tell me about Mobile... (Auburn, Gulf Shores: how much, houses, university)

[CleanCutHippie]

I am a 30 yr old single male from New York. I want to inquire about Mobile as a place to move. I am looking to go to a Southern city that has lots of nature and outdoor activities. I also want a city that has not been overrun and ruined such South Florida cities.

Another place I am looking into is Chattanooga so if anyone knows both well that would be great. I know Mobile has better weather and beaches.

[oscottscotto]

The Mobile metro area is around 250k (which I don't think includes the Eastern Shore area - so that will add a bit to that number). This means that while there is definitely civilization, it is not overcrowded by any stretch of the imagination. I am not sure what kind of outdoor activities you are into, but you would be very near to some nice beaches (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and even Pensecola Beach). There are no foothills for hiking or anything like that though. But, the natural surroundings are lush and nice ... just very flat - which is of course to be expected considering the location.

Mobile socially is a very slow-paced, laid back metro - but definitely not a bedroom community. It's not big city, but it isn't population 1,000 ma-and-pop with a farm/tractor either. It's somewhere in between . Most Mobilians take pride in the fact that the city is rich in history and is the originator of Mardi Gras in this region. The Mobile area also prides itself on great Seafood. As for everyday social activities, it takes more work to find things to do than it would in a large city, but there are definitely things to do/see.

There are beautiful tree-lined streets in Downtown and Midtown. Like any city, there are ghetto areas. There are also nice areas, both in the city and West Mobile - which can be generalized as west of I-65 but is mainly referred to as west of University Blvd. I personally love the area around Azalea Rd. If you desired country living, there are also numerous suburbs/towns on the outskirts of Mobile and the Eastern Shore community that can provide that.

The population of Mobile proper is prettymuch 50-50 white/black. In that regard, there is very good diversity. If you are looking for large groups of other races though, you are out of luck. Eastern Shore is mostly white. Yes, there is a little lingering racism between groups, but from my experience, racist idiots live everywhere in the USA. It is a complete myth that it somehow much worse in the South.

In my opinion, Mobile metro is great - but I grew up there . The only negative that I would point out is the lack of any kind of decent public transportation (I am currently spoiled by city trains). But it's not like driving in Mobile is a hassle.

All said, you might be in for a culture shock, depending on where you would be coming from in New York. But the same would happen in Chattanooga. It's not exactly a falsity when people say that different regions can have vastly different "feels". But I get the feeling that is what you are after anyways. Welcome to southern hospitality wherever it may be man ...

Oh yeah, if you move to Mobile, be ready to choose a college football team. You ever heard of Auburn and Alabama? I would suggest Auburn, but you'd probably get more high-fives if you chose Alabama ... especially in the next couple of years at least (we just fired our coach at Auburn).

[PortCity]

Oscottscotto good info but the Mobile metro isn`t 250 K , lol it was over 404 K (Mobile County/MSA) in 2006 and Baldwin County ( 173 K ). The Mobile CSA includes Baldwin County which is over 570 K according to 2006 population estimates. I believe you got the 250 K from the Mobile police jurisdiction, the Mobile police jurisdiction covers 255 K residents. Mobile is not an over crowded city but has decent population density .In Mobile we have the near by beaches (from The Florida pan handle to dauphin Island(Mobile County) you would be from a 30 min to 2 hr range from the beaches depends on which one you decide to go to. Mobile is full of culture which includs British,French,Spanish,Creole and African and it is very evedint in the houses you will see in Mobile from French /Creole cottages , Italianate,Greek revival and Spanish style houses which makes up Mobile`s past. Mobile is mostly Catholic which came from our French founders and is celebrated through the ( Original Mardi Gra) here in Mobile. Try the Mobile Tensaw delta you would love it man watch out for those gators though , lol.


Take a look at some of the pics at the top of the forum that says beautyful Mobile !

[CleanCutHippie]

Thank you both for your replies! Very good info.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by CleanCutHippie

I am a 30 yr old single male from New York. I want to inquire about Mobile as a place to move. I am looking to go to a Southern city that has lots of nature and outdoor activities. I also want a city that has not been overrun and ruined such South Florida cities.

Another place I am looking into is Chattanooga so if anyone knows both well that would be great. I know Mobile has better weather and beaches.

I seen in one of your other posts where you said you didn't like Houston because of the lack of nightlife. If you didn't like the nightlife in Houston you won't like it in Mobile either.

[oscottscotto]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

I seen in one of your other posts where you said you didn't like Houston because of the lack of nightlife. If you didn't like the nightlife in Houston you won't like it in Mobile either.

Yeah, Dauphin Street is what it is, but you don't exactly move to Mobile seeking the hottest nightlife lol. As for me, I don't give a darn about the hottest night life. Just give me a bar I can go drink at in a laid-back city. But I know opinions and wants vary on that subject, understadably.

[CleanCutHippie]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

I seen in one of your other posts where you said you didn't like Houston because of the lack of nightlife. If you didn't like the nightlife in Houston you won't like it in Mobile either.

True, its not that I go out all that much, but in Houston there is not much there and for such a large "city" you would think there would be. I have to visit Mobile for a weekend. I only had the opportunity to drive through. The fact that there is beaches is nice.....are the beaches as ugly as Texas beaches?

[breer23]

I've not seen the beaches in TX so I can't really give a comparison. I can say that the beaches east of Mobile Bay (heading towards FL) very much resemble the crystal blue water, white sand beaches that are so often promoted in the area. The beaches on the west side of the bay are a little brackish, but that can also depend on the time of year. I really enjoyed Navarre Beach, and of course Pensacola and Ft. Walton beaches...basically, anything starting at Gulf Shores and moving east was great!

[oscottscotto]

Pensecola beach is the best looking beach (if speaking of sand/water) and of course you have the city of Pensecola right there too, however, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are still very good beaches/beach communities and I mostly frequented those when living in Mobile. You should understand that Gulf Shores/Orange Beach is a good 50 minute drive from Mobile and Pensecola Beach is at least an hour drive, if not a few minutes more. Although Mobile sits right on the waters of Mobile Bay, people don't really consider Mobile a "beach" city at all. It is just within a 45 minutes drive of smaller beach towns.

[CleanCutHippie]

I have always lived 15-20 minutes from the beach my whole life since technically I do live on an Island. Problem is its cold most of the year making the beach rather useless. I know Pensacola is fairly close since I have been down in the area.