Orange Beach, Alabama

Geography

Orange Beach is located on Perdido Key along the Gulf of Mexico, and is the easternmost community on Alabama's Gulf Coast, with the community of Perdido Key, Florida bordering it to the east. The city of Gulf Shores is to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.931 sqmi, of which 14.716 sqmi is land and 1.215 sqmi is water.

Climate

Orange Beach has a humid subtropical climate, with mild-to-warm winters, and hot and humid summers. |Jan record high F = 85 |Feb record high F = 87 |Mar record high F = 92 |Apr record high F = 97 |May record high F = 101 |Jun record high F = 105 |Jul record high F = 107 |Aug record high F = 108 |Sep record high F = 103 |Oct record high F = 98 |Nov record high F =89 |Dec record high F = 83