms and hurricanes. The city suffered a major natural disaster on the night of September 12, 1979, when category-3 Hurricane Frederic passed over the heart of the city. The storm caused tremendous damage to Mobile and the surrounding area.{{cite web |title=Hurricane Frederic newspaper headlines courtesy of Hurricane City |work=Hurricane City |url=http://www.hurricanecity.com/Images/2-frederic.jpg |access-date=November 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025170631/http://www.hurricanecity.com/Images/2-frederic.jpg |archive-date=October 25, 2007}} Mobile had moderate damage from Hurricane Opal on October 4, 1995, and Hurricane Ivan on September 16, 2004.{{cite web |title=Powerful Hurricane Ivan Roars Through Caribbean and United States Gulf Coast |work=Hurricane News |url=http://www.hurricaneville.com/ivan.html |access-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-date=February 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223044733/http://www.hurricaneville.com/ivan.html |url-status=dead}}

Mobile suffered millions of dollars in damage from Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, which damaged much of the Gulf Coast cities. A storm surge of {{convert|11.45|ft|2}}, topped by higher waves, damaged eastern sections of the city with extensive flooding in downtown, the Battleship Parkway, and the elevated Jubilee Parkway.{{cite web |title=Extremely Powerful Hurricane Katrina leaves a Historic Mark on the Gulf Coast |work=National Weather Service Forecast Office Mobile/Pensacola |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/0805Katrina |access-date=May 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625184658/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/0805Katrina |archive-date=June 25, 2007}}

{{Weather box

|location = Mobile, Alabama (Mobile Regional Airport, 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1872–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 84

|Feb record high F = 85

|Mar record high F = 91

|Apr record high F = 94

|May record high F = 100

|Jun record high F = 103

|Jul record high F = 104

|Aug record high F = 105

|Sep record high F = 103

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 88

|Dec record high F = 85

|year record high F = 105

|Jan avg record high F = 75.7

|Feb avg record high F = 77.6

|Mar avg record high F = 83.0

|Apr avg record high F = 86.3

|May avg record high F = 92.2

|Jun avg record high F = 95.4

|Jul avg record high F = 96.7

|Aug avg record high F = 96.2

|Sep avg record high F = 93.8

|Oct avg record high F = 89.1

|Nov avg record high F = 82.0

|Dec avg record high F = 77.6

|year avg record high F = 97.8

|Jan high F = 61.5

|Feb high F = 65.6

|Mar high F = 71.8

|Apr high F = 77.8

|May high F = 84.9

|Jun high F = 89.4

|Jul high F = 90.9

|Aug high F = 90.8

|Sep high F = 87.5

|Oct high F = 79.7

|Nov high F = 70.2

|Dec high F = 63.5

|year high F = 77.8

|Jan mean F = 51.1

|Feb mean F = 55.0

|Mar mean F = 60.9

|Apr mean F = 66.9

|May mean F = 74.4

|Jun mean F = 80.1

|Jul mean F = 82.0

|Aug mean F = 81.9

|Sep mean F = 78.1

|Oct mean F = 69.0

|Nov mean F = 58.9

|Dec mean F = 53.3

|year mean F = 67.6

|Jan low F = 40.7

|Feb low F = 44.4

|Mar low F = 50.0

|Apr low F = 56.0

|May low F = 63.8

|Jun low F = 70.8

|Jul low F = 73.1

|Aug low F = 72.9

|Sep low F = 68.8

|Oct low F = 58.2

|Nov low F = 47.7

|Dec low F = 43.0

|year low F = 57.4

|Jan avg record low F = 22.7

|Feb avg record low F = 26.9

|Mar avg record low F = 31.9

|Apr avg record low F = 40.0

|May avg record low F = 50.0

|Jun avg record low F = 63.2

|Jul avg record low F = 68.6

|Aug avg record low F = 67.3

|Sep avg record low F = 56.8

|Oct avg record low F = 40.5

|Nov avg record low F = 30.8

|Dec avg record low F = 27.3

|year avg record low F = 21.0

|Jan record low F = 3

|Feb record low F = −1

|Mar record low F = 21

|Apr record low F = 32

|May record low F = 43

|Jun record low F = 49

|Jul record low F = 62

|Aug record low F = 57

|Sep record low F = 42

|Oct record low F = 30

|Nov record low F = 22

|Dec record low F = 8

|year record low F = -1

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 5.66

|Feb precipitation inch = 4.47

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.44

|Apr precipitation inch = 5.71

|May precipitation inch = 5.39

|Jun precipitation inch = 6.55

|Jul precipitation inch = 7.69

|Aug precipitation inch = 6.87

|Sep precipitation inch = 5.30

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.95

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.60

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.45

|year precipitation inch = 67.08

|Jan snow inch = 0.0

|Feb snow inch = 0.0

|Mar snow inch = 0.1

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.0

|Dec snow inch = 0.1

|year snow inch = 0.2

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 9.9

|Feb precipitation days = 9.2

|Mar precipitation days = 8.7

|Apr precipitation days = 7.6

|May precipitation days = 8.0

|Jun precipitation days = 12.4

|Jul precipitation days = 14.9

|Aug precipitation days = 13.2

|Sep precipitation days = 9.2

|Oct precipitation days = 6.9

|Nov precipitation days = 7.7

|Dec precipitation days = 9.4

|year precipitation days = 117.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.1

|Feb snow days = 0.0

|Mar snow days = 0.1

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.0

|Dec snow days = 0.1

|year snow days = 0.3

|Jan humidity = 74

|Feb humidity = 72

|Mar humidity = 72

|Apr humidity = 71

|May humidity = 74

|Jun humidity = 76

|Jul humidity = 78

|Aug humidity = 78

|Sep humidity = 77

|Oct humidity = 73

|Nov humidity = 75

|Dec humidity = 75

|year humidity = 75

|Jan sun = 158

|Feb sun = 155

|Mar sun = 211

|Apr sun = 255

|May sun = 300

|Jun sun = 287

|Jul sun = 246

|Aug sun = 254

|Sep sun = 233

|Oct sun = 254

|Nov sun = 193

|Dec sun = 145

|year sun=2691

|source 1 = NOAA (humidity 1981–2010){{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mob

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013894&format=pdf

| title = Station: Mobile, AL

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210618182752/https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/lcd/annual/2018/01201813MOB.pdf

| archive-date = June 18, 2021

| url = https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/lcd/annual/2018/01201813MOB.pdf

| title = Local Climatological Data Annual Summary with Comparative Data for Mobile, Alabama (KMOB)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 18, 2021}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/CCD-2018.pdf

| title = Comparative Climatic Data For the United States Through 2018

| publisher = NOAA

| access-date = July 28, 2020

| archive-date = September 19, 2020

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200919104105/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/CCD-2018.pdf

| url-status = dead

}}

|source 2 = Danish Meteorological Institute (sun, 1931–1960){{cite web|last1=Cappelen |first1=John |last2=Jensen |first2=Jens |url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |work=Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931–1960) |title=USA – Mobile, Alabama |publisher=Danish Meteorological Institute |language=da |page=316 |access-date=February 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071752/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |archive-date=January 16, 2013}}

|date = February 2013}}

{{Weather box

|location = Mobile, Alabama (Mobile Downtown Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present

|single line = Y

|collapsed = Y

|Jan record high F = 81

|Feb record high F = 86

|Mar record high F = 87

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 99

|Jun record high F = 102

|Jul record high F = 102

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 89

|Dec record high F = 82

|year record high F = 102

|Jan avg record high F = 74.5

|Feb avg record high F = 76.8

|Mar avg record high F = 81.5

|Apr avg record high F = 85.1

|May avg record high F = 92.2

|Jun avg record high F = 95.2

|Jul avg record high F = 96.7

|Aug avg record high F = 96.2

|Sep avg record high F = 94.2

|Oct avg record high F = 89.1

|Nov avg record high F = 82.4

|Dec avg record high F = 76.7

|year avg record high F = 97.8

|Jan high F = 62.1

|Feb high F = 65.8

|Mar high F = 71.8

|Apr high F = 77.9

|May high F = 85.0

|Jun high F = 90.0

|Jul high F = 91.7

|Aug high F = 91.9

|Sep high F = 88.8

|Oct high F = 81.3

|Nov high F = 71.6

|Dec high F = 64.3

|year high F = 78.5

|Jan mean F = 52.3

|Feb mean F = 55.9

|Mar mean F = 61.8

|Apr mean F = 68.3

|May mean F = 75.7

|Jun mean F = 81.5

|Jul mean F = 83.5

|Aug mean F = 83.6

|Sep mean F = 80.3

|Oct mean F = 71.1

|Nov mean F = 60.8

|Dec mean F = 54.6

|year mean F = 69.1

|Jan low F = 42.5

|Feb low F = 46.1

|Mar low F = 51.8

|Apr low F = 58.6

|May low F = 66.3

|Jun low F = 73.1

|Jul low F = 75.3

|Aug low F = 75.3

|Sep low F = 71.8

|Oct low F = 61.0

|Nov low F = 49.9

|Dec low F = 44.9

|year low F = 59.7

|Jan avg record low F = 24.0

|Feb avg record low F = 29.5

|Mar avg record low F = 34.1

|Apr avg record low F = 42.5

|May avg record low F = 51.7

|Jun avg record low F = 65.6

|Jul avg record low F = 69.9

|Aug avg record low F = 68.5

|Sep avg record low F = 59.1

|Oct avg record low F = 43.3

|Nov avg record low F = 32.7

|Dec avg record low F = 28.6

|year avg record low F = 22.9

|Jan record low F = 8

|Feb record low F = 13

|Mar record low F = 23

|Apr record low F = 36

|May record low F = 43

|Jun record low F = 55

|Jul record low F = 63

|Aug record low F = 60

|Sep record low F = 48

|Oct record low F = 34

|Nov record low F = 24

|Dec record low F = 12

|year record low F = 8

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 5.19

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.77

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.11

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.86

|May precipitation inch = 4.42

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.78

|Jul precipitation inch = 6.57

|Aug precipitation inch = 7.14

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.47

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.80

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.13

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.28

|year precipitation inch = 60.52

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 11.3

|Feb precipitation days = 11.5

|Mar precipitation days = 11.4

|Apr precipitation days = 9.1

|May precipitation days = 8.5

|Jun precipitation days = 12.7

|Jul precipitation days = 14.4

|Aug precipitation days = 14.0

|Sep precipitation days = 8.9

|Oct precipitation days = 9.2

|Nov precipitation days = 10.4

|Dec precipitation days = 12.0

|year precipitation days = 133.4

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013838&format=pdf

| title = Station: Mobile DWTN AP, AL

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}

}}

File:House on Springhill Avenue Mobile 12-29-2012.jpg

{{See also|Late December 2012 North American storm complex}}

In late December 2012, the city suffered two tornado hits.{{Clarify|date=July 2024|Please clarify when and/or where these two hits occurred.}} On December 25, 2012, at 4:54 pm, a large wedge tornado touched down in the city.{{cite web |url=https://www.al.com/live/2012/12/mobilians_assess_damage_move_t.html |title=Mobilians assess damage, move to action in wake of EF-2 tornado |date=December 26, 2012 |work=Press-Register |author=Michael Dumas |publisher=AL.com |access-date=December 5, 2021}} The tornado rapidly intensified as it moved north-northeast at speeds of up to {{convert|50|mph|0|abbr=on}}. The path took the tornado into Midtown, causing damage or destruction to at least 100 structures. The heaviest damage to houses was along Carlen Street, Rickarby Place, Dauphin Street, Old Shell Road, Margaret Street, Silverwood Street, and Springhill Avenue.

