Daphne () is a city in Baldwin County,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

, on the eastern shoreline of

Mobile Bay Mobile Bay ( ) is a shallow inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The ...

. The city is located along

I-10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally p ...

, 11 miles east of Mobile and 170 miles southwest of the state capital of Montgomery. The

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving ...

lists the population of the city as 21,570, making Daphne the most populous city in Baldwin County. It is a principal city of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan area, which includes all of Baldwin County. The inhabited history of what is now called Daphne dates at least to the Paleo-Indian period and Native American tribes around 9000 BC. Modern-day Daphne is a thriving suburb of nearby Mobile. Daphne has adopted the nickname ″The Jubilee City″ in recognition of its status as one of the locations of the Mobile Bay jubilee. The only other place jubilees occur is in

Tokyo Bay is a bay located in the southern Kantō region of Japan, and spans the coasts of Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture. Tokyo Bay is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Uraga Channel. The Tokyo Bay region is both the most populou ...

History

Daphne and the surrounding regions have been populated since from at least 9,000 BCE. European settlers eventually displaced the Native Americans. After a variety of wars and treaties the area became part of the United States in 1814. Except for a period under the flag of the

Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...

, Daphne and its environs have remained part of the United States until this time. From Native American, to the Spanish,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and British, the city has seen a lengthy parade of historic influences which gives Daphne its present character.

Native American history

Early settlers to the region were hunter-gatherer tribes similar to those in North Alabama. A variety of Native American populations visited the area that would become Daphne including Tensaw,

Choctaw The Choctaw (in the Choctaw language, Chahta) are a Native American people originally based in the Southeastern Woodlands, in what is now Alabama and Mississippi. Their Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choctaw people are ...

, Creek and

Seminole The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...

. This area came to be known as neutral ground where tribes would meet and discuss the relationships between their nations. Small groups worked together to acquire food and to provide for their families. Initially, these groups enjoyed an economy based upon hunting and scavenging but as time passed production of weapons and pottery became more advanced. During the late Woodland stage Native Americans began to practice more elaborate ritual services. Although no burial grounds are known in Daphne, they are scattered throughout nearby Baldwin County. By 1500, the zenith of Native American culture in South Alabama, it is estimated that a community of about 5,000 lived within 50 miles of the seacoast. These peoples were among the first who met Spanish explorer

Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto (; ; 1500 – 21 May, 1542) was a Spanish explorer and ''conquistador'' who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire ...

in 1540. From this meeting forward, the original settlers faced a disaster from which they did not recover.

European exploration and settlement

Daphne and the surrounding land shifted between English, French, Spanish and United States control. The Spanish were the first European settlers to the area of Daphne arriving in 1557. Spanish control in the area was weak and in 1710 French explorers claimed Mobile Bay, the Eastern Shore of the Bay including Daphne, and land east to Perdido Bay. The French claim was largely uncontested by the Spanish. In 1763, the British were ceded land, including the future Daphne, from the French in the

Treaty of Paris (1763) The Treaty of Paris, also known as the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763 by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Great Britain and Prussia's victory over France and Spain during the S ...

. The community of Daphne was established the same year and was known simply as the Village. Inasmuch as the British occupied nearby Mobile at the end of the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754 ...

, Daphne passed into British hands, and served as the eastern terminal of a

ferry A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water ta ...

across Mobile Bay. British rule ended in 1783 when the area was surrendered to

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

by the

Treaty of Paris (1783) The Treaty of Paris, signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War and overall state of conflict ...

. The area remained under Spanish control for over 30 years. In November 1814, U.S. General Andrew Jackson crossed the bay with 3,000 troops, marched east to Pensacola and defeated the British thus finalizing American control over Daphne.

Modern history

Secession and the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polici ...

came quickly following the election of 1860. Statistics are not available for Daphne, but in Baldwin County 65% of homes held at least one slave. On January 11, 1861 Alabama seceded from the Union. It joined the

on March 13, 1861. The town was named the county seat of

Baldwin County, Alabama Baldwin County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, on the Gulf coast. It is one of only two counties in Alabama that border the Gulf of Mexico, along with Mobile County. As of the 2020 census, the pop ...

