Dauphin Island, Alabama Île du Massacre | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Fort Gaines and seashore vegetation on the eastern end of Dauphin Island | |
 Flag  Logo | |
| Motto: "Sunset Capital of Alabama" | |
 Location in Mobile County, Alabama | |
| Coordinates:30°15′15″N88°6′45″W / 30.25417°N 88.11250°W /30.25417; -88.11250[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Mobile |
| Area | |
• Total | 165.95 sq mi (429.81 km2) |
| • Land | 6.26 sq mi (16.20 km2) |
| • Water | 159.69 sq mi (413.61 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,778 |
| • Density | 284.21/sq mi (109.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central Standard Time (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central Daylight Time (CDT)) |
| ZIP code | 36528 |
| Area code | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-19744 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0117086 |
| Website | www |
Dauphin Island, formerlyMassacre Island (French:Île du Massacre) is an island town inMobile County, Alabama, United States, on abarrier island of the same name, in theGulf of Mexico. It incorporated in 1988.[5] The population was 1,778 at the2020 census,[4] up from 1,238 at the2010 census. The town is part of theMobile metropolitan area. The island (originally named Massacre Island) was renamed forLouis XIV of France's great-grandson and heir, thedauphin, the futureLouis XV of France. The name of the island is often mistaken as Dolphin Island; the worddauphin is French fordolphin, but historically, the term was used as the title of the heir apparent to the French monarch.[6]
The island is one of theMississippi–Alabama barrier islands, with the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and theMississippi Sound andMobile Bay to the north. The island's eastern end helps define the mouth of Mobile Bay. The eastern, wider portion of the island is shaded by thick stands ofpine trees andsaw palmettos, but the narrow, western part of the island features scrub growth and few trees.
Dauphin Island is home toFort Gaines,Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the Estuarium public aquarium, theDauphin Island Airport, boat ramps, a large public pier that sits on dry land,[7] historic sites, several restaurants, new condominium developments, and numerous private homes. Beaches attract tourism, and fishing is a popular activity in the waters around the island. The island is connected to the mainland by theGordon Persons Bridge.
Although the island has several bird sanctuaries, the main one is the 164-acre (66 ha)Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Because Dauphin Island is the first land encountered by many birds as theymigrate north from South America, many species can be found resting there before continuing their journey.
In May 2012, the central public beach began charging for access. This marked the second beach on the island to charge the public following the creation of the privately owned West End Beach.[8]
Serpentine shellmiddens, perhaps 1,500 years old, attest to at least seasonal occupation by the Native AmericanMississippianMound Builder culture.Shell Mound Park, along the island's northern shore, is administered by theAlabama Marine Resources Division.
In 1519, the Spanish explorerAlonso Álvarez de Pineda was the first documented European to visit, staying long enough to map the island with remarkable accuracy.
The island's French history began on January 31, 1699, when the explorerPierre Le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville, one of the founders ofFrench Louisiana, arrived atMobile Bay and anchored near the island on his way to explore the mouth of theMississippi River. D'Iberville mistakenly named itÎle du Massacre (Massacre Island) because of a large pile of human skeletons discovered there. In reality, the site was a Mississippian burial mound which had been broken open by ahurricane, not a massacre site; however, the dramatic misnomer stuck.[9]
D'Iberville later established a port forFort Louis de La Louisiane on the island due to its abundant timber, reliable supply of fresh water, and deep-water harbor. The settlement consisted of a fort, a chapel, government-owned warehouses, and residences.[9]
The island served as a major trading depot where goods fromSaint-Domingue (Haiti), Mexico, Cuba and France were unloaded and a short-livedfur trade was conducted. Before achannel wasdredged, Mobile Bay was too shallow and itssandbars too treacherous for ocean-going vessels to travel up the bay andMobile River to Fort Louis de La Louisiane. Thus, smaller boats carried the cargo within Mobile Bay to and from Dauphin Island.
