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Orange Beach, Alabama

Coordinates: 30°17′40″N 87°34′25″W / 30.29444°N 87.57361°W / 30.29444; -87.57361
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orange Beach, Alabama
City
Condominiums and hotels on the beach
Condominiums and hotels on the beach
Flag of Orange Beach, Alabama
Flag
Official seal of Orange Beach, Alabama
Seal
Location of Orange Beach in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Location of Orange Beach in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 30°17′40″N 87°34′25″W / 30.29444°N 87.57361°W / 30.29444; -87.57361
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyBaldwin
FoundedMid-1860s
IncorporatedAugust 1, 1984
Government
[1]
 • MayorTony Kennon (R)
 • Mayor Pro TemJeff Boyd
 • City CouncilPlace 1: Annette Mitchell
Place 2: Jeff Boyd
Place 3: Jerry Johnson
Place 4: Jeff Silvers
Place 5: Joni Blalock
Area
[2]
 • Total
15.931 sq mi (41.261 km2)
 • Land14.716 sq mi (38.114 km2)
 • Water1.215 sq mi (3.1474 km2)
Elevation
[3]
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total
8,095
 • Estimate 
(2023)[5]
8,534
 • Density580.0/sq mi (223.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
36561
Area code251
FIPS code01-57144
GNIS feature ID0124297[3]
Sales tax10.0%[6]
Websiteorangebeachal.gov

Orange Beach is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The population was 8,095 at the 2020 census.[4] and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 8,534.[5]

Geography

[edit]

Orange Beach is located on Perdido Key along the Gulf of Mexico, and is the easternmost community on Alabama's Gulf Coast, with the community of Perdido Key, Florida bordering it to the east. The city of Gulf Shores is to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.931 square miles (41.26 km2), of which 14.716 square miles (38.11 km2) is land and 1.215 square miles (3.15 km2) is water.[2]

Climate

[edit]

Orange Beach has a humid subtropical climate, with mild-to-warm winters, and hot and humid summers.

Climate data for Orange Beach, Alabama
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29) 		87
(31) 		92
(33) 		97
(36) 		101
(38) 		105
(41) 		107
(42) 		108
(42) 		103
(39) 		98
(37) 		89
(32) 		83
(28) 		108
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 61
(16) 		64
(18) 		70
(21) 		75
(24) 		83
(28) 		88
(31) 		90
(32) 		90
(32) 		87
(31) 		79
(26) 		71
(22) 		64
(18) 		77
(25)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 43
(6) 		45
(7) 		52
(11) 		57
(14) 		65
(18) 		72
(22) 		74
(23) 		74
(23) 		70
(21) 		59
(15) 		51
(11) 		45
(7) 		59
(15)
Record low °F (°C) 4
(−16) 		9
(−13) 		19
(−7) 		29
(−2) 		38
(3) 		52
(11) 		66
(19) 		60
(16) 		44
(7) 		28
(−2) 		25
(−4) 		7
(−14) 		4
(−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.72
(145) 		4.86
(123) 		6.32
(161) 		3.97
(101) 		4.41
(112) 		5.17
(131) 		7.09
(180) 		6.11
(155) 		6.75
(171) 		4.26
(108) 		4.43
(113) 		4.02
(102) 		63.11
(1,602)
Source: IntelliCast.com
Average sea temperature:[7]
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
62.2 °F (16.8 °C) 62.1 °F (16.7 °C) 65.1 °F (18.4 °C) 70 °F (21 °C) 77.2 °F (25.1 °C) 82.9 °F (28.3 °C) 84.6 °F (29.2 °C) 85.3 °F (29.6 °C) 83.7 °F (28.7 °C) 78.3 °F (25.7 °C) 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) 65.7 °F (18.7 °C) 74 °F (23 °C)

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19902,253—
20003,78468.0%
20105,44143.8%
20208,09548.8%
2023 (est.)8,534[5]5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2020 Census[4]
Alabama Welcome sign on the Alabama-Florida border in Orange Beach
Orange Beach in 2010
Orange Beach boardwalk

2020 census

[edit]
Orange Beach, Alabama – Racial Composition[9]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 7,373 91.08%
Black or African American (NH) 85 1.05%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 39 0.48%
Asian (NH) 57 0.7%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.01%
Some Other Race (NH) 22 0.30%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 305 3.80%
Hispanic or Latino 213 2.63%
Total 8,095 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,095 people, and 3,793 households, and 2,343 families residing in the city.[10] The population density was 550.2 inhabitants per square mile (212.4/km2). There were 14,545 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 91.8% White, 1.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other races and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.[11] 15.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 2.1% were under 5 years of age, and 28.5% were 65 and older.

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,441 people, 2,492 households, and 1,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 370.1 inhabitants per square mile (142.9/km2). There were 11,726 housing units at an average density of 737.5 inhabitants per square mile (284.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 2.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,492 households, out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the city, the population was 18.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $66,656, and the median income for a family was $69,964. Males had a median income of $54,806 versus $47,019 for females. The per capita income for the city was $40,153. About 1.2% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Sports

[edit]

The city of Orange Beach hosts many sporting events and tournaments at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The Sportsplex, located north of the Gulf State Park and a short distance from The Wharf, comprises a football/soccer stadium with a seating capacity of 1,500. The facility also has several baseball and softball fields.[12] The Backcountry Trail system through the Gulf State Park has a trailhead located at the Sportsplex.[13]

The Sportsplex has hosted the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament on numerous occasions, in addition to the NCAA Division II men and women's soccer tournament. The facility once served as home to the Alabama Lightning of the North American Football League.[citation needed]

A 112 feet (34 m) high Ferris wheel is located at The Wharf in Orange Beach.[14]

Orange Beach is home to the Orange Beach Running Club, which meets every Monday evening to run a 5K.

Education

[edit]

Orange Beach is part of the Orange Beach City Schools system. Orange Beach Elementary School is the city's only school and serves students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Students in grades seven and twelve attend Orange Beach Middle and High School.

Previously residents were zoned to Gulf Shores Middle School and Gulf Shores High School in neighboring Gulf Shores. In 2019, these schools separated into the Gulf Shores City Schools district. For the 2019-2020 school year, Orange Beach grade 7-10 students and grade 7-10 students in unincorporated areas had a choice between remaining with Gulf Shores schools or attending temporary classrooms established by Baldwin County schools.[15] Orange Beach Middle and High opened in 2020.[16]

Columbia Southern University is a private, online-only university that is located in Orange Beach, with a campus in Orange Beach on Canal Road and a larger campus on the Beach Express road.

Transportation

[edit]

Countywide dial-a-ride transit service is provided by BRATS, the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System.[17]

Recreation

[edit]
Ferris Wheel at The Wharf

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Council Members". City of Orange Beach. August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Orange Beach, Alabama
  4. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Orange Beach (AL) sales tax rate". Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Orange Beach water temp
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Orange Beach city, Alabama".
  10. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "How many people live in Orange Beach city, Alabama". USA Today. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Orange Beach Sportsplex". City of Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  13. ^ "Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail". City of Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  14. ^ "Attractions on Alabama's Gulf Coast". Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  15. ^ "Work on Orange Beach school campus continues". Al.com. August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Orange Beach high school opening". Al.com. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "BRATS". Retrieved November 10, 2024.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Orange Beach.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orange Beach, Alabama.
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