The tornado caused significant damage to the Carmelite Monastery, Little Flower Catholic Church, commercial real estate along Airport Boulevard and Government Street in the Midtown at the Loop neighborhood, Murphy High School, Trinity Episcopal Church, Springhill Avenue Temple, and Mobile Infirmary Hospital before moving into the neighboring city of Prichard. The tornado was classified as an EF2 tornado by the National Weather Service on December 26.

The path taken through the city was just a short distance east of the path taken days earlier, on December 20, by an EF1 tornado which had touched down near Davidson High School and taken a path ending in Prichard.{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/?n=20121220_tornado_pns |title=NWS Damage Survey Results for 20 December 2012 Tornado Across The Mobile Metropolitan Area |work=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office-Mobile/Pensacola |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=December 26, 2012}}

{{Historical populations

|type= USA

|1785| 746

|1788| 1468

|1820| 1500

|1830| 3194

|1840| 12672

|1850| 20515

|1860| 29258

|1870| 32034

|1880| 29132

|1890| 31076

|1900| 38469

|1910| 51521

|1920| 60777

|1930| 68202

|1940| 78720

|1950| 129009

|1960| 202779

|1970| 190026

|1980| 200452

|1990| 196278

|2000| 198915

|2010| 195111

|2020| 187041

|2022 (est.)|183289

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1850a-02.pdf|title=Census|publisher=United States Census|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808210104/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1850a-02.pdf|archive-date=August 8, 2010}} page 36{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/twps0027.html|title=Population of the 100 largest cities and other urban places in the United States: 1790 to 1990|author=Campbell Gibson|publisher=United States Bureau of the Census}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}
2020 Census
2022 Estimate{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=March 14, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 17, 2024}}

}}

File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Mobile (5560434648).png

As of the 2020 census, there were 187,041 people, 77,772 households, and 45,953 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Mobile%20city,%20Alabama%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 17, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|1341.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 89,215 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 40.12% White, 51.06% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.23% of the population.

As of the 2010 census, there were 195,111 people, 78,959 households, and 48,689 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1402.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 89,127 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 43.88% White, 50.33% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.36% of the population.

Out of which 21,073 had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28,073 were married couples living together, 17,037 had a female householder with no husband present, 3,579 had a male householder with no wife present, and 30,270 were non-families. 25,439 of all households were made up of individuals, and 8,477 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The age distribution of the population in 2010 consisted of 6.7% under the age of five years, 75.9% over 18, and 13.7% over 65. The median age was 35.7 years. The male population was 47.0% and the female population was 53.0%. The median income for a household in the city was $37,056 for 2006 to 2010. The per capita income for the city was $22,401.

File:Mobile River at Chickasaw Creek.jpg

Aerospace, steel, ship building, retail, services, construction, medicine, and manufacturing are Mobile's major industries. After having economic decline for several decades, Mobile's economy began to rebound in the late 1980s. Between 1993 and 2003 roughly 13,983 new jobs were created as 87 new companies were founded and 399 existing companies were expanded.{{cite web |title=Mobile: Economy |work=City-Data.com |url=http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Mobile-Economy.html |access-date=December 28, 2007}}

Defunct companies that had been founded or based in Mobile included Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company, Delchamps, and Gayfers.{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/05/17/daily13.html |newspaper=Jacksonville Business Journal |title=BAE to buy Atlantic Marine for $352M |first=Mark |last=Szakonyi |date=May 18, 2010 |access-date=July 2, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/academy/a_delcha.html |title=Alfred Frederick Delchamps |work=Alabama Department of Archives and History |publisher=State of alabama |access-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023070721/http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/academy/a_delcha.html |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flotte2.com/MobileEconomics#gayfers |access-date=November 26, 2007 |title=Flotte's Notes on Mobile, Alabama |publisher=Flotte's Outlines of History, Science, and Economics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105065410/http://www.flotte2.com/MobileEconomics |archive-date=January 5, 2008 |df=mdy}} Current companies that were formerly based in the city include Checkers, Minolta-QMS, Morrison's, and the Waterman Steamship Corporation.{{cite web |url=http://checkerscompany.com/our_story |title=History: Our Story |work=Checkers |publisher=Checker's Drive-In Restaurants |access-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628161104/http://checkerscompany.com/our_story |archive-date=June 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/28/business/company-news-morrison-restaurants-plans-three-way-split.html |title=Company News; Morrison Restaurants Plans Three-Way Split |date=September 28, 1995 |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=March 8, 2012}}

In addition to those discussed below, AlwaysHD, Foosackly's, Integrity Media, and Volkert, Inc. are headquartered in Mobile.{{cite web |url=http://www.alwayshd.com/about.php |title=About AlwaysHD |work=AlwaysHD |access-date=November 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111042228/http://www.alwayshd.com/about.php |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |first=Tiffany |last=Craig |title=A Finger For Boeing |url=http://www.wkrg.com/mobilesmakeover/article/a_finger_for_boeing/15153/ |work=WKRG News 5 |publisher=Media General Communications Holdings, LLC |date=June 23, 2008 |access-date=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905083827/http://www.wkrg.com/mobilesmakeover/article/a_finger_for_boeing/15153/ |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}[https://archive.today/20130103034601/http://www.hmmagazine.com/2011/06/david-c-cook-acquires-integrity-music/ "David C. Cook Acquires Integrity Music"], The Hard Music Magazine Magazine, June 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.volkert.com/history.htm |title=Path to Success (History) |work=Volkert, Inc. |publisher=Volkert |access-date=October 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618002609/http://www.volkert.com/history.htm |archive-date=June 18, 2013}}

File:US Navy 110908-O-ZZ999-003 The Military Sealift Command joint high speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) prepares for its Sept. 17 christening cerem.jpg floating drydock in September 2011. The Spearhead is the first ship of the Spearhead class Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV).]]

File:Airbus Mobile Engineering Center.jpg

Mobile's Alabama State Docks underwent the largest expansion in its history in the early 21st century. It expanded its container processing and storage facility and increased container storage at the docks by over 1,000% at a cost of over $300 million, a project completed in 2005.{{cite web |title=Alabama Senate Approves Port Funding – Alabama State Port Authority Poised To Let New Container Terminal Contracts |work=Alabama State Port Authority |date=May 17, 2005 |url=http://www.asdd.com/Asd/news47.htm |access-date=May 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005038/http://www.asdd.com/Asd/news47.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2007}} Despite the expansion of its container capabilities and the addition of two massive new cranes, the port went from 9th largest to the 12th largest by tonnage in the nation from 2008 to 2010.{{cite web|title=Waterborne Commerce Statistics: Calendar Year 2008 |work=United States Army Corps of Engineers |url=http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/wcusnatl08.pdf |access-date=March 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807030743/http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/wcusnatl08.pdf |archive-date=August 7, 2010}}

Shipbuilding began to make a major comeback in Mobile in 1999 with the founding of Austal USA.{{cite web |title=Austal USA, Mobile AL Construction Record |work=The Colton Company |url=http://www.coltoncompany.com/shipbldg/ussbldrs/postwwii/shipyards/active/aluminum/austal.htm |access-date=November 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017213332/http://coltoncompany.com/shipbldg/ussbldrs/postwwii/shipyards/active/aluminum/austal.htm |archive-date=October 17, 2007}} A subsidiary of the Australian company Austal, it expanded its production facility for United States defense and commercial aluminum shipbuilding on Blakeley Island in 2005.{{cite web |title=New Shipbuilding Facility |work=Austal USA |url=http://www.austal.com/index.cfm?objectid=B0B75979-65BF-EBC1-2349C7A56C359198 |access-date=October 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830183927/http://www.austal.com/index.cfm?objectid=B0B75979-65BF-EBC1-2349C7A56C359198 |archive-date=August 30, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} Austal announced in October 2012, after winning a new defense contract and completing another {{convert|30000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} building within their complex on the island, that it would expand its workforce from 3,000 to 4,500 employees.{{cite news |title=Austal unveils new Navy building at Pinto Island shipyard |first=Ellen |last=Mitchell |url=https://www.al.com/press-register-business/2012/10/austal_unveils_new_navy_buildi.html |newspaper=Press Register |date=October 19, 2012 |access-date=December 4, 2021}}

Atlantic Marine operated a major shipyard at the former Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company site on Pinto Island. It was acquired by British defense conglomerate BAE Systems in May 2010 for $352 million. Doing business as BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, the company continues to operate the site as a full-service shipyard, employing approximately 600 workers with plans to expand.{{cite news |title=BAE prepares to streamline US business |first=Carola |last=Hoyos |newspaper=The Financial Times |date=September 11, 2010 |location=London}}{{cite web |url=http://www.baesystems.com/product/BAES_021153/bae-systems-ship-repair |publisher=BAE Systems |title=BAE Systems Ship Repair |access-date=July 16, 2012}}

The Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley is an industrial complex and airport located {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} south of the central business district of the city. It is the largest industrial and transportation complex in the region, having more than 70 companies, many of which are aerospace, spread over {{convert|1650|acre|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |title=Overview |work=Brookley Aeroplex |url=http://www.brookleyaeroplex.com/aeroplex.php |access-date=June 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102064612/http://www.brookleyaeroplex.com/aeroplex.php |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |df=mdy-all}} Notable employers at Brookley include Airbus North America Engineering (Airbus Military North America's facilities are at the Mobile Regional Airport), VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering (a division of ST Engineering), and Continental Motors.{{cite web |title=Tenants |work=Brookley Aeroplex |url=http://www.brookleyaeroplex.com/pdfs/tenants.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120904062251/http://www.brookleyaeroplex.com/pdfs/tenants.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}

Plans for an Airbus A320 family aircraft assembly plant in Mobile were formally announced by Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier from the Mobile Convention Center on July 2, 2012. The plans include a $600 million factory at the Brookley Aeroplex for the assembly of the A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. It was planned to employ up roughly 1,000 full-time workers when fully operational. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 8, 2013, with it becoming operable by 2015 and producing up to 50 aircraft per year by 2017.{{cite news |title=Airbus to Build 1st US Assembly Plant in Alabama |agency=Associated Press |author=Melissa Nelson-Gabriel |date=July 2, 2012 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/officials-ala-airbus-plant-employ-1000-16690789#.T_HRzJHhcqN |access-date=July 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703090843/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/officials-ala-airbus-plant-employ-1000-16690789#.T_HRzJHhcqN |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Airbus confirms its first US factory to build A320 jet |work=BBC News |date=July 2, 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18675711 |access-date=July 2, 2012}} The assembly plant is the company's first factory to be built within the United States.{{cite news |title=EADS to Build United States Assembly Line for Airbus A320 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/business/global/eads-to-build-airbus-assembly-line-in-mobile-ala.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 2, 2012 |author=Nicola Clark|date=July 2, 2012}} It was announced on February 1, 2013, that Airbus had hired Alabama-based Hoar Construction to oversee construction of the facility.{{cite web |title=Airbus Appoints Program Manager for its Mobile Assembly Line |url=http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/airbus-appoints-program-manager-for-its-mobile-assembly-line/ |publisher=Airbus |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206110927/http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/airbus-appoints-program-manager-for-its-mobile-assembly-line/ |url-status=dead}}