In 1719 the firstAfrican slaves of Alabama arrived at Dauphin Island. After theFrench and Indian War (known in Europe as theSeven Years' War) ended in 1763, the island was ceded to the British. After theAmerican Revolutionary War, the territory again came under Spanish jurisdiction, being part of theProvince of West Florida until 1812.
In 1795 after theTreaty of San Lorenzo was signed between Spain and the United States, new settlers began migrating to Alabama from Virginia, North & South Carolina and Georgia.
In 1805, theChickasaw,Cherokee andChoctaw people were forced tocede their lands to the government. TheCreek tribes aggressively fought to hold their lands, but eventually were forced to cede in 1813.
Fort Gaines on the eastern tip of the island was built between 1821 and 1848. It was occupied byConfederate forces in 1861 and captured by theUnion Army during theBattle of Mobile Bay. The phrase, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," was supposedly spoken by U. S. AdmiralDavid Farragut just a few hundred yards from Dauphin Island's shore.
The firstSand Island Light, authorized in 1834, was replaced by a structure 150 feet (46 m) high, at a cost of $35,000, that was destroyed by Confederate forces. The present lighthouse (1873; in use until 1970), has been placed on theNational Register of Historic Places. Its ownership was recently transferred from theU.S. Department of Interior to the town of Dauphin Island.
In 2023, a large alligator was spotted riding waves and sunbathing on the beach of Dauphin Island. Onlookers posted photos of the alligator to social media, which subsequently went viral. While alligators traditionally live in freshwater, they are able to tolerate salt water as well according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.[10]
Dauphin Island is 15 miles (24 km) long from east to west, separating theGulf of Mexico to the south from theMississippi Sound andMobile Bay to the north. The island is less than 0.25 miles (0.40 km) wide for most of its length, except for the eastern quarter of the island, which is over 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the island has a land area of 6.3 square miles (16 km2), while the town's total area is much greater: 166.0 square miles (430 km2), with 159.9 square miles (414 km2) of it, or 96.2% of the town, in the water of the surrounding Gulf and bays.[2]
TheDauphin Island Bridge, officially the Gordon Persons Bridge, is the island's sole road connection to the Alabama mainland, carryingState Route 193, which leads north 27 miles (43 km) toTillmans Corner in the southwest outskirts ofMobile. Downtown Mobile is 37 miles (60 km) north of the island.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Dauphin Island has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]
| Climate data for Dauphin Island #2, Alabama (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1975–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) | 80 (27) | 83 (28) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 99 (37) | 101 (38) | 99 (37) | 97 (36) | 93 (34) | 85 (29) | 85 (29) | 101 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 70.5 (21.4) | 71.3 (21.8) | 76.5 (24.7) | 81.1 (27.3) | 88.1 (31.2) | 91.3 (32.9) | 93.7 (34.3) | 93.0 (33.9) | 91.1 (32.8) | 85.6 (29.8) | 79.2 (26.2) | 73.6 (23.1) | 94.7 (34.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.6 (14.8) | 61.5 (16.4) | 66.8 (19.3) | 73.5 (23.1) | 80.8 (27.1) | 86.2 (30.1) | 88.2 (31.2) | 88.1 (31.2) | 85.2 (29.6) | 77.4 (25.2) | 67.8 (19.9) | 61.2 (16.2) | 74.6 (23.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 52.3 (11.3) | 55.4 (13.0) | 61.3 (16.3) | 68.3 (20.2) | 76.0 (24.4) | 81.3 (27.4) | 83.2 (28.4) | 83.2 (28.4) | 80.3 (26.8) | 72.0 (22.2) | 61.7 (16.5) | 55.2 (12.9) | 69.2 (20.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 46.1 (7.8) | 49.4 (9.7) | 55.8 (13.2) | 63.1 (17.3) | 71.2 (21.8) | 76.4 (24.7) | 78.2 (25.7) | 78.3 (25.7) | 75.5 (24.2) | 66.7 (19.3) | 55.6 (13.1) | 49.2 (9.6) | 63.8 (17.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) | 35.0 (1.7) | 40.4 (4.7) | 50.3 (10.2) | 60.9 (16.1) | 70.1 (21.2) | 71.8 (22.1) | 72.5 (22.5) | 67.3 (19.6) | 52.9 (11.6) | 42.1 (5.6) | 36.8 (2.7) | 28.5 (−1.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 9 (−13) | 19 (−7) | 23 (−5) | 35 (2) | 50 (10) | 55 (13) | 65 (18) | 64 (18) | 57 (14) | 37 (3) | 24 (−4) | 11 (−12) | 9 (−13) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.23 (133) | 4.35 (110) | 4.90 (124) | 5.16 (131) | 5.01 (127) | 5.87 (149) | 6.80 (173) | 6.80 (173) | 5.24 (133) | 3.52 (89) | 3.86 (98) | 5.13 (130) | 61.09 (1,552) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 12.2 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 10.2 | 11.6 | 12.1 | 8.4 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 11.5 | 114.8 |
