Dauphin Island
| Dauphin Island, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Town of Dauphin Island | |
Fort Gaines on the eastern end of Dauphin Island
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 Location in Mobile County and the state of Alabama |
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| Coordinates: 30°15′23″N 88°07′31″W / 30.25639°N 88.12528°WCoordinates: 30°15′23″N 88°07′31″W / 30.25639°N 88.12528°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Mobile |
| Area | |
| • Total | 166.1 sq mi (430 km2) |
| • Land | 6.2 sq mi (16 km2) |
| • Water | 159.9 sq mi (414 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,238 |
| • Density | 7.5/sq mi (2.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Central Standard Time (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | Central Daylight Time (CDT) (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 36528 |
| Area code(s) | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-19744 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0117086 |
| Website | www |
Dauphin Island is a town in Mobile County, Alabama, United States, on a barrier island of the same name (split by the Katrina Cut), at the Gulf of Mexico. It incorporated in 1988. The population was 1,238 at the 2010 census. The town is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area. The island (originally named "Massacre Island") was renamed for Louis XIV's great-grandson and heir, the Dauphin. The name of the island is often mistaken as "Dolphin Island"; dauphin is "dolphin" in the French language.
The Gulf of Mexico is to the south of the island; the Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay are to the north. The island's eastern end helps define the mouth of Mobile Bay. The eastern, wider portion of the island is shaded by thick stands of pine trees, but the narrow, western part of the island features scrub growth and few trees.
Dauphin Island is home to Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, The Estuarium public aquarium, the Dauphin Island Airport, boat ramps, a large public pier (that sits on dry land), historic sites, several restaurants, new condominium developments, and numerous private homes. Beaches attract tourism, and fishing is a popular activity in the waters around the island. The island is connected to the mainland by the Gordon Persons Bridge.
Although the island has several bird sanctuaries, the main one is the 164-acre (66 ha) Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Dauphin Island is the first landfall encountered by many birds as they migrate north from South America, and as a consequence many species can be found resting there before continuing their journey.
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