, in 1868 after the previous county seat, Blakeley, was deserted following the

. At that time, Daphne was known as The Village of Bell Rose. Daphne was officially named and established, although unincorporated, on April 9, 1874, when the Post Office for Daphne was opened. Baldwin County saw many distinct immigrant groups moving into the area in the late 19th century, particularly from Western Europe, and Daphne was the site of the first group which arrived in 1888. Alesandro Mastro Valero purchased land in Daphne to locate a refuge for Italian immigrants looking for a more pastoral alternative to the large urban cities of the north. In June 1895, land was purchased in Daphne for a Catholic church in what is now the center of Old Daphne to be built by the early Italian colonists. Father Angelo Chiariglione, a Scalbrini missionary from Torino, Italy, was the first resident pastor (1898–1909) of the church, known as the Church of the Assumption. This small-town church quickly gained the recognition of the Queen of Italy,

Margherita of Savoy Margherita of Savoy (''Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna''; 20 November 1851 – 4 January 1926) was Queen of Italy by marriage to Umberto I. Life Early life Margherita was born to Prince Ferdinand of Savoy, Duke of Genoa and Princess Elisabe ...

, who in 1898 sent a gift of rich vestments, an illuminated missal, a chalice, monstrance, candlesticks and other articles, and all are still on display in the present Christ the King Catholic Church, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1937. Daphne remained the county seat until a legislative act of 1900, when the county seat was moved to Bay Minette. Daphne residents resisted the change and would not allow the county records to be removed. Those records were taken in a late night raid and moved to Bay Minette. According to another account, given in 1956 in an interview of one of the persons involved in the transfer, there was no raid; the arrangements for the move were made in advance between officials in both towns, and the county records were quietly loaded into wagons over a five-hour period on the evening of October 11, 1901, and then driven to Bay Minette the next day. On July 8, 1927, Daphne was incorporated with a request for incorporation signed by 41 landowners. The initial population was listed as 500 residents. On September 19, 1927, the town held its first election. The first Mayor was James M. Voltz. An attempt in 1946 to revoke incorporation by unhappy residents failed. In July 1997, Hurricane Danny struck the gulf coast bringing high winds and rains to the area. Due to the abnormal development of the storm, winds blew water out of Mobile Bay making it almost possible to walk across the bay.

Hurricane Ivan Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlant ...

made landfall in September 2004, south of Daphne near Gulf Shores, Alabama. The category 3 storm brought widespread flooding and damage throughout Daphne. The next year, Daphne weathered some effects of

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

although not nearly as severe as the 2004 storm. In February 2008, Daphne became the last of the large cities in Baldwin County to enact a public

smoking ban Smoking bans, or smoke-free laws, are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, that prohibit tobacco smoking in certain spaces. The spaces most commonly affected by smoking bans are indoor workpl ...

. After contentious council meetings, the ban was passed while exempting bars, private clubs and up to 30% of rooms in a hotel. In November 2010, the Daphne City Council enacted a ban against

texting while driving Texting while driving, also called texting and driving, is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. Texting while driving is considered extremely dangerous by many people, inclu ...

, becoming the first Mobile-area municipality to do so.

Geography

Daphne is located at 30°37'52.640" North, 87°53'11.184" West (30.631289, -87.886440). It is one of three cities that are collectively known as the Eastern Shore by locals. They are Spanish Fort to the north, Daphne in the center and

Fairhope Fairhope is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, located on the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay. The 2020 Census lists the population of the city as 22,477. Fairhope is a principal city of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolita ...

to the south. The topography of Daphne is quite consistent from a gently sloping sea level on the west to low rolling hills further east. Generally, the entire city lies no more than 150 feet above sea level. The land along the Daphne bay coast, like other land throughout the county, is rich with sandy-loam type soils. According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which are land and (4.47%) is water. Daphne is also known as the "Jubilee City." A Jubilee in Mobile Bay occurs when

crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all th ...

shrimp Shrimp are crustaceans (a form of shellfish) with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly Caridea and Dendrobranchiata of the decapod order, although some crustaceans outside of this order are ref ...

, and other sea life from the waters of Mobile Bay are suddenly found washed ashore along the coastline. Biologists believe the phenomenon is due to a possible decrease in water oxygen levels which force the fish to the surface. Nearby communities include:

, Spanish Fort, Loxley, Mobile,

Point Clear Point Clear is a village in the civil parish of St Osyth, south-west of the village of St Osyth and on the other side of St Osyth Creek, a branch of the Colne Estuary in the Tendring district, in the county of Essex, England. In 2018 it had an ...

