Dauphin Island, Alabama | |
|---|---|
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″N 88°6′45″W / 30.25417°N 88.11250°W[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 is an island town in Mobile County, Alabama, United States, on a barrier island of the same name, in the Gulf of Mexico. It incorporated in 1988.[5] The population was 1,778 at the 2020 census,[4] up from 1,238 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Mobile metropolitan area. The island (originally named Massacre Island) was renamed for Louis XIV of France's great-grandson and heir, the dauphin, the future Louis XV of France. The name of the island is often mistaken as Dolphin Island; the word dauphin is French for dolphin, but historically, the term was used as the title of the heir apparent to the French monarch.[6]
The island is one of the Mississippi–Alabama barrier islands, with the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and the Mississippi Sound and Mobile 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 of pine trees and saw palmettos, but the narrow, western part of the island features scrub growth and few trees.
Dauphin Island is home to Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the Estuarium public aquarium, the Dauphin 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 the Gordon 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 they migrate 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]
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Dauphin Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ^ a b "Dauphin Island town, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Dauphin Island - Encyclopedia of Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- ^ "dauphin | French political history". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ^ Dauphin Island Fishing Pier Archived May 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Dauphinisland.org. Retrieved on July 21, 2013.
- ^ Dauphin Island public beach fee set to begin in late May | al.com Archived May 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Blog.al.com. Retrieved on July 21, 2013.