The factory officially opened on September 14, 2015, covering one million square feet on 53 acres of flat grassland.{{cite news|author1=Arielle Emmett|title=Airbus Lands In Alabama|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/airbus-in-mobile-180959124/|access-date=March 18, 2017|publisher=Air & Space Smithsonian|date=June 2016}}

On October 16, 2017, Airbus announced a partnership with Bombardier Aerospace, taking over a majority share of the Bombardier CSeries airliner program. As a result of this partnership, Airbus plans to open an assembly line for CSeries aircraft in Mobile, particularly to serve the US market. This effort may allow the companies to circumvent high import tariffs on the CSeries family.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-16/airbus-to-buy-majority-stake-in-bombardier-c-series-jet-program|title=Airbus Snaps Up Bombardier Jet in New Challenge to Boeing|work=Bloomberg.com|date=October 17, 2017|access-date=November 7, 2017}} The aircraft was renamed the Airbus A220 on July 10, 2018.{{Cite press release |url= https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2018/07/airbus-introduces-the-a220-100-and-a220-300.html |title= Airbus introduces the A220-100 and A220-300 |date=July 10, 2018 |publisher= Airbus}} Production started in August 2019; the first A220 from the new line is due to be delivered to Delta in the third quarter of 2020.{{cite press release |author= |title=Airbus begins U.S. production of A220 aircraft |url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2019/08/airbus-begins-us-production-of-a220-aircraft.html |publisher=Airbus |date=August 5, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2019}}

German technology conglomerate ThyssenKrupp broke ground on a $4.65 billion combined stainless and carbon steel processing facility in Calvert, a few miles north of Mobile, in 2007. Original projections promised eventual employment for 2,700 people. The facility became operational in July 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.thyssenkruppnewusplant.com/ |title=ThyssenKrupp Steel and Stainless USA |access-date=July 24, 2010 |publisher=ThyssenKrupp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011074127/http://thyssenkruppnewusplant.com/ |archive-date=October 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |last1=Cloos |first1=Paul |title=Mobile County wins ThyssenKrupp plant |url=https://www.al.com/live/2007/05/mobile_county_wins_thyssenkrup.html|work=Press-Register|publisher=al |access-date=December 4, 2021 |date=May 11, 2007}}

The company put both its carbon mill in Calvert and a steel slab-making unit in Rio de Janeiro up for sale in May 2012, citing rising production costs and a worldwide decrease in demand.{{cite news |title=ThyssenKrupp considers sale of steel mills in Mobile and Brazil (Update) |work=Press-Register |date=May 15, 2012 |url=https://www.al.com/live/2012/05/thyssenkrupp_considers_sale_of.html |access-date=December 5, 2021}} ThyssenKrupp's stainless steel division, Inoxum, including the stainless portion of the Calvert plant, was sold to Finnish stainless steel company Outokumpu Oyi in 2012.{{cite news |title=New owners of ThyssenKrupp stainless steel division plan visit in June |work=Press-Register |date=May 31, 2012 |url=https://www.al.com/press-register-business/2012/05/new_owners_of_thyssenkrupp_sta.html |access-date=December 5, 2021}}

File:Shelbyhallcomputing.JPG]]

According to the City's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofmobile.org/uploads/file_library/2022-acfr-final-032423.pdf|title=City of Mobile 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|page=172|date=March 17, 2024}}

The United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted).{{cite web |title=Local Area Unemployment Statistics – Alabama |publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics |url=https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.al_mobile_msa.htm |access-date=March 17, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Local Area Unemployment Statistics |publisher=Alabama Department of Labor |url=https://www2.labor.alabama.gov/LAUS/default.aspx |access-date=March 17, 2024}}

File:Azalea Trail Maids.jpg on the campus of Spring Hill College]]

Mobile's French and Spanish colonial history has given it a culture distinguished by French, Spanish, Creole, African and Catholic heritage, in addition to later British and American influences. It is distinguished from all other cities in the state of Alabama. The annual Carnival celebration is perhaps the best example of its differences. Mobile is the birthplace of the celebration of Mardi Gras in the United States and has the oldest celebration, dating to the early 18th century during the French colonial period."Mardi Gras in Mobile" (history), Jeff Sessions, Senator, Library of Congress, 2006, webpage: [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/legacies/AL/200002665.html LibCongress-2665]

Carnival in Mobile evolved over the course of 300 years from a beginning as a sedate French Catholic tradition into the mainstream multi-week celebration that today bridges a spectrum of cultures.{{cite web |title=History of Mardi Gras |work=Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_history.php |access-date=November 29, 2007}} Mobile's official cultural ambassadors are the Azalea Trail Maids, meant to embody the ideals of Southern hospitality.{{cite news |last=Starling |first=Bill |title=Trail Maids are proud ambassadors for Mobile, state |newspaper=Mobile Press Register |pages=2C |date=January 16, 2009 |url=http://www.al.com/opinion/press-register/editorials.ssf?/base/opinion/1232117116172200.xml&coll=3 |access-date=March 20, 2010 |archive-date=February 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201000723/http://www.al.com/opinion/press-register/editorials.ssf?/base/opinion/1232117116172200.xml&coll=3 |url-status=dead}}

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Back Roads (1981) were shot in Mobile.Barth, Jack (1991). Roadside Hollywood: The Movie Lover's State-By-State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More. Contemporary Books. Page 150. {{ISBN|9780809243266}}.

{{See also|Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama|Mystic society}}

File:Mobile Order of Incas parade 03.jpg

The Carnival season has expanded throughout the late fall and winter: balls in the city may be scheduled as early as November, with the parades beginning after January 5 and the Twelfth Day of Christmas or Epiphany on January 6.{{cite web |title=Mardi Gras FAQS |work=Mobile Carnival Museum |url=http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/MardiGras.aspx |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911025505/http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/MardiGras.aspx |archive-date=September 11, 2007}}{{cite web|title=Mardi Gras Terminology |work=Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php |access-date=November 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209165238/http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php |archive-date=December 9, 2007}} Carnival celebrations end at midnight on Mardi Gras, a moveable feast related to the timing of Lent and Easter. The next day is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, the 40-day penitential season before Easter.{{cite web |title=Mardi Gras – Mobile's Paradoxical Party |work=The Wisdom of Chief Slacabamorinico |url=http://jacksonsnyder.com/arc/slac/MardiGras/paradox.htm |access-date=November 18, 2007 |archive-date=December 9, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209063304/http://jacksonsnyder.com/arc/slac/MardiGras/paradox.htm |url-status=dead}}

In Mobile, locals often use the term Mardi Gras as a shorthand to refer to the entire Carnival season. During the Carnival season; the mystic societies build colorful floats and parade throughout downtown. Masked society members toss small gifts, known as 'throws,' to parade spectators.{{cite news |first=Susan |last=Houston |title=Mobile; It Has History |work=The News & Observer |date=February 4, 2007}} The mystic societies, which in essence are exclusive private clubs, also hold formal masquerade balls, usually by invitation only, and oriented to adults.

Carnival was first celebrated in Mobile in 1703 when colonial French Catholic settlers carried out their traditional celebration at the Old Mobile Site, prior to the 1711 relocation of the city to the current site. Mobile's first Carnival society was established in 1711 with the Boeuf Gras Society (Fatted Ox Society).{{cite web |title=History |work=Mobile Carnival Museum |url=http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/History.aspx |access-date=November 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010041322/http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/History.aspx |archive-date=October 10, 2007}}

File:Mobile Mardi Gras 2010 48.jpg

In 1830 Mobile's Cowbellion de Rakin Society was the first formally organized and masked mystic society in the United States to celebrate with a parade. The Cowbellions got their start when Michael Krafft, a cotton factor from Pennsylvania, began a parade with rakes, hoes, and cowbells. The Cowbellians introduced horse-drawn floats to the parades in 1840 with a parade entitled "Heathen Gods and Goddesses". The Striker's Independent Society, formed in 1843, is the oldest surviving mystic society in the United States.

Carnival celebrations in Mobile were canceled during the American Civil War. In 1866 Joe Cain revived the Mardi Gras parades when he paraded through the city streets on Fat Tuesday while costumed as a fictional Chickasaw chief named Slacabamorinico. He celebrated the day in front of the occupying Union Army troops.{{Cite web|url=http://cainsmerrywidows.org/articles.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929135247/http://cainsmerrywidows.org/articles.html|url-status=dead|title=Joe Danborn & Cammie East, "Joe Cain Articles", Mobile Register, 2001|archive-date=September 29, 2007|access-date=March 4, 2022}} In 2002, Mobile's Tricentennial celebrated with parades that represented all of the city's mystic societies.

Founded in 2004, the Conde Explorers in 2005 were the first integrated Mardi Gras society to parade in downtown Mobile. The society has about a hundred members and welcomes men and women of all races. In addition to the parade and ball, the Conde Explorers hold several parties throughout the year. Its members also perform volunteer work. The Conde Explorers were featured in the award-winning documentary, The Order of Myths (2008), by Margaret Brown about Mobile's Mardi Gras.{{cite web |title=Independent Lens: The Order of Myths |url=https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/orderofmyths/ |date=January 26, 2009 |work=Independent Television Service (ITVS) |access-date=July 29, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://condeexplorers.org/|title=Conde Explorers|website=Condeexplorers.org|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204232700/http://condeexplorers.org/|archive-date=February 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}

File:Mobile Public Library 2008.jpg

The National African American Archives and Museum features the history of African-American participation in Mardi Gras, authentic artifacts from the era of slavery, and portraits and biographies of famous African Americans.{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/folklife/civilrights/survey/view_repository.php?rep_id=1936 |title=National African-American Archives and Museum |work=The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories |publisher=Library of Congress}} The University of South Alabama Archives houses primary source material relating to the history of Mobile and southern Alabama, as well as the university's history. The archives are located on the ground floor of the USA Spring Hill Campus and are open to the general public.{{cite web |title=USA Archives |work=University of South Alabama |url=http://www.usouthal.edu/archives/ |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=September 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911025000/http://www.usouthal.edu/archives/ |url-status=dead}}

The Mobile Municipal Archives contains the extant records of the City of Mobile, dating from the city's creation as a municipality by the Mississippi Territory in 1814. The majority of the original records of Mobile's colonial history, spanning the years 1702 through 1813, are housed in Paris, London, Seville, and Madrid.{{cite web |title=Mobile Municipal Archives |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/archives/ |access-date=October 24, 2007}} The Mobile Genealogical Society Library and Media Center is located at the Holy Family Catholic Church and School complex. It features handwritten manuscripts and published materials that are available for use in genealogical research.{{cite web |title=MGS library |work=The Mobile Genealogical Society |url=http://www.siteone.com/clubs/mgs/promo.htm |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807072712/http://www.siteone.com/clubs/mgs/promo.htm |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

The Mobile Public Library system serves Mobile and consists of eight branches across Mobile County; its large local history and genealogy division is housed in a facility next to the newly restored and enlarged Ben May Main Library on Government Street.{{cite web |title=Local History and Genealogy |work=Mobile Public Library |url=http://www.mplonline.org/lhg.htm |access-date=October 20, 2007}} The Saint Ignatius Archives, Museum and Theological Research Library contains primary sources, artifacts, documents, photographs and publications that pertain to the history of Saint Ignatius Church and School, the Catholic history of the city, and the history of the Roman Catholic Church.{{cite web |title=St. Ignatius Archives and Museum |work=PastPerfect Museum Software Newsletter January 2004 |url=http://www.museumsoftware.com/newsletter01_04.htm |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411171531/http://www.museumsoftware.com/newsletter01_04.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2008}}