, Robertsdale, Silverhill, Summerdale,

Gulf Shores Gulf Shores is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 9,741. Geography Gulf Shores is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 30°16'4.069" North, 87°42'5.285" West (30.267797, −87. ...

Orange Beach Orange Beach is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 8,095. Geography Orange Beach is located along the Gulf of Mexico, and is the easternmost community on Alabama's Gulf Coast, with ...

, Bay Minette, Foley, Magnolia Springs, Elberta, Belforest, and Malbis.

Climate

Demographics

Daphne, like the surrounding Baldwin and Mobile counties, was settled by persons of varying nationalities who eventually melded into the American experiment.

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, there were 27,462 people, 9,457 households, and 6,254 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 21,570 people, 6,563 households, and 4,670 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 10,113 housing units in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 84.10%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 11.8%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 1.51% Asian, 0.40% Native American, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 2.9% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. There were 8,889 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.97. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,603, and the median income for a family was $61,563. Males had a median income of $46,576 versus $29,052 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $25,597. About 2.6% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. Daphne's growth, along with the growth of other Eastern Shore communities, has been linked to the growth of nearby Mobile. For years the Eastern Shore communities were a quick vacation destination but as the large municipality grew, Daphne grew too.

Economy

Daphne is a suburb of nearby Mobile, Alabama. In 2007, Daphne saw retail sales of $653,422,000 or $34,438 per capita which compares favorably to the national average of $12,364. The median household income was $62,376 against a national average of $42,934, both measured through the 2007–2011 period. The home ownership was 74.6% and the median home value (2007–2011) was $187,000. The city is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan statistical area and was named among the top 10 such areas nationwide by Site Selection Magazine. The ranking is for areas with less than 200,000 population and is based upon the number of companies either expanding or relocating to the area. Primary employment in Daphne is divided among education, healthcare and social assistance employers. Retail trade operations are a close second. Agriculture, once a primary foundation of the Daphne economy, now represents less than 0.6% of economic output. The economy is further supported by access to nearby Mobile, and large retail operations in Spanish Fort, just to the north. The largest employer in the county is the

Baldwin County Board of Education The Baldwin County Board of Education oversees most public schools in Baldwin County, Alabama, and is based in Bay Minette, Alabama. The Board serves the entire county. Over 30,000 students are within the supervision of the Board. 3,400 employee ...

which supports over 3,000 employees in Baldwin County. 70% of the $305 million budget pays salaries countywide Like much of the nation, Daphne saw the economy plummet during the 2008 recession. Commercial real estate prices were especially hard hit. Investors who looked for a continued rise in values in Daphne were surprised to see their investments bottom out by 2012. However construction is underway by

Airbus Airbus SE (; ; ; ) is a European multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft throughout the world. The company has three divisions: '' ...

to build the

A320 The Airbus A320 family is a series of narrow-body airliners developed and produced by Airbus. The A320 was launched in March 1984, first flew on 22 February 1987, and was introduced in April 1988 by Air France. The first member of the fami ...

commercial jet at nearby Brookley Field in Mobile. That assembly plant is expected to generate 1,000 new jobs by 2018 and is expected to positively impact Daphne and the entire Baldwin County.

Parks and recreation

Daphne has a number of public parks, which include the following: Bayfront Park,

*Daphne Sports Complex - opened in 2019, a beautiful ten field baseball and softball complex. *Trione Park - a large multi-field sports complex with football, soccer, softball/baseball fields. *Lott Park - located in Olde Towne Daphne, includes new tennis and

pickleball Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor racket/paddle sport where two players (singles), or four players (doubles), hit a perforated hollow polymer ball over a net using solid-faced paddles. Opponents on either side of the net hit the ball back and ...

courts opened in 2020, a legacy playground, bocce, basketball and practice baseball/softball facilities. *Centennial Park - children's playground located across from Daphne City Hall on Main Street. *May Day Park - Waterfront park that includes a large playground for young children, a boat launch and a pier on Mobile Bay. *Bayfront Park - Waterfront drive up park overlooking to the bay. A boardwalk entrance to Village Point Park Preserve. *Village Point Park Preserve -the largest park in Daphne with walking trails in a natural setting. The park is an estuary for wildlife and is also home to the historic D'olive family cemetery . The Daphne Civic Center is a city-owned facility used to host a variety of recurring special events in the community. Constructed at a cost of $6 million, it opened to the public in December 1999. A senior citizens activity center and the Daphne

Public Library A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also civil servants. There are five fundamen ...

are also located in the civic center complex.

