The Oldest Town in Alabama Is 74 Years Older Than America Itself

Alabama is the 22nd state in the U.S., and it has one of the oldest towns in the country. The oldest town in the state is even older than the United States, by at least 74 years! Follow along to discover the oldest town in Alabama and the best time to visit.

What is the Oldest Town in Alabama?

The oldest town in Alabama is Mobile, founded in 1702, making it 321 years old. It was incorporated as a town on January 20, 1814, and as a city on December 17, 1819. Mobile is the fourth most populated city in the state and the 138th in the country. The total population is about 187,000. Mobile’s surface area is 180.07 square miles. The city sits at an elevation of 33 feet.

The History of Mobile, Alabama

Before European settlement, the Muscogee Native American people lived in the area. The first Europeans to set foot in Mobile were the Spanish, but they weren’t the ones who founded Mobile. Instead, French Colonists constructed Fort Louis de la Louisiane in 1702 on the Mobile River. A few years later in 1704, 23 Frenchwomen with yellow fever were transported to Mobile, which killed many Native Americans and French colonists. Because of the disease, the population fluctuated, but by 1710, at least 178 people lived in the town.

In the 19th century, Mobile was part of the Mississippi Territory. This only lasted for about four years until Mississippi became a state and Mobile was then included in the Alabama Territory in 1817. Alabama became a state in 1819, which is when the town was incorporated. After becoming a state, Mobile relied on slavery and the goods produced by slaves to prosper. They exported large amounts of cotton, only second to New Orleans.

In 1860, over 100 years after the town was founded, the population was 29,258. During the American Civil War, the city of Mobile was very active. Mobile grew quickly in the 1900s, but race relations worsened leading to riots and extreme Jim Crow Laws.

Best Time to Visit Mobile, Alabama

Over 28 million people visited Alabama in 2022 and at least 3 million spent time in Mobile. Tourism season is busiest in the summer, which can mean large crowds and hot days. For good and cool weather, we recommend visiting this town from February through May and September through December. The hottest months are July and August, which can make it unbearable to stay outside for long. Winters in Alabama are mild. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Mobile was 3°F on Monday, January 21, 1985, but this is rare. The average low is 39.9°F.

Things to do in the Oldest Town in Alabama

You won’t run out of things to do while visiting the oldest town in Alabama. To discover the entire city and all its charm, you need to spend more than one day! For history lovers, one of the best things you can do in Mobile is walk through Historic Downtown Mobile. It’s like walking through time. There are also multiple interesting museums like the USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile Carnival Museum, History Museum of Mobile, Condé-Charlotte Museum, and the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico.

Mobile food tours are also popular. Apart from museums, you can also visit the Mobile Botanical Gardens. It’s a 100-acre garden with hundreds of plant species. Within the botanical garden, visitors can walk through Camellia Wintergarden, Fern Glade, Herb Garden, a Longleaf Pine Habitat, and Japanese Maple Garden. If you want to talk to locals and shop with small businesses, you can also visit the indoor Mobile Flea Market home to over 800 booths and delicious market goodies.

Where is Mobile, Alabama Located on a Map?

Mobile is on the north-central Gulf Coast in the southwestern corner of Alabama and is located at the intersections of I-10 and I-65. It is a port city that sits on Mobile Bay and is within driving distance of major cities like New Orleans, Birmingham, and Atlanta.

Wildlife in Mobile

Mobile Alabama is home to hundreds of animal species. In the area are lakes, ponds, forests, and Mobile Bay. While traveling through the city, you may encounter some amazing wildlife. Follow along to learn about a few you may see!

Laughing Gull

The first animal on our list is the laughing gull. They are very common birds typically found along beaches. Laughing gulls are native to North America and South America. They are opportunistic scavengers and are often seen stealing food from unsuspecting beachgoers. These intelligent birds are about 14 to 16 inches long with an even larger wingspan. Their wingspans range from 39 to 43 inches, which is about three times their length. Currently, there are two recognized subspecies, L. a. megalopterus and L. a. atricilla. The subspecies you’ll find in Mobile and across North America is L. a. megalopterus.

Atlantic Ghost Crab

Another animal you can find in the oldest town in Alabama is the Atlantic ghost crab. They are found throughout the Atlantic coast of the United States. Atlantic ghost crabs are grey or yellow and blend in with the sand, especially when young. They are small, only reaching about 2 inches wide. Although they return to the water to moisten their gills and release larvae, they mainly live in burrows in the sand. Atlantic ghost crabs are excellent diggers and their sand burrows can be as deep as 4 feet and 3 inches.

Scarlet Tanager

The next animal on our list is the scarlet tanager, a beautiful and vibrant stocky bird. These medium-sized birds weigh about an ounce and are between 6.3 and 7.5 inches long. Scarlet tanagers are beautiful songbirds. They have smooth and pale bills, with vibrant wings. Female scarlet tanagers are yellowish and olive with hints of brown at the tip of their wings. Adult males are deep red with black wings and tails. Despite their vibrant plumage, scarlet tanagers hunt and forage for food in trees and out of sight. They consume flying insects like moths, bees, hornets, beetles, and flies.

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of playful bottlenose dolphins while visiting Mobile. You may see one while walking along the coast or taking a dolphin tour, although sightings are never guaranteed. Common bottlenose dolphins are intelligent animals. They are also called Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, which is a subspecies of the bottlenose dolphin. These dolphins have large brains and are very social, living in pods. Dolphin pods have been observed with over 100 animals. Common bottlenose dolphins have a wide diet and consume fish, shrimp, and eel.

West Indian Manatee

Manatee sightings are more common in Florida, however, they occasionally swim into Mobile Bay. West Indian manatees are large and gentle creatures. They are about 9 to 12 feet long and can weigh as much as 1,300 pounds. Sadly, West Indian manatees are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. These slow animals have no natural predators, except for American alligators, but attacks are rare. Manatees are also herbivores and eat about 60 species of plants. Sadly, although West Indian manatees have minimal to no predators, they are dwindling in numbers because of boating accidents and habitat fragmentation.

American Alligator

Last but not least is the American alligator, which is found throughout Alabama. This large apex predator is most active during dawn and dusk. It’s also best to avoid being in the water with an American alligator during spring and summer as they search for mates and defend their nests. These large reptiles are about 11.2 to 15 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © George Dodd III/Shutterstock.com