File:Mobile Museum of Art by Highsmith.jpg

The Mobile Museum of Art features permanent exhibits that span several centuries of art and culture. The museum was expanded in 2002 to approximately {{convert|95000|sqft|m2|0}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.mobilemuseumofart.com/ |title=Welcome to the Mobile Museum of Art |work=Mobile Museum of Art |access-date=November 26, 2012}} The permanent exhibits include the African and Asian Collection Gallery, Altmayer Gallery (American art), Katharine C. Cochrane Gallery of American Fine Art, Maisel European Gallery, Riddick Glass Gallery, Smith Crafts Gallery, and the Ann B. Hearin Gallery (contemporary works).{{cite web |url=http://www.mobilemuseumofart.com/index.php?sector=3&view=1 |title=Permanent Collection |work=Mobile Museum of Art |access-date=November 26, 2012}}

The Centre for the Living Arts is an organization that operates the historic Saenger Theatre and Space 301, a contemporary art gallery. The Saenger Theatre opened in 1927 as a movie palace. Today it is a performing arts center and serves as a small concert venue for the city. It is home to the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Scott Speck.{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilesaenger.com/history.php |title=Mobile Saenger Theater History |access-date=May 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504203303/http://www.mobilesaenger.com/history.php |archive-date=May 4, 2007}} Space 301 Gallery and Studio was initially housed adjacent to the Saenger, but moved to its own space in 2008. The {{convert|93000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} building, donated to the centre by the Press-Register after its relocation to a new modern facility, underwent a $5.2 million renovation and redesign prior to opening.{{cite news |title=Space 301: Cultural makeover |first=Matt |last=Cuthbert |url=https://www.al.com/artbeat/2008/07/space_301_cultural_makeover.html |newspaper=Press-Register |date=July 6, 2008 |access-date=December 5, 2021}} The Crescent Theater in downtown Mobile has been showing arthouse films since 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/04/crescent_theater_downtown_mobi.html|first=Michelle|last=Matthews|title=Crescent Theater in downtown Mobile set to close|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=July 27, 2017|work=Press-Register|publisher=AL.com}}

File:MobileDomeJuly07.jpg

The Mobile Civic Center contains three facilities under one roof. The {{convert|400000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} building has an arena, a theater and an exposition hall. It is the primary concert venue for the city and hosts a wide variety of events. It is home to the Mobile Opera and the Mobile Ballet. The 60-year-old Mobile Opera averages about 1,200 attendees per performance.{{cite web |title=Setting the Stage: Mobile Opera offers a three-show season for 2007–08 |work=Press Register |url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/press-register/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1179048222106610.xml&coll=3&thispage=1 |access-date=May 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014359/http://www.al.com/entertainment/press-register/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment%2F1179048222106610.xml&coll=3&thispage=1 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} A wide variety of events are held at Mobile's Arthur C. Outlaw Convention Center. It contains a {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} exhibit hall, a {{convert|15000|sqft|m2|0|abbr=on}} grand ballroom, and sixteen meeting rooms.{{cite web |title=Arthur C. Outlaw Convention Center |website=Mobile.org |url=http://www.mobile.org/pdf/meet_convctr.pdf |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025170635/http://www.mobile.org/pdf/meet_convctr.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

The city has hosts the Greater Gulf State Fair, held each October since 1955.{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/10/60th_greater_gulf_state_fair_i.html|title=60th Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile focuses on the family|date=October 29, 2014|work=Press-Register|publisher=AL.com|author=Angela Lewis|access-date=July 14, 2017}} The city also hosted BayFest, an annual three-day music festival with more than 125 live musical acts on multiple stages spread throughout downtown;{{cite web|title=About BayFest |work=Bayfest, Inc. |url=http://www.bayfest.com/about.php |access-date=January 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224020712/http://www.bayfest.com/about.php |archive-date=December 24, 2007}} it also holds the Ten Sixty Five free music festival.{{cite web |last1=Specker |first1=Lawrence |title=Ten Sixty Five: Mobile got much more than a party |url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2015/10/ten_sixty_five_mobile_got_much.html |website=AL.com |language=en |date=9 October 2015}}

The Mobile Theatre Guild is a nonprofit community theatre that has served the city since 1947. It is a member of the Mobile Arts Council, the Alabama Conference of Theatre and Speech, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the American Association of Community Theatres.{{cite web |url=http://www.mobiletheatreguild.org/about.html |title=Mobile Theatre Guild |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316193344/http://mobiletheatreguild.org/about.html |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |df=mdy-all}} Mobile is also host to the Joe Jefferson Players, Alabama's oldest continually running community theatre. The group was named in honor of the famous comedic actor Joe Jefferson, who spend part of his teenage years in Mobile. The Players debuted their first production on December 17, 1947.{{cite web |url=http://www.joejeffersonplayers.com/id3.html |title=History |work=Joe Jefferson Players |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202222039/http://www.joejeffersonplayers.com/id3.html |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}

The Mobile Arts Council is an umbrella organization for the arts in Mobile.{{cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Michelle |title=Mobile Arts Council Announces Recipients of Greater Mobile Arts Awards |url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2014/06/mobile_arts_council_announces.html |work=AL.com |date=25 June 2014 |language=en}}

File:USS Alabama Mobile, Alabama 002.JPG]]

File:Vincent-Doan House.jpg

Mobile is home to a variety of museums. Battleship Memorial Park is a military park on the shore of Mobile Bay. It features the World War II era battleship {{USS|Alabama|BB-60|6}}, the World War II era submarine {{USS|Drum|SS-228|6}}, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, and a variety of historical military equipment.{{cite web |title=See Courage Up Close |work=USS Alabama Battleship Commission |url=http://www.ussalabama.com/ |access-date=November 18, 2007}} The History Museum of Mobile showcases 300 plus years of Mobile history and prehistory. It is housed in the historic Old City Hall (1857), a National Historic Landmark.{{cite web |title=About Us |work=Museum of Mobile |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/about.php |access-date=November 18, 2007}} The Oakleigh Historic Complex features three house museums that attempt to interpret the lives of people from three strata of 19th century society in Mobile, that of the enslaved, the working class, and the upper class.{{cite web |title=OakleighMuseum |work=Historic Mobile Preservation Society |url=http://www.historicmobile.org/oakleigh.htm |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807121029/http://www.historicmobile.org/oakleigh.htm |archive-date=August 7, 2007}}

The Mobile Carnival Museum, housing the city's Mardi Gras history and memorabilia, documents the variety of floats, costumes, and displays seen during the history of the festival season.Andrews, Casandra, Master of make-Believe, Press Register, Mobile, Alabama: January 28, 2007. The Bragg-Mitchell Mansion (1855), Richards DAR House (1860), and the Condé-Charlotte House (1822) are historic, furnished antebellum house museums.{{cite web |title=Tour |work=Bragg Mitchell Mansion |url=http://www.braggmitchellmansion.com/tour.htm |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216232525/http://www.braggmitchellmansion.com/tour.htm |archive-date=December 16, 2007}}{{cite web |title=Welcome |work=Richards DAR House Museum |url=http://www.richardsdarhouse.com/index.html |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829044823/http://www.richardsdarhouse.com/index.html |archive-date=August 29, 2007 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Condé |work=Condé-Charlotte Museum House |url=http://www.angelfire.com/al2/condecharlotte/ |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014204814/http://www.angelfire.com/al2/condecharlotte/ |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}} Fort Morgan (1819), Fort Gaines (1821), and Historic Blakeley State Park all figure predominantly in local American Civil War history.{{NRISref|2009a}}

The Mobile Medical Museum is housed in the historic French colonial-style Vincent-Doan House (1827). It features artifacts and resources that chronicle the long history of medicine in Mobile.{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Mobile Medical Museum |work=Mobile Medical Museum |url=http://www.mobilemedicalmuseum.com/ |access-date=October 19, 2007}} The Phoenix Fire Museum is located in the restored Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company Number 6 building and features the history of fire companies in Mobile from their organization in 1838.{{cite web |title=Phoenix Fire Museum |work=Museum of Mobile |url=http://www.museumofmobile.com/html/other_museums.php |access-date=October 19, 2007}} The Mobile Police Department Museum features exhibits that chronicle the history of law enforcement in Mobile.{{cite web |title=Mobile Police Department Museum |work=Mobile Police Department |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/mobilepd/html/divisions/museum.html |access-date=October 19, 2007}}

The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center is a non-profit science center located in downtown. It features permanent and traveling exhibits, an IMAX dome theater, a digital 3D virtual theater, and a hands-on chemistry laboratory.{{cite web |title=About Us |work=Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center |url=http://www.exploreum.net/ |access-date=October 16, 2007 |archive-date=August 6, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030806094443/http://www.exploreum.net/ |url-status=dead}} The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is located south of the city, on Dauphin Island near the mouth of Mobile Bay. It houses the Estuarium, an aquarium which illustrates the four habitats of the Mobile Bay ecosystem: the river delta, bay, barrier islands and Gulf of Mexico.{{cite news |title=You Can Call It the Little Easy |last=Motyka |first=John |work=The New York Times |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/travel/escapes/23American.html?ex=1175313600&en=f9db7486620e5d10&ei=5070&emc=eta1 |access-date=May 8, 2007 |date=March 23, 2007}}

File:250 St. Anthony Street Mobile AL 01.JPG]]

File:Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile.jpg, seat of the Archdiocese of Mobile]]

Mobile has antebellum architectural examples of Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Creole cottage. Later architectural styles found in the city include the various Victorian types, shotgun types, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Beaux-Arts and many others. The city currently has nine major historic districts: Old Dauphin Way, Oakleigh Garden, Lower Dauphin Street, Leinkauf, De Tonti Square, Church Street East, Ashland Place, Campground, and Midtown.

Mobile has a number of historic structures in the city, including numerous churches and private homes. Mobile's historic churches include Christ Church Cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Emanuel AME Church, Government Street Presbyterian Church, St. Louis Street Missionary Baptist Church, State Street AME Zion Church, Stone Street Baptist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Francis Street Methodist Church, Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Saint Matthew's Catholic Church, Saint Paul's Episcopal Chapel, and Saint Vincent de Paul. The Sodality Chapel and St. Joseph's Chapel at Spring Hill College are two historic churches on that campus. Two historic Roman Catholic convents survive, the Convent and Academy of the Visitation and the Convent of Mercy.

Barton Academy is a historic Greek Revival school building and local landmark on Government Street. The Bishop Portier House and the Carlen House are two of the many surviving examples of Creole cottages in the city. The Mobile City Hospital and the United States Marine Hospital are both restored Greek Revival hospital buildings that predate the Civil War. The Washington Firehouse No. 5 is a Greek Revival fire station, built in 1851. The Hunter House is an example of the Italianate style and was built by a successful 19th-century African American businesswoman. The Shepard House is a good example of the Queen Anne style. The Scottish Rite Temple is the only surviving example of Egyptian Revival architecture in the city. The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Passenger Terminal is an example of the Mission Revival style.

File:Mobile Marine Hospital 02.JPG, restored and adapted for reuse by the Mobile County Health Department.]]