Government

Daphne is incorporated in Baldwin County, Alabama. It is governed by a mayor and city council, both of which are elected by popular vote every four years. A semi-autonomous Utilities Board and Zoning Commission support the governance of the city. Daphne's current mayor is Robin LeJeune who is serving his first term as Mayor. Mayor LeJeune also served as council member and Council President. LeJeune was elected in the 2020 municipal election. A seven-member city council serves the city of Daphne. Council members are selected within districts. Based upon the August 2012 election the council is composed of the following: district one councilwoman Tommie Conaway, district two councilman Steve Olen, district three councilman Joel Coleman, district four councilman Doug Goodlin, district five councilman and council president Ron Scott, and district six councilwoman Angie Phillips. A semi-autonomous Utilities Board and Zoning Commission support the governance of the city. Daphne is part of

Alabama's 1st congressional district Alabama's 1st congressional district is a United States congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It includes the entirety of Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and M ...

and is represented by Congressman Jerry Carl.

Education

Public schools in Daphne are part of the

system which serves over 30,000 students throughout the county. The 2013–2014 budget was $305 million. There are three elementary schools: Daphne East Elementary School (K-6), Daphne Elementary School North Campus (K-3) and W.J. Carroll Intermediate School (Daphne South) (4-6). Daphne Middle School serves 7th and 8th grade while

Daphne High School Daphne High School is a secondary school located in Daphne, Alabama, United States. The school, which serves grades 9- 12, is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools district. Students who attend the school live in the city of Daphne, its ...

educates grades 9-12. Three private schools serve the Daphne area, Bayside Academy (K-12), Christ the King Catholic School (K-8), and Bayshore Christian School (PreK-12). A highly regarded public secondary school, Daphne High School extends progressive and globally-oriented offerings in its curriculum, such as its then-controversial Arabic language classes begun in August 2013. Two schools offer collegiate curriculum in Daphne.

Huntingdon College Huntingdon College is a private Methodist college in Montgomery, Alabama. It was founded in 1854 as a women's college. History Huntingdon College was chartered on February 2, 1854, as " Tuskegee Female College" by the Alabama State Legislatu ...

has a comprehensive graduate school in Daphne that focuses on business and professional graduate programs. The United States Sports Academy is an independent school offering sport-specific residential and online distance learning programs. In addition, it houses the American Sport Art Museum and Archives.

Infrastructure

Transportation

For many years Daphne was isolated from the larger city of Mobile. A ferry was the only mode of transport from the eastern shore to the western shore. In 1929 a

toll bridge A toll bridge is a bridge where a monetary charge (or '' toll'') is required to pass over. Generally the private or public owner, builder and maintainer of the bridge uses the toll to recoup their investment, in much the same way as a toll road ...

was opened which crossed into Mobile. That bridge was replaced by the Cochrane-Africatown bridge. Also in 1929,

US 98 U.S. Route 98 (US 98) is an east–west United States Highway in the Southeastern United States that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola and Apalachicola, Florida, and has sinc ...

was paved from Pensacola, through Daphne and into Mobile.

Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally p ...

travels near the northern border of Daphne. There are three exits into Daphne including intersections with US 98, US 90 and AL 181. Major routes within the city are grid style and include Baldwin County 13, Whispering Pine Road and Daphne Avenue. 10 90 98 intersection

The city is served by the Baldwin Rural Area Transportation Service, BRATS, a fare-based

bus service Public transport bus services are generally based on regular operation of transit buses along a route calling at agreed bus stops according to a published public transport timetable. History of buses Origins While there are indications ...

which connects most cities in Baldwin County. Service also includes connector service to Mobile. There is no rail or air service in Daphne. Scheduled commercial air service is offered at Mobile Regional Airport and the

Pensacola International Airport Pensacola International Airport , formerly Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport and Pensacola Regional Airport (Hagler Field), is a public use airport northeast of the central business district of Pensacola, in Escambia County, Florida, Unit ...

. Both airports provide service to most major airline hubs.

