Citronelle, Alabama
| Citronelle, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Nickname(s): "The Best Kept Secret in Southern Alabama" | |
 Location in Mobile County and the state of Alabama |
|
| Coordinates: 31°5′33″N 88°14′39″W / 31.09250°N 88.24417°WCoordinates: 31°5′33″N 88°14′39″W / 31.09250°N 88.24417°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Mobile |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.7 sq mi (63.9 km2) |
| • Land | 24.4 sq mi (63.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 312 ft (95 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,905 |
| • Density | 148.1/sq mi (57.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 36522 |
| Area code(s) | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-15064 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0116155 |
| Website | citronellechamber.com |
Citronelle is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 3,905. It is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area.
This was long a part of the territory for thousands of years for indigenous peoples. By the time of European contact, members of the historical tribes of Choctaw and Creek people hunted in the area.
The area now known as Citronelle was first explored by the French in the 18th century. The land was found to possess healing herbs and mineral springs. The area was settled in 1811 and established as a jurisdiction (incorporated) in 1892. The name "Citronelle" is French and is derived from the citronella plant, which grows throughout the town. In the late 19th century, the town became a popular resort destination because of the climate, herbs, and healing waters. Many hotels were built to accommodate the surge of visitors.
On May 4, 1865, one of the last significant Confederate armies was surrendered by Lieutenant General Richard Taylor under the "Surrender Oak." This was the third in a series of five major surrenders that ended the war. The two previous surrenders occurred at Appomattox Court House, Virginia between General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant; and the second and largest at Bennett Place near Durham, North Carolina between General William T. Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston.
A living history/reenactment of the surrender occurs each year in Citronelle. The historic "Surrender Oak" no longer stands as it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1902.
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Wikipedia