The city has several historic cemeteries that were established shortly after the colonial era. They replaced the colonial Campo Santo, of which no trace remains. The Church Street Graveyard contains above-ground tombs and monuments spread over {{convert|4|acre|0|abbr=on}} and was founded in 1819, during the height of yellow fever epidemics.{{Cite journal |last=Sledge |first=John |title=Church Street Graveyard |journal=The Alabama Review |volume=55 |pages=96–105 |date=April 2002}} The nearby {{convert|120|acre|0|adj=on|abbr=on}} Magnolia Cemetery was established in 1836 and served as Mobile's primary burial site during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with approximately 80,000 burials.{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Magnolia Cemetery Website |work=Magnolia Cemetery website |url=http://www.magnoliacemetery.com/ |access-date=November 18, 2007}} It features tombs and many intricately carved monuments and statues.{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John Sturdivant |title=Cities of Silence: A Guide to Mobile's Historic Cemeteries |pages=24–26 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2002}}{{cite web |title=The Story of Magnolia Cemetery |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/parks/magnoliacemetery.php |access-date=November 18, 2007}}

The Catholic Cemetery was established in 1848 by the Archdiocese of Mobile and covers more than {{convert|150|acre|0|abbr=on}}. It contains plots for the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, Little Sisters of the Poor, Sisters of Charity, and Sisters of Mercy, in addition to many other historically significant burials.{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John Sturdivant |title=Cities of Silence: A Guide to Mobile's Historic Cemeteries |pages=66–79 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2002}} Mobile's Jewish community dates back to the 1820s and the city has two historic Jewish cemeteries, Sha'arai Shomayim Cemetery and Ahavas Chesed Cemetery. Sha'arai Shomayim is the older of the two.{{cite book |last=Sledge |first=John Sturdivant |title=Cities of Silence: A Guide to Mobile's Historic Cemeteries |pages=80–89 |location=Tuscaloosa, Alabama |publisher=University of Alabama Press |year=2002}}

File:USAJaguarsFootball.jpg football game at Ladd–Peebles Stadium]]

File:Hank Aaron Stadium.jpg]]

File:Mitchell center north entrance.jpg

{{See also|History of sports in Mobile, Alabama}}

Mobile is the home of two football stadiums. The Ladd-Peebles Stadium opened in 1948 and has a current capacity of 40,646, making it the fourth-largest stadium in the state.{{cite web |title=Ladd–Peebles Stadium |work=LaddPeeblesStadium.com |url=http://www.laddpeeblesstadium.com/default.asp |access-date=April 23, 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070314214436/http://www.laddpeeblesstadium.com/default.asp |archive-date=March 14, 2007}} Hancock Whitney Stadium opened in 2020 on the campus of University of South Alabama and has a current capacity of 25,450.{{cite news |last1=Librenjak |first1=Lisa |title=No changes to USA Hancock Whitney Stadium capacity of 25,450, 1st home game next Saturday |url=https://mynbc15.com/news/coronavirus/usa-jaguars-anticipate-full-capacity-of-25450-at-next-fridays-home-game-against-usm |work=WPMI |date=23 August 2021 |language=en}}

Mobile has been home to the Senior Bowl since 1951, featuring the best college seniors in NCAA football.{{cite web |title=The Senior Bowl |work=Seniorbowl.com |url=http://www.seniorbowl.com/2007/gamerecaps1950s.htm |access-date=April 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912014456/http://www.seniorbowl.com/2007/gamerecaps1950s.htm |archive-date=September 12, 2007}}

The 68 Ventures Bowl, originally known as the Mobile Alabama Bowl and later the GMAC Bowl, GoDaddy.com Bowl, Dollar General Bowl, and LendingTree Bowl, has been played at Hancock Whitney Stadium since 2021. The game was originally played at Ladd–Peebles Stadium from 1999 to 2020. It features opponents from the Sun Belt and Mid-American conferences.{{cite web |title=Date set for 15th annual Godaddy Bowl |work=Godaddybowl.com |url=http://godaddybowl.com/date-set-15th-annual-godaddy-bowl/ |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031933/http://godaddybowl.com/date-set-15th-annual-godaddy-bowl/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Since 1988, Ladd–Peebles Stadium has hosted the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. The top graduating high school seniors from their respective states compete each June.{{cite web |title=History of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic |work=ahsaasports.com |url=http://www.ahsaasports.com/football/alms-allstar/history.asp |access-date=April 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928104708/http://www.ahsaasports.com/football/alms-allstar/history.asp |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}

The University of South Alabama in Mobile established a football team in 2007, which went undefeated in its 2009 inaugural season. Their program moved to Division I/FBS in 2013 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The team currently plays at Hancock Whitney Stadium, after playing at Ladd-Peebles Stadium prior to the start of the 2020 Season.{{cite web |title=Proposal for NCAA-Football at USA |work=University of South Alabama |url=http://www.southalabama.edu/footballproposal/ |access-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207144041/http://www.southalabama.edu/footballproposal/ |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}

Mobile's Hank Aaron Stadium was the home of the Mobile BayBears Minor League Baseball team from 1997 to 2019.{{cite web |title=Hank Aaron Stadium |work=Mobile Bay Bears |url=http://www.mobilebaybears.com/hank.asp |access-date=October 18, 2007}}

South Alabama basketball is a mid-major team in the Sun Belt Conference. They play their home games at the Mitchell Center.{{cite web |last1=Hooper |first1=John |title=Sun Belt Men’s Tournament Preview |url=https://www.midmajormadness.com/2025/3/3/24376654/sun-belt-men-tournament-preview |website=Mid-Major Madness |language=en |date=3 March 2025}}

The Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex is home of AFC Mobile, which is a National Premier Soccer League team.{{cite news |title=AFC Mobile to play 2017 home games at Lipscomb Athletic Complex |newspaper=The Birmingham News|url=https://www.al.com/press-releases/2017/03/afc_mobile_to_play_2017_home_g.html|date=March 28, 2017}}

The public Mobile Tennis Center includes over 50 courts, all lighted and hard-court.{{cite web |title=Mobile Tennis Center |work=Tennis in Mobile |url=http://www.mobiletenniscenter.net/ |access-date=October 15, 2007}}

For golfers, Magnolia Grove, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, has 36 holes. The Falls course was recently named the best par 3 course in America.{{cite web |title=Magnolia Grove |work=RTJgolf.com |url=http://www.rtjgolf.com/courses/magnolia_grove/ |access-date=May 5, 2007}} The Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions was played annually at Magnolia Grove from 1999 through 2007. The Mobile Bay LPGA Classic took its place in 2008, also held at Mobile's Magnolia Grove.{{cite web |url=http://www.lpga.com/golf/tournaments/lpga/mobile-bay-lpga-classic.aspx |title=Mobile Bay LPGA Classic\ |work=LPGA |publisher=LPGA Foundation |access-date=November 23, 2012}}

Mobile is home to the Azalea Trail Run, which races through historic midtown and downtown Mobile. This 10k run has been an annual event since 1978.{{cite web |title=Event Calendar |work=CityOfMObile.org |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/calendar_events.php?category=&day=&month=01&year=2007 |access-date=April 30, 2007}} The Azalea Trail Run is one of the premier 10k road races in the United States, attracting runners from all over the world.{{cite web |title=Azalea Trail Run |work=VulcanTri.com |url=http://www.vulcantri.com/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=448&year=2006&month=03&day=25&Itemid=46 |access-date=May 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927062439/http://www.vulcantri.com/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=448&year=2006&month=03&day=25&Itemid=46 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

File:Ketchum Fountain in Bienville Square.jpg]]

The Mobile Botanical Gardens feature a variety of flora spread over {{convert|100|acre|0}}. It contains the Millie McConnell Rhododendron Garden with 1,000 evergreen and native azaleas and the {{convert|30|acre|0|adj=on|abbr=on}} Longleaf Pine Habitat.{{cite web |title=Explore the Gardens |work=Mobile Botanical Gardens |url=http://www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org/explore.htm |access-date=November 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121212417/http://www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org/explore.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2007}} Bellingrath Gardens and Home, located on Fowl River, is a {{convert|65|acre|0|adj=on}} botanical garden and historic {{convert|10500|sqft|m2|0|adj=on}} mansion that dates to the 1930s.{{cite web|title=About Us |work=Bellingrath Gardens and Home Website |url=http://www.bellingrath.org/about-us.html |access-date=November 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129034202/http://www.bellingrath.org/about-us.html |archive-date=November 29, 2009}} The 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center is a facility that allows visitors to learn about and access the Mobile, Tensaw, Apalachee, Middle, Blakeley, and Spanish rivers.{{cite web |title=5 Rivers Delta Resource Center |work=Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.mobile.org/pdf/5riversbrochure.pdf |access-date=October 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025170631/http://www.mobile.org/pdf/5riversbrochure.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} It was established to serve as an easily accessible gateway to the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.{{cite web |title=5 Rivers |work=5 Rivers Delta Resource Center |url=http://www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/5rivers/ |access-date=August 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223093652/http://www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/5rivers/ |archive-date=December 23, 2009 |df=mdy-all}} It offers boat and adventure tours, a small theater, an exhibit hall, meeting facilities, walking trails, and a canoe and kayak landing.{{cite web |title=5RDS |work=5 Rivers Delta Resource Center Website |url=http://www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/5rivers/safaris/ |access-date=August 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103173903/http://outdooralabama.com/outdoor-adventures/5rivers/safaris/ |archive-date=January 3, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}

Mobile has more than 45 public parks within its limits, with some that are of special note.{{cite web |title=Parks and Recreation |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/parks/parklist.php |access-date=November 18, 2007}} Bienville Square is a historic park in the Lower Dauphin Street Historic District. It assumed its current form in 1850 and is named for Mobile's founder, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville.Delaney, Caldwell. The Story of Mobile, page 79. Mobile, Alabama: Gill Press, 1953. It was once the principal gathering place for residents, when the city was smaller, and remains popular today. Cathedral Square is a one-block performing arts park, also in the Lower Dauphin Street Historic District, which is overlooked by the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.{{cite web |title=Main Street Mobile |work=Dauphin Street Virtual Walking Tour |url=http://www.mainstreetmobile.org/html/guide/walking.html |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430072858/http://www.mainstreetmobile.org/html/guide/walking.html |archive-date=April 30, 2007}}

The Fort of Colonial Mobile is a reconstruction of the city's original Fort Condé, built on the original fort's footprint. It serves as the official welcome center and a colonial-era living history museum. Spanish Plaza is a downtown park that honors the Spanish phase of the city between 1780 and 1813. It features the Arches of Friendship, a fountain presented to Mobile by the city of Málaga, Spain.{{cite web |title=Mobile Attractions |website=Al.com |url=http://www.al.com/mobile/index.ssf?cityguide/attractions.html |access-date=November 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213035111/http://www.al.com/mobile/index.ssf?cityguide%2Fattractions.html |archive-date=December 13, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} Langan Park, the largest of the parks at {{convert|720|acre|0}}, features lakes, natural spaces, and contains the Mobile Museum of Art, Azalea City Golf Course, Mobile Botanical Gardens and Playhouse in the Park.