| Source:NOAA[12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 824 | — | |
| 2000 | 1,371 | 66.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,238 | −9.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,778 | 43.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] | |||
As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 1,371 people (but falling in the 2010 census to 1238: see below) with 601 households and 418 families residing in the town. The population density was 221.2 people per square mile (85.4 people/km2). There were 1,691 housing units at an average density of 272.9 units per square mile (105.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.43%White (1,322 persons), 0.44%Black orAfrican American (6 persons), 1.60%Native American (22 persons), 0.58%Asian (8 persons), and 0.95% from two or more races (13 persons).Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 601 households, out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.66. In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,219, and the median income for a family was $50,476. Males had a median income of $35,179 versus $24,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,552. About 6.0% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 1,238 people, 582 households, and 373 families residing in the town. The population density was 199.7 people per square mile (77.1 people/km2). There were 1,818 housing units at an average density of 295.2 units per square mile (114.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.3%White, 0.4%Black orAfrican American, 1.0%Native American, 0.2%Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
There were 582 households, out of which 13.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.55.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 41.2% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,731, and the median income for a family was $54,844. Males had a median income of $47,308 versus $37,292 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,771. About 11.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 0% of those age 65 or over.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,615 | 90.83% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5 | 0.28% |
| Native American | 19 | 1.07% |
| Asian | 12 | 0.67% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.17% |
| Other/Mixed | 82 | 4.61% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 42 | 2.36% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 1,778 people, 585 households, and 424 families residing in the town.
The town is served by theMobile County Public School System.[18] It has one public school, Dauphin Island Elementary School.[19] Middle school students go on to Alba Middle School inBayou La Batre andAlma Bryant High School in Bayou La Batre.[20][21]
TheDauphin Island Sea Lab is located on the east end of the island on grounds formerly occupied by the 693rd Radar Squadron, Dauphin Island Air Force Station,US Air Force, and is home to the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.[22]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(August 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
At the top of Dauphin Island'scoat of arms is the historicFort Gaines with twocannons facing north and south, which represent Dauphin Island's role during theCivil War. The boat is ashrimping vessel which represents the livelihood of many of the residents of the island. The dolphin is a mammal seen quite often in the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay waters surrounding the island. The birds arepelicans, which are numerous around the island and the entire Gulf coast. Thefleur-de-lis represents the presence of France on the island from 1699 to 1764. The sailing ship is aSpanish galleon to represent Spain's role in settling the area between 1781 and 1813.
Over the centuries, many hurricanes have struck the island. Some recent storms include:
The old walledFort Gaines is on the east end of Dauphin Island. A ferry from nearbyFort Morgan inGulf Shores brings both vehicles and pedestrians to the island. One of the closest attractions to the ferry dock isThe Estuarium, a fresh- and saltwater aquarium highlighting species native to Alabama.
The Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council features works by local artists, as well as information on the history of Dauphin Island. It organizes the annual Dauphin Island Native American Festival.
Municipalities and communities ofMobile County, Alabama,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