Utilities

Daphne Public Utilities provides water, sewer and natural gas services to the city. There are about 11,000 water customers, 10,000 sewer customers and 4,000 natural gas customers. The utility operates 12 water wells, seven waste treatment facilities and dozens of pumping stations throughout the city. In 2009, the Utilities board was selected by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 35 small workplaces in America. In 2010 the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale ...

named Daphne Utilities as the best large groundwater utility in eight southeastern states. In October, 2013, Daphne Utilities approved a water and sewage rate hike of $21 million over three years. The rate hike will cover expenses related to expansion and compliance with federal regulations. The average increase will amount to $3.66 per month for the average residential customer. Electrical service is provided by the

Foley, Alabama Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 14,618."Census 2010 Demographic Profile Data" (for Foley, AL), US Census Bureau, 2010, webpage: . Foley is a principal city of the ...

based Riviera Utilities. Riviera resells electric current and has no generation facilities of its own. Landline telephone service is provided by

AT&T AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world's largest telecommunications company by revenue and the third largest provider of mobile ...

. The city is in the 251

area code A telephone numbering plan is a type of numbering scheme used in telecommunication to assign telephone numbers to subscriber telephones or other telephony endpoints. Telephone numbers are the addresses of participants in a telephone network, r ...

. Land based cable television service is provided by Mediacom. Because of Daphne's proximity to the coast, all utilities prepare for

tropical storm A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

s and

hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Dep ...

s which often impact delivery of services.

Healthcare

Daphne is served by numerous physicians, surgeons and dentists. Two urgent care facilities offer walk-in service. Outpatient services are provided for diagnostic and surgical interventions. The city is also served by Thomas Hospital, a level III, 150 bed hospital in Fairhope, Alabama, 5 miles to the south. Across the bay in Mobile, there are several tertiary care facilities. IMC Outpatient

Thomas Hospital is owned by Infirmary Health System of Mobile. The system was named one of the top 57 healthcare systems in the nation in 2011 while Thomas Hospital was ranked as one of the top 20 medium-sized hospitals. Inpatient

rehabilitation Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to: Health * Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished * Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...

services are offered by Mobile Bay Rehabilitation located on the bay in Daphne. The hospital was previously known as Mercy Medical but was sold to SE Healthcare for $9.4 million in 2011. Outpatient rehabilitation services are offered through various practitioners and through physician offices.

Notable people

* Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki, American citizen who was a member and leader in the

Somali Somali may refer to: Horn of Africa * Somalis, an inhabitant or ethnicity associated with Greater Somali Region ** Proto-Somali, the ancestors of modern Somalis ** Somali culture ** Somali cuisine ** Somali language, a Cushitic language ** Somali ...

Islamist militant group al-Shabaab * Ryan Anderson, linebacker for the

Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) E ...

Jeremy Clark Jeremy Terrell Clark (born September 6, 1983) is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at the Alabama. Clark has also been a member ...

, a

football player A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

for the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisio ...

* Courtney Duncan, a

major league baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

player. * Jimmy Green,

professional golfer A professional golfer is somebody who receives payments or financial rewards in the sport of golf that are directly related to their skill or reputation. A person who earns money by teaching or playing golf is traditionally considered a "golf p ...

* Atlas Herrion,

offensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numb ...

of several NFL teams who currently plays for the

Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional indoor American football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team in the Arena Football League a ...

of Arena Football 1. * Joseph Lawson Howze, prelate of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

who served as Bishop of Biloxi from 1977 to 2001. *

Kenny King (defensive lineman) Kenneth Bernard King (born April 23, 1981) is an American former gridiron football defensive tackle. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama. King was also a mem ...

Former football player for the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and largest of the publ ...

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play th ...

, and current athletic director at Daphne High School. * Eric Lee, defensive end for the New England Patriots * Michael Pierce, defensive lineman for the

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...

* Bryant Turner, Jr.,

defensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line, while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line. A numb ...

in the Canadian Football League *

DeWitt Weaver DeWitt Thompson Weaver Sr. (May 11, 1912 – January 19, 1998) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 1951 to 1960. He was the first h ...

, head coach of the

Texas Tech Red Raiders football The Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University (variously "Texas Tech" or "TTU"). The team competes as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Football Bowl Subdivis ...

team from 1951 to 1960 * Pat White, college football player (West Virginia University Mountaineers), 2007

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and har ...

finalist. *

T. J. Yeldon Timothy Antonio "T. J." Yeldon Jr. (born October 2, 1993) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama. Ea ...

, running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars

References

External links

City of Daphne
Official website {{authority control Cities in Baldwin County, Alabama Cities in Alabama Populated coastal places in Alabama Populated places established in 1763 1763 establishments in North America