{{See also|List of mayors of Mobile, Alabama}}

File:Government Plaza Mobile.JPG in Mobile, seat of government for the city and the county]]

Since 1985 the government of Mobile has consisted of a mayor and a seven-member city council.{{cite web |title=City Officials |work=City of Mobile |url=http://www.cityofmobile.org/cityofficials/ |access-date=November 23, 2012}} The council members are elected from each of the seven city council single-member districts (SMDs). A supermajority of five votes is required to conduct most council business.{{cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=John |title=‘History was made’: Mobile adopts map that, for first time ever, includes majority Black council representation |url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/08/history-was-made-mobile-adopts-map-that-for-first-time-ever-includes-majority-black-council-districts.html |work=al |date=9 August 2022 |language=en}}

This form of city government was chosen by the voters after the previous form of government, which had three city commissioners, each elected at-large, was ruled in 1975 to substantially dilute the minority vote and violate the Voting Rights Act in Bolden v. City of Mobile. The three at-large commissioners each required a majority vote to win. Due to appeals, the case took time to reach settlement and establishment of a new electoral system.Thomason, Michael. Mobile: The New History of Alabama's First City, pp. 272–273. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8173-1065-7}} Municipal elections are held every four years and are nonpartisan.{{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=John |title=Mayor, council races on ballot today in Mobile |url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2021/08/mayor-council-races-on-ballot-today-in-mobile.html |website=AL.com |date=August 24, 2021 |publisher=Alabama Media Group |access-date=16 January 2022}}

Sam Jones was elected in 2005 as the first African-American mayor of Mobile. He was re-elected for a second term in 2009 without opposition.{{cite news |title=Reinventing Our Community: Mobile's first black mayor points to city's progress on race |author=Charles J. Dean |url=https://www.al.com/birmingham-news-stories/2011/07/reinventing_our_community_mobi.html |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=December 4, 2021}} His administration continued the focus on downtown redevelopment and bringing industries to the city. He ran for a third term in 2013 but was defeated by Sandy Stimpson. Stimpson took office on November 4, 2013, and was re-elected on August 22, 2017.{{cite web |last=Specker |first=Lawrence |title=Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson wins another term|url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2017/08/mobile_voters_go_to_polls_tues.html |website=al |access-date=December 4, 2021 |date=August 21, 2017}}

As of January 2022, the seven-member city council is made up of Cory Penn from District 1, William Carroll from District 2, C.J. Small from District 3, Ben Reynolds from District 4, Joel Daves from District 5, Scott Jones from District 6, and Gina Gregory from District 7.{{cite web |title=City council |url=https://www.cityofmobile.org/government/city-council/ |website=City of Mobile |access-date=16 January 2022}}

File:Murphy High School.jpg in Midtown, originally Mobile High School. It is one of the seventeen high schools run by the Mobile County Public School System.]]

File:Thollos.JPG at the University of South Alabama]]

File:Spring Hill College Quad 01.JPG]]

File:Bishop State clock tower May 2012 cropped.jpg]]

Public schools in Mobile are operated by the Mobile County Public School System. The Mobile County Public School System has an enrollment of approximately 55,200 students at 88 schools, employs approximately 7,026 public school employees,{{cite web |title=MCPSS Strategic Plan |url=https://content.schoolinsites.com/api/documents/210c3b80e9ee4a8c903266a890697c4f.pdf |website=Mobile County Public School System |access-date=16 January 2022}} and had a budget in 2020–2021 of $623 million.{{cite web |title=FY 2021 Amended Budget |url=https://content.schoolinsites.com/api/documents/1173aadc8cd94920b52a691f842d97f7.pdf |website=Mobile County Public School System |access-date=16 January 2022}} The State of Alabama operates the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science on Dauphin Street in Mobile, which boards advanced Alabama high school students. It was founded in 1989 to identify, challenge, and educate future leaders.{{cite web |title=About ASMS |work=Alabama School of Math and Science |url=http://www.asms.net/about.htm |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011053512/http://www.asms.net/about.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}

UMS-Wright Preparatory School is an independent co-educational preparatory school. It assumed its current configuration in 1988, when the University Military School (founded 1893) and the Julius T. Wright School for Girls (1923) merged to form UMS-Wright.{{cite web |title=The UMS-Wright Tradition |url=http://ums-wright.org/page.aspx?pid=408 |work=UMS-Wright Preparatory School |access-date=May 26, 2013 |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529134033/http://www.ums-wright.org/page.aspx?pid=408 |url-status=dead}}

Many parochial schools belong to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile. These include McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (1896), Corpus Christi School, Little Flower Catholic School (1934), Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic School (1900), Saint Dominic School (1961), Saint Ignatius School (1952), Saint Mary Catholic School (1867), Saint Pius X Catholic School (1957), and Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic School (1976).{{cite web |title=Mobile's Private Schools |work=Private Schools Report |url=http://alabama.privateschoolsreport.com/schools/AL/Mobile.html |access-date=October 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102104523/http://alabama.privateschoolsreport.com/schools/AL/Mobile.html |archive-date=November 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

Notable Protestant schools include St. Paul's Episcopal School (1947), Mobile Christian School (1961), St. Lukes Episcopal School (1961), Cottage Hill Baptist School System (1961), Faith Academy (1967), and Trinity Lutheran School (1955).

Major colleges and universities in Mobile that are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools include the University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College, the University of Mobile, Faulkner University, and Bishop State Community College.{{cite web |title=Institutions |url=https://www.sacscoc.org/institutions/?state=AL&results_per_page=25&curpage=1&status=Accredited,Candidate |website=SACSCOC |access-date=5 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325011529/https://www.sacscoc.org/institutions/?state=AL&results_per_page=25&curpage=1&status=Accredited%2CCandidate |archive-date=25 March 2025 |language=en}}

The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university established in 1963. The university is composed of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Mitchell College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering, the College of Medicine, the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, the College of Nursing, the School of Computing, and the School of Continuing Education and Special Programs.{{cite web |title=Schools, Colleges, Departments |work=University of South Alabama |url=http://www.southalabama.edu/departms.html |access-date=October 25, 2007 |archive-date=October 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026042349/http://www.southalabama.edu/departms.html |url-status=live}}

Faulkner University is a four-year private Church of Christ-affiliated university based in Montgomery, Alabama. The Mobile campus was established in 1975 and offers bachelor's degrees in Business Administration, Management of Human Resources, and Criminal Justice.{{cite web |title=Bachelor Degrees Mobile Campus |work=Faulkner University |url=http://www.faulkner.edu/admissions/mobile/bs.asp |access-date=October 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114095932/http://www.faulkner.edu/admissions/mobile/bs.asp |archive-date=November 14, 2007}} It also offers associate degrees in Business Administration, Business Information Systems, Computer & Information Science, Criminal Justice, Informatics, Legal Studies, Arts, and Science.{{cite web |title=Associate Degrees Mobile Campus |work=Faulkner University |url=http://www.faulkner.edu/admissions/mobile/as.asp |access-date=October 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007113401/http://www.faulkner.edu/admissions/mobile/as.asp |archive-date=October 7, 2007}}

Spring Hill College, chartered in 1830, was the first Catholic college in the southeastern United States and is the third oldest Jesuit college in the country.{{cite web |title=History of the College |work=Spring Hill College |url=http://www.shc.edu/about-shc/history-of-the-college |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912211058/http://www.shc.edu/about-shc/history-of-the-college |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2007 |access-date=October 20, 2007}} This four-year private college offers graduate programs in Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing (MSN), and Theological Studies.{{cite web |title=Graduate Studies |work=Spring Hill College |url=http://www.shc.edu/graduate-and-adult-programs/graduate |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070502113817/http://www.shc.edu/graduate-and-adult-programs/graduate |archive-date=May 2, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} Undergraduate divisions and programs include the Division of Business, the Communications/Arts Division, International Studies, Inter-divisional Studies, the Language and Literature Division, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Philosophy and Theology, Political Science, the Sciences Division, the Social Sciences Division, and the Teacher Education Division.{{cite web |title=Undergraduate Studies |work=Spring Hill College |url=http://www.shc.edu/academics/undergrad-programs/ |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011103538/http://shc.edu/academics/undergrad-programs/ |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}

The University of Mobile is a four-year private Baptist-affiliated university in the neighboring city of Prichard that was founded in 1961.{{cite web |title=Areas of Study |work=University of Mobile |url=http://www.umobile.edu/Academics/AreasofStudy.aspx |access-date=November 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127054848/http://www.umobile.edu/Academics/AreasofStudy.aspx |archive-date=November 27, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}

Bishop State Community College, founded in 1927, is a public, historically African American, community college. Bishop State has four campuses in Mobile.{{cite web |title=Academic Programs |work=Bishop State Community College |url=http://www.bscc.cc.al.us/academic.htm |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710112422/http://www.bscc.cc.al.us/academic.htm |archive-date=July 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

Several post-secondary vocational institutions have a campus in Mobile. These include the Alabama Institute of Real Estate, American Academy of Hypnosis, Bealle School of Real Estate, Charles Academy of Beauty Culture, Fortis College, Virginia College, ITT Technical Institute, Remington College and White and Sons Barber College.{{cite web |title=Mobile Alabama Colleges and Universities |work=United States College Search |url=http://www.uscollegesearch.org/mobile-alabama-colleges.html |access-date=October 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016233007/http://www.uscollegesearch.org/mobile-alabama-colleges.html |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

{{See also|Media in Mobile, Alabama}}

Mobile's Press-Register is Alabama's oldest active newspaper, first published in 1813."Newhouse News Service – The Press-Register" (description), Newhouse News Service, 2007, webpage:[http://www.newhouse.com/the-press-register.html NH-Register] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517135219/http://www.newhouse.com/the-press-register.html |date=May 17, 2008}}.

The paper focuses on Mobile and Baldwin counties and the city of Mobile, but also serves southwestern Alabama and southeastern Mississippi. Mobile's alternative newspaper is the Lagniappe.{{cite web |title=About us |work=Lagniappe Mobile |url=http://www.lagniappemobile.com/about |access-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018023858/http://www.lagniappemobile.com/about |archive-date=October 18, 2007}} The Mobile area's local magazine is Mobile Bay Monthly.{{cite web|title=Mobile Bay Monthly |work=PMT Publishing |url=http://www.pmtpublishing.com/default.aspx?id=42 |access-date=October 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715094415/http://www.pmtpublishing.com/default.aspx?id=42 |archive-date=July 15, 2011}} The Mobile Beacon was an alternative focusing on Mobile's African-American communities that ran from 1943 to 2018.{{cite news|url=https://lagniappemobile.com/mobile-beacon-set-to-close-after-75-years-of-publishing/|title=Mobile Beacon set to close after 75 years of publishing|publisher=Lagniappe|last=Tynes|first=Gabriel|date=December 12, 2018}} Mod Mobilian is a website with a focus on cultured living in Mobile.{{cite web |title=Mod Mobilian |work=Promoting Mobile Bay Culture |url=http://www.modmobilian.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111053902/http://modmobilian.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 11, 2010}}

Mobile is served locally by a number of over-the-air television stations. These include WKRG 5 (CBS), WALA 10 (Fox), WPMI 15 (NBC), WMPV 21 (religious), WDPM 23 (religious), WEIQ 42 (PBS), and WFNA 55 (The CW).{{cite web |title=5 Full-power television stations in the Mobile – Pensacola market |work=Station Index |url=http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Mobile-Pensacola |access-date=November 23, 2012}} The region is also served by WEAR 3 (ABC), WSRE 31 (PBS), WHBR 34 (religious), WFGX 35 (MyNetworkTV), WJTC 44 (independent), WFBD 48 (America One), WPAN 53 (Jewelry Television), and WAWD 58 (independent), all out of the Pensacola, Florida area. Mobile is part of the Mobile–Pensacola–Fort Walton Beach designated market area, as defined by Nielsen Media Research. It ranked 61st in the nation for the 2007–08 television season.{{cite web |title=Local Television Market Universe Estimates |website=Nielsenmedia.com |url=http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/nmr_static/docs/2007-2008_DMA_Ranks.xls |access-date=November 17, 2007 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200433/http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/nmr_static/docs/2007-2008_DMA_Ranks.xls |url-status=dead}}

In total, 55 radio stations are located around the Mobile area and provide signals sufficiently strong to serve Mobile.{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=mobile&state=al|title = Radio Stations in Mobile, Alabama}}

Fourteen FM radio stations transmit from Mobile: WAVH, WBHY, WBLX, WDLT, WHIL, WKSJ, WKSJ-HD2, WLVM, WMXC, WMXC-HD2, WQUA, WRKH, WRKH-HD2, and WZEW. Nine AM radio stations transmit from Mobile: WBHY, WABF, WGOK, WIJD, WLPR, WMOB, WNGL, WNTM, and WXQW. The content ranges from Christian Contemporary to Hip hop to Top 40.{{cite web |title=Radio in Mobile |work=TheCityOfMobile.com |url=http://www.thecityofmobile.com/radio/index.html |access-date=October 20, 2007}}

In fall 2020, Nielsen ranked Mobile's radio market as the 102nd in the US.{{cite web |url=https://www.rab.com/public/pdf/Nielsen-Fall%202020.pdf |title=RADIO MARKET SURVEY POPULATION, RANKINGS & INFORMATION: FALL 2020 |website=Rab.com |access-date=March 4, 2022}} Some years earlier, Nielsen's predecessor, Arbitron ranked Mobile's radio market as 93rd in fall 2007.{{cite web |title=Arbitron Radio Market Rankings: Fall 2007 |work=Arbitron.com |url=http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/redbook_fa07.pdf |access-date=November 17, 2007 |archive-date=November 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127083722/http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/redbook_fa07.pdf |url-status=dead}}

File:Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad station.jpg houses the Mobile Area Transportation Authority.]]

