Gulf Coast Region, AL Land for Sale

The Gulf Coast region of Alabama is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and borders Mississippi to the west and Florida to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. It is part of a long coast along the Gulf of Mexico which spans five states, also including Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. The largest city in the region is Mobile, which sits directly on Mobile Bay, the largest bay, with Bon Secours being the other bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Other large cities in the region are Bay Minette, Brewton, and Monroeville.

With the discovery of oil and gas deposits along the coast and offshore, combined with easy access to shipping, have made this region the heart of the petrochemical industry in the United States. The coast has nearly 4,000 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico along the entire five-state Gulf Coast area. Other industries in the region include aerospace, biomedical research, agriculture, fishing and shrimping, and of course tourism, with natural areas for outdoor recreation and beautiful beaches. The largest in the region is University of South Alabama, with other higher education institutions in the region including University of Mobile, Faulkner University, Spring Hill College, Remington College, Alabama Southern Community College, Bishop State Community College, Faulkner State Community College, Jefferson Davis Community College and United States Sports Academy.

Alabama's Gulf Coast region has two national wildlife refuges, one state fish hatchery and nine state parks forests and wildlife management areas. Most notable are Conecuh National Forest, Claude D. Kelley State Park, featuring a 25-acre lake with boating and fishing facilities, Gulf State Park, known for its white sand beaches covering two miles of the 6,150-acre park, Roland Cooper State Park and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, which features 7,000 acres of wildlife habitat for migratory birds, nesting sea turtles and the endangered Alabama beach mouse. Some other attractions in the region include Dauphin Island Park and Sea Board, which includes a beach, historic Fort Gaines, Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Dauphin Island Pier and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile Carnival Museum, Mobile Botanical Gardens, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, which also includes a submarine and 23 combat aircraft on display, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and several historical sites, such as Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, Hank Williams Boyhood Home and Museum, Bellingrath Gardens and Home and Marietta Johnson Museum.

Baldwin County is one of the two counties in Alabama's Gulf Coast region which borders the Gulf Of Mexico to the south, and it also borders Florida to the east. It is the largest county in the state by land area and is named for Senator Abraham Baldwin. The largest city is Bay Minette which is the county seat, and other cities include Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Robertsdale and Spanish Fort, and there are nearly 40 other towns and unincorporated communities. Faulkner State Community College and United States Sports Academy are the only higher education institutions in the county. A portion of Wolf Bay and 42 miles of the Tensaw River, both located in Baldwin County, have been designated as "Outstanding Alabama Water" by the Alabama Environmental Management Commission, due to the pristine water of the areas. Part of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is in this county. Some other attractions in the county include the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Hudson Marina at Orange Beach and Skull Harbor, Historic Fort Morgan Civil War Fort, Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center and Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum.

Mobile County in Alabama's Gulf Coast region is the other county which borders the Gulf of Mexico, and it also borders Mississippi to the west. It is the second most populated county in the state. It is named in honor of Mabila, the name of a settlement of the indigenous people in the area. Mobile is the largest city and the county seat, and other cities include Bayou La Batre, Chickasaw, Citronelle, Creola, Prichard, Saraland, Satsuma and Semmes, and there are around 30 other towns and unincorporated communities. It is home to University of Southern Alabama, a public research university divided into 10 colleges, including one of only two state-supported medical schools in Alabama. It is one of the largest employers in the county, with more than 6,000 faculty, administrators and support staff, as well as over 16,000 students enrolled each semester. Other higher education institutions include Faulkner University, Spring Hill College, University of Mobile, Bishop State Community College and Remington College. Part of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and part of Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge are in Mobile County. There are more than 1,200 acres of county parks which offer scenic viewing of Mobile Bay and other waterways, fishing, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, picnic areas and ball fields. Most notable are Chickasaboque Park, West Mobile County Park, Bayfront Park and Mobile River Delta and Campground. Some other attractions in the county include Big Creek Lake, a 3,600-acre reservoir, Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Fort Conde, a replica of the original 18th century French fort, Historic Fort Gaines, site of the Battle of Mobile Bay, History Museum of Mobile, Mobile Medical Museum, Mobile Police Museum, National African American Archives and Multicultural Museum and USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.

Escambia County is adjacent to Baldwin County, and borders Florida to the south. It is believed the name of the county comes from a word in the Native American Creek language meaning "clearwater." Brewton is the largest city and the county seat, with other cities being Atmore and East Brewton. There are around 10 other towns and unincorporated communities, and Poarch Creek Indian Reservation is located in the county. Jefferson Davis Community College is located in the county, in Brewton. Brewton is known for its quaint charm and blended atmosphere of old and new. Some attractions include Thomas E. McMillan Museum, which demonstrates the history of Escambia County though artifacts, some dating back to prehistoric times, O'Bannon Park, which offers campsites on the scenic shores of Burnt Corn Creek and Jennings Park, which hosts the annual Alabama Blueberry festival.