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Foley, Alabama

Foley, Alabama
City
Nickname(s): "The Forward City"
Motto: "The Heart of the American Riviera"
Location in Baldwin County and the state of Alabama
Location in Baldwin County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 30°24′20″N 87°40′53″W / 30.40556°N 87.68139°W / 30.40556; -87.68139
Country United States
State Alabama
County Baldwin
Government
 • Type Council/Mayor
 • Mayor John Koniar
Area
 • Total 25.9 sq mi (67.03 km2)
 • Land 25.8 sq mi (66.73 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (.34 km2)
Elevation 79 ft (24 m)
Population (2013)
 • Total 15,818
 • Density 530.8/sq mi (205.1/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC−6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
ZIP code 36535-36536
Area code 251
FIPS code 01-26992
GNIS feature ID 0118464
Website http://www.cityoffoley.org

Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 14,618. Foley is a principal city of the DaphneFairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Baldwin County.

Foley was named for its founder, John B. Foley of Chicago. As Foley was traveling to President McKinley's funeral in 1901, he met a railroad agent who told him of the area in South Baldwin County. Foley came down the following year, and he liked what he saw and bought up between 40,000 acres (160 km2) and 50,000 acres (200 km2) of land. He then returned to Chicago and formed the Magnolia Land Company. As he began to sell off acreage, he realized the need for a better way for the people to come to Foley.

Foley used some of his own money to lay the rails so the train could come from Bay Minette. The first railroad station was built in 1905. The original station burned in 1908 and was replaced the following year by the station that is now the City's museum. John Foley donated parcels of land for a school and churches. These included the current Catholic Church, Saint Margret of Scotland, the Baptist church and the Methodist church. The first train to service Foley was a wood burner called the "Pine Knot Special." It would leave Foley in the morning and make a return trip in the afternoon. As people cleared the land, they would place liter knots in a wood box for the engineer to use as was needed. Foley was incorporated in 1915 with G. I. Weatherly serving as its first mayor.

Foley is located at 30°24'20.138" North, 87°40'53.432" West (30.405594, -87.681509).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.89 sq mi (67.1 km2), of which 25.76 sq mi (66.7 km2) is land and 0.4% is water.

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,618 people, 6,165 households, and 4,124 families residing in the city. The population density was 530.8 people per square mile (205.1/km²). There were 7,359 housing units at an average density of 284.1 per square mile (198.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.1% White, 14.9% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.7% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 9.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.


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