File:Cochran Bridge Mobile Alabama.jpg spanning the Mobile River]]

File:George Wallace Tunnel 02.jpg under the Mobile River]]

Local airline passengers are served by the Mobile Regional Airport, with direct connections to four major hub airports.{{cite web|title=MAA Properties Overview |work=Mobile Airport Authority |url=http://www.mobileairportauthority.com/properties.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071009040842/http://www.mobileairportauthority.com/properties.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 9, 2007 |access-date=October 18, 2007}} It is served by American Eagle, with service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Charlotte/Douglas International Airport; United Express, with service to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Delta Connection, with service to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The Mobile Downtown Airport at the Brookley Aeroplex serves corporate, cargo, and private aircraft.

In an effort to leverage Mobile's waterways for recreational use, as opposed to simply industrial use, The Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail is being designed and implemented under the instruction of the City Council. The linear park will ultimately span seven miles, from Langan (Municipal) Park to Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Avenue, and include trailheads, sidewalks, and bike lanes. The existing greenway is centered at Tricentennial Park.{{cite web |url=https://mapformobile.org/threemilecreek/ |title=Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804014632/https://mapformobile.org/threemilecreek/ |url-status=dead}}

Mobile is served by four Class I railroads, including the Canadian National Railway (CNR), CSX Transportation (CSX), the Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS), and the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS).{{cite web|title=Infrastructure: Rail Overview |work=Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce |url=http://www.mobilechamber.com/infrastructure.asp |access-date=November 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717185947/http://www.mobilechamber.com/infrastructure.asp |archive-date=July 17, 2007 |df=mdy}} The Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway (AGR), a Class III railroad, links Mobile to the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) at Amory, Mississippi. These converge at the Port of Mobile, which provides intermodal freight transport service to companies engaged in importing and exporting. Other railroads include the CG Railway (CGR), a rail ship service to Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, and the Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks (TASD), a switching railroad.

The city was served by Amtrak's Sunset Limited passenger train service until 2005, when the service was suspended due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.{{cite web |author=Amtrak |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1093554015790&ssid=170 |date=September 2, 2005 |title=Modified Amtrak Service to and from the Gulf Coast to be in Effect Until Further Notice |access-date=December 6, 2007}}{{cite web |author=Amtrak |url=http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/apr07/P01.pdf |date=April 2, 2007 |title=Sunset Limited timetable |access-date=June 19, 2007}} However, efforts to restart passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans were revived in 2019 by the 21-member Southern Rail Commission after receiving a $33 million Federal Railroad Administration grant in June of that year.{{cite web |title=Rail Advocates Contend New Gulf Coast Amtrak Service isn't the Sunset Limited |url=https://www.al.com/news/2019/06/rail-advocates-contend-new-gulf-coast-amtrak-service-isnt-the-sunset-limited.html |access-date=May 6, 2020 |work=AL.com |date=June 11, 2019}} Louisiana quickly dedicated its $10 million toward the project, and Mississippi initially balked before committing its $15 million sum but Governor Kay Ivey resisted committing the estimated $2.7 million state allocation from Alabama because of concerns regarding long-term financial commitments and potential competition with freight traffic from the Port of Mobile.{{cite web |title=Ivey Says Questions Remain before Alabama can Commit to Amtrak's Mobile Return |url=https://www.al.com/news/2019/06/ivey-says-questions-remain-before-alabama-can-commit-to-amtraks-mobile-return.html |date=June 8, 2019 |access-date=May 6, 2020 |work=AL.com}}

The Winter of 2019 was marked by repeated postponement of votes by the Mobile City Council as it requested more information on how rail traffic from the port would be impacted and where the Amtrak station would be built as community support for the project became more vocal, especially among millennials.{{cite web |url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2020/01/amtrak-proposal-has-good-vibe-potential-and-millennials-want-a-yes.html |title= Amtrak Proposal has Good 'Vibe Potential' and Millennials want a yes |date=Jan 30, 2020 |access-date=May 6, 2020 |work=AL.com}} A day before a deadline in the federal grant matching program being used to fund the project, the city council committed about $3 million in a 6–1 vote.{{cite news |url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2020/02/mobile-hops-aboard-amtrak-support-by-endorsing-gulf-coast-rail-commitment.html|title= Mobile Hops Aboard Amtrak Support by Endorsing Gulf Coast Rail Commitment |date=February 4, 2020 |newspaper=The Birmingham News}}

About $2.2 million is still needed for infrastructure improvements and the train station must still be built before service begins. Potential locations for the station include at the foot of Government Street in downtown and in the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, which is favored by the Port of Mobile.{{cite web |url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2019/10/planes-trains-and-mobile-why-brookley-might-be-the-better-alternative-for-an-amtrak-station.html |title=Planes, trains and Mobile: Why Brookley might be the 'better alternative' for an Amtrak station |date= October 17, 2019 |access-date= May 6, 2020 |work= AL.com}}

The Wave Transit System provides fixed-route bus and demand-response service in Mobile.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewavetransit.com/35/About-Us|title=About Us|access-date=July 20, 2023}}

Two major interstate highways and a spur converge in Mobile. Interstate 10 runs northeast to southwest across the city, while Interstate 65 starts in Mobile at Interstate 10 and runs north. Interstate 165 connects to Interstate 65 north of the city in Prichard and joins Interstate 10 in downtown Mobile.{{cite web |title=Alabama Roads |work=Milebymile.com |url=http://www.mil-ebymile.com/maps/Alabama_road_map.pdf |access-date=October 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025170631/http://www.milebymile.com/maps/Alabama_road_map.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all}} Mobile is well served by many major highway systems. US Highways US 31, US 43, US 45, US 90, and US 98 radiate from Mobile traveling east, west, and north. Mobile has three routes east across the Mobile River and Mobile Bay into neighboring Baldwin County. Interstate 10 leaves downtown through the George Wallace Tunnel under the river and then over the bay across the Jubilee Parkway to Spanish Fort and Daphne. US 98 leaves downtown through the Bankhead Tunnel under the river, onto Blakeley Island, and then over the bay across the Battleship Parkway into Spanish Fort. US 90 travels over the Cochrane–Africatown USA Bridge to the north of downtown onto Blakeley Island, where it becomes co-routed with US 98.

Mobile's public transportation is the Wave Transit System which features buses with 18 fixed routes and neighborhood service.{{cite web |title=Wave Transit moda! |work=Wave Transit System |url=http://www.thewavetransit.com/ |access-date=January 28, 2010}} Baylinc is a public transportation bus service provided by the Baldwin Rural Transit System in cooperation with the Wave Transit System that provides service between eastern Baldwin County and downtown Mobile. Baylinc operates Monday through Friday.{{cite web |title=Baylinc Facts |work=The Wave Transit System |url=http://www.thewavetransit.com/files/BratSchedule.pdf |access-date=November 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127083724/http://www.thewavetransit.com/files/BratSchedule.pdf |archive-date=November 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

Greyhound Lines provides intercity bus service between Mobile and many locations throughout the United States. Mobile is served by several taxi and limousine services.{{cite web |title=Mobile City Guide |work=AL.com |url=http://www.al.com/mobile/cityguide/?transportation.html |access-date=October 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110222417/http://www.al.com/mobile/cityguide/?transportation.html |archive-date=November 10, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

The Port of Mobile has public deepwater terminals with direct access to {{convert|1500|mi|km}} of inland and intracoastal waterways serving the Great Lakes, the Ohio and Tennessee river valleys (via the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway), and the Gulf of Mexico. The Alabama State Port Authority owns and operates the public terminals at the Port of Mobile. The public terminals handle containerized, bulk, breakbulk, roll-on/roll-off, and heavy-lift cargoes. The port is also home to private bulk terminal operators, as well as a number of highly specialized shipbuilding and repair companies with two of the largest floating dry docks on the Gulf Coast.

The city was a home port for cruise ships from Carnival Cruise Lines.{{cite web |url=http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_elation/default.aspx?shipCode=EL |title=Carnival Elation Cruises {{pipe}} Elation Cruise Ship {{pipe}} Carnival Cruise Line |publisher=Carnival.com |date=January 6, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2013}} The first cruise ship to call the port home was the Holiday, which left the city in November 2009 so that a larger and newer ship could take its place. The Carnival Fantasy operated from Mobile from then on until the Carnival Elation arrived in May 2010.{{cite news |title=Carnival Cruise Lines to deploy Elation to Mobile; could carry 170,000 passengers a year |author=Brian Lyman |newspaper=Press Register |date=September 17, 2009 |url=https://www.al.com/live/2009/09/carnival_cruise_lines_to_deplo.html|access-date=December 4, 2021}} In early 2011, Carnival announced that despite fully booked cruises, the company would cease operations from Mobile in October 2011. This cessation of cruise service left the city with an annual debt service of around two million dollars related to the terminal.{{cite web |url=http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2012/jan/19/rent-alabama-cruise-terminal-ar-3077353/ |title=For Rent: The Alabama Cruise Terminal |author=Chad Petri |date=January 19, 2012 |work=WKRG News 5 |publisher=Media General Communications Holdings |access-date=November 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304175429/http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2012/jan/19/rent-alabama-cruise-terminal-ar-3077353/ |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |df=mdy-all}} In September 2015, Carnival announced that the Carnival Fantasy was relocating from Miami, Florida, to Mobile and would offer four- and five-night cruises to Mexico that started in November 2016 through November 2017.{{cite web|title=Carnival, City Of Mobile Announce Year-Long Season Of Cruises From Port Of Mobile Aboard Carnival Fantasy Beginning In 2016|url=http://carnival-news.com/2015/09/23/carnival-city-of-mobile-announce-year-long-season-of-cruises-from-port-of-mobile-aboard-carnival-fantasy-beginning-in-2016/|website=Carnival News|access-date=November 2, 2016|date=September 23, 2015}} Her first departure from Mobile left on November 9, 2016, on a five-night cruise to Cozumel and Progreso. Carnival Fascination will be replacing Carnival Fantasy in 2022.{{cite web|title=Carnival Fantasy May be Gone for Good|url=https://mynbc15.com/news/local/carnival-fantasy-may-be-gone-for-good|website=mynbc15.com|access-date=March 6, 2020}}

