Mobile officially became the second largest city in the state of Alabama Tuesday.
The news follows votes in unincorporated West Mobile that allowed voters in the Kings Branch subdivision, the Cottage Hill Corridor, the Orchard Estates subdivision, and the Airport Boulevard Corridor to decide if they were in favor of officially becoming a part of the Azalea City.
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson called the results an answer to prayers and heralded the city’s new population size.
“So many Mobilians, friends, supporters, staff members and community partners have prayed for our efforts to grow the City of Mobile, and this evening, those prayers were answered,” he said. “Thousands of voters in West Mobile went to the polls and elected to join our city.
“Over the course of 12 hours, the city of Mobile has increased its population beyond 200,000 residents and officially become the second largest city in the state of Alabama!”
The mayor also discussed the opportunities that the annexation presents.
“Expanding Mobile’s city limits to the west and bringing in additional residents will help secure future revenue and grant opportunities to support projects and improvements throughout the city,” he said. “Today’s vote ensures Mobile can continue its long history of growing to the West while preventing us from becoming landlocked by surrounding municipalities.
“The neighborhoods that went to the polls today have made a decisive choice about their future.”
Three out of the four areas voted in favor of the annexation; the Airport Corridor voted against the move.
The unofficial voting counts were:
- Kings Branch subdivision voted 295-235 to join the city.
- Cottage Hill Corridor voted 1,933 to 1,166 in favor of annexation.
- Orchard Estates subdivision approved it. 46 to 25.
- Airport Corridor voted against the measure by a vote of 862 to 431.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
