USS ALABAMA (battleship)
a.k.a. BB-60
Battleship Pkwy., Mobile, AL Local significance of the structure:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Alabama is home to the oldest baseball stadium in the United States. Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, was built in 1910 and is still in use today.
During the 18th century, Mobile County saw significant French, Spanish, and British influence as the area changed hands multiple times. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War and ceded Mobile and the rest of French Louisiana to the British. However, Spanish forces regained control of the region in 1780, and it became part of Spanish West Florida until 1813. It was then annexed by the United States and incorporated into the Mississippi Territory.
Mobile County played a pivotal role during the Civil War. As an important port city, it became a strategic target for both Union and Confederate forces. In 1864, Union forces captured Mobile, effectively cutting off a significant Confederate supply line and contributing to the ultimate collapse of the Confederacy. The post-war years brought recovery and rebuilding to the county, and Mobile remained an important center for commerce and industry.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, Mobile County continued to grow and develop. It became a major hub for the shipbuilding and aerospace industries, hosting companies like Austal USA and Airbus. The growth of these industries has contributed to the county's economic prosperity and population growth. Today, Mobile County remains a vibrant and diverse region, known for its rich cultural heritage, beautiful coastline, and growing industries.
Mobile County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Mobile County, Alabama.
- 1700s - Mobile County was inhabited by Native American tribes including the Choctaw, Creek, and Mobile tribes.
- 1702 - French settlers established the first European settlement in the region, known as Fort Louis de la Mobile.
- 1763 - Mobile County became part of the British colony of West Florida after the French and Indian War.
- 1783 - Mobile County became part of Spanish West Florida following the American Revolution.
- 1813-1814 - Mobile County played a significant role in the Creek War, with the Battle of Holy Ground being a major conflict.
- 1819 - Mobile County and the rest of Alabama became a territory of the United States.
- 1821 - Mobile County was officially established as a county in the state of Alabama.
- 1830s - Mobile County experienced rapid economic growth due to cotton production and the thriving port of Mobile.
- 1861-1865 - Mobile County was heavily involved in the Civil War, with the city of Mobile serving as an important Confederate port.
- 1901 - The Alabama Constitution was ratified, leading to segregation and disenfranchisement laws affecting Mobile County.
- 1940s-1950s - Mobile County played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, with events such as the Mobile Bus Boycott.
- 1970s - Mobile County experienced industrial growth with the development of the steel and shipbuilding industries.