File:Mobile Infirmary front facade.jpg

File:Providence Hospital Mobile 01.jpg

Mobile serves the central Gulf Coast as a regional center for medicine.{{cite web |last1=Pruitt |first1=Lori Chandler |title=Spotlight on Mobile County: Health Care |url=https://businessalabama.com/spotlight-on-mobile-county-health-care/ |website=Business Alabama Magazine |date=14 June 2021}}

Mobile Infirmary Medical Center has 704 beds and is the largest nonprofit hospital in the state. It was founded in 1910. Providence Hospital has 349 beds. It was founded in 1854 by the Daughters of Charity from Emmitsburg, Maryland. The University of South Alabama Medical Center has 346 beds. Its roots go back to 1830 with the old city-owned Mobile City Hospital and associated medical school. A teaching hospital, it is designated as Mobile's only level I trauma center by the Alabama Department of Public Health.{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Jon |date=December 4, 2018 |title=USA trauma center gets state boost as governor eyes rural health problem |url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2018/12/usa-trauma-center-gets-state-boost-as-governor-eyes-rural-health-problem.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212222423/https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2018/12/usa-trauma-center-gets-state-boost-as-governor-eyes-rural-health-problem.html |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |publisher=AL.com}}{{Cite web |title=Our Facilities: USA Family Medicine |url=http://fammed.usouthal.edu/residencyprogram/facilities.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407171959/http://fammed.usouthal.edu/residencyprogram/facilities.html |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |website=University of South Alabama College of Medicine}}{{cite web |url= https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/aths/trauma-center-levels.html |title=Trauma Centers |author= |date=December 15, 2020 |website=Alabama Public Health |publisher=Alabama Department of Public Health |access-date=December 31, 2020 |quote=}} It is also a regional burn center. Springhill Medical Center, with 252 beds, was founded in 1975. It is Mobile's only for-profit facility.{{cite web |title=Healthcare |work=Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce |url=http://www.mobilechamber.com/healthcare.asp |access-date=January 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509124546/http://www.mobilechamber.com/healthcare.asp |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

Additionally, the University of South Alabama operates the University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital with 219 beds, dedicated exclusively to the care of women and minors. In 2008, the University of South Alabama opened the USA Mitchell Cancer Center Institute. The center is home to the first academic cancer research center in the central Gulf Coast region.{{cite news |first=Casandra |last=Andrews |title=USA Mitchell Cancer Institute opens in Mobile |url=https://www.al.com/live/2008/09/usa_mitchell_cancer_institute.html |work=Press Register |publisher=al.com |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=March 23, 2009}}

Mobile Infirmary Medical Center operated Infirmary West, formerly Knollwood Hospital, with 100 acute-care beds, but closed the facility at the end of October 2012 due to declining revenues.{{cite news |first=Brendan |last=Kirby |title=Citing Obamacare, Infirmary Health System announces it will close Infirmary West Hospital |url=https://www.al.com/live/2012/10/citing_obamacare_infirmary_hea.html |work=Press Register |publisher=al.com |date=October 15, 2012 |access-date=December 4, 2021}}

BayPointe Hospital and Children's Residential Services is the only psychiatric hospital in the city. It houses a residential unit for children, an acute unit for children and adolescents, and an age-segregated involuntary hospital unit for adults undergoing evaluation ordered by the Mobile Probate Court.{{cite web |title=Children's Hospital and Residential Services |work=AltaPointe Health Systems |url=http://www.altapointe.org/baypoint.htm |access-date=February 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614020724/http://www.altapointe.org/baypoint.htm |archive-date=June 14, 2008}}

The city has a broad array of outpatient surgical centers, emergency clinics, home health care services, assisted-living facilities and skilled nursing facilities.{{cite web |title=Alabama Nursing Home Association |url=http://www.anha.org/ |access-date=January 29, 2008}}

• Jerry Carl – U.S. representative{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |title=Jerry L. Carl (Alabama (AL)), 118th Congress Profile |url=https://clerk.house.gov/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}
• Rick Crawford (born 1958) – racing driver{{cite web |title=Former driver Rick Crawford to be released into home confinement in child sex case |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/former-driver-rick-crawford-to-be-released-into-home-confinement-in-child-sex-case |website=NBC Sports |date=8 March 2018}}
• Anne Haney Cross (born 1956) – neurologist, section head of neuroimmunology at Washington University School of Medicine{{Cite web |title=Anne Cross, MD |url=https://physicians.wustl.edu/items/anne-cross/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Washington University Physicians |language=en-US}}
• George Washington Dennis ({{Circa|1825}} – 1916) – former slave, turned entrepreneur and real estate developer in San Francisco, California; advocate for Black rights{{Cite news |date=1916-09-18 |title=Obituary for George Washington Dennis (Aged 91) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-chronicle-obituary-for-geo/86544311/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com |issn=1932-8672}}{{Cite news |last=Johanesen |first=Harry |date=1968-07-26 |title=George Dennis -- won freedom, riches |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-george-dennis/112341021/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |pages=14 |via=Newspapers.com |issn=2574-593X}}{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=June 1976 |title=Profiles: George Washington Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqDOQ7KNrCEC&pg=PA123 |magazine=Black Enterprise |publisher=Earl G. Graves, Ltd. |pages=123, 125 |language=en |via=Google Books}}
• Michael Figures (1947–1996) – American lawyer and politician who served in the Alabama Senate{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser/34804529/|title=Legislator Figures dies|first=Garry|last=Mitchell|agency=Associated Press|work=Montgomery Advertiser|page=1A|date=September 14, 1996|accessdate=April 14, 2024}}
• Shomari Figures (born 1985) – U.S. representative from Alabama's 2nd congressional district{{Cite web |last=Washington |first=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |title=Shomari Figures (Alabama (AL)), 119th Congress Profile |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/F000481 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}
• Thomas Figures (1944–2015) – first African American assistant district attorney and assistant United States Attorney{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2015/03/life_stories_a_drum_major_for.html|title=Life Stories: A drum major for justice, Thomas Henry Figures fulfilled his dreams of judgeship, fatherhood|first=Taylor Peyton|last=Strunk |work=AL.com|date=March 22, 2015|accessdate=April 12, 2024}}
• Flo Milli (born 2000) – rapper{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Hunter|date=July 30, 2020|title=Flo Milli Summer|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/flo-milli-profile-ho-why-is-you-here-beef-flomix.html|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=Vulture|language=en-us|oclc=1118502440|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809142641/https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/flo-milli-profile-ho-why-is-you-here-beef-flomix.html|url-status=live}}
• Cale Gale (born 1985) – racing driver{{cite news |last1=Inabinett |first1=Mark |title=Cale Gale captures hometown victory in Mobile ARCA 200 |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2012/03/cale_gale_captures_hometown_vi.html |work=al |date=11 March 2012 |language=en}}
• Dorothy E. Hayes (1935–2015) – graphic designer, educator{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Regina |title=Guides: Black Graphic Design History Collections Initiative: Dorothy Hayes |url=https://guides.library.stanford.edu/Black_graphic_design_collections/Hayes |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Stanford Libraries |publisher=Stanford University |language=en}}DeMarko, Sharon (February 19, 1971). "Black Artists Graphics Displayed at Art Center". Pensacola News Journal. p. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-black-artists-gra/161915106/ 11]– [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-black-artists-gra/161915373/ 12]. – via Newspapers.com.
• Vivian Malone Jones (1942–2005) – director in the EPA, integrated the University of Alabama and was its first black graduate{{cite book |last=Clark |first=E. Culpepper |title=The Schoolhouse Door |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=1993 |pages=175–176}}
• Charles Keller (1868–1949) – former U.S. Army Brigadier General and the oldest Army officer to serve on active duty during World War II[https://web.archive.org/web/20161019101819/http://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/Historical-Vignettes/Military-Construction-Combat/079-Oldest-Officer/ Historical Vignette 079 – The Oldest U.S. Army Officer to Serve in World War II Was an Engineer][https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/charles-keller.htm Charles Keller – Brigadier General, United States Army]
• Antonio Lang (born 1972) – American former professional basketball player and coach{{cite news |last1=Hicks |first1=Tommy |title=Mobile's Antonio Lang returning to NBA, U.S. basketball after 13 seasons in Japan |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2014/07/mobiles_antonio_lang_returning.html |work=al |date=28 July 2014 |language=en}}
• Anne Bozeman Lyon (1860–1936) – writer{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Thomas McAdory |title=History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography |date=1921 |publisher=S. J. Clarke publishing Company |page=1079 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2Z5AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1079 |access-date=24 December 2023 |language=en}}
• Alexander Lyons (1867–1939) – rabbi{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uWrXAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Lyons,%20Alexander%22 |title=Who's Who in American Jewry, 1926 |date=January 1927 |publisher=The Jewish Biographical Bureau, Inc. |location=New York, N.Y. |pages=406 |language=en |via=Google Books}}
• Bubba Wallace (born 1993) – racing driver{{cite web |first=Theodon |last=Janes |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/article244046107.html |title=Bubba Wallace's long road through racism, and how it led to his being targeted by Trump |work=The Charlotte Observer |date=July 8, 2020 |access-date=July 23, 2020}}
• William Moody (1954{{endash}}2013) {{endash}} professional wrestling manager known for his time in WWE under the name "Paul Bearer"https://web.archive.org/web/20091120140240/http://percypringle.com/biography.html

Mobile has nine sister cities:{{cite web |title=Sister Cities |work=City of Mobile|url=https://www.cityofmobile.org/sister-cities/|access-date=4 June 2025}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Ariel, West Bank
• Cockburn, Australia (2005)
• Constanța, Romania
• Havana, Cuba
• Ichihara, Japan (1993)
• Katowice, Poland
• Malaga, Spain
• Pyeongtaek, South Korea
• Worms, Germany}}

{{Portal|Alabama|United States|American Civil War|France|North America|History}}

• List of people from Mobile, Alabama
• List of tallest buildings in Mobile, Alabama
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Mobile, Alabama
• USS Mobile, 6 ships

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• Cox, Isaac Joslin. The West Florida controversy, 1798–1813: a study in American diplomacy (The Johns Hopkins Press, 1918) [https://archive.org/details/westfloridacont01coxgoog online]
• Gould, Elizabeth Barrett. From Fort to Port: An Architectural History of Mobile, Alabama, 1711–1918 (University of Alabama Press, 1988)
• Kinser, Samuel, and Norman Magden. Carnival, American Style: Mardi Gras at New Orleans and Mobile (University of Chicago Press, 1990.)
• Kirkland, Scotty E. "Pink Sheets and Black Ballots: Politics and Civil Rights in Mobile, Alabama, 1945–1985." MA Thesis University of South Alabama
• Pride, Richard Alan. The Political Use of Racial Narratives: School Desegregation in Mobile, Alabama, 1954–97 (University of Illinois Press, 2002)
• Thomason, Michael, ed. Mobile: the new history of Alabama's first city (University of Alabama Press, 2001)

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{{Sister project links|wikt=no|v=no|n=no|q=no|s=no|b=no|voy=Mobile}}

• [https://www.cityofmobile.org/ City of Mobile website]
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Mobile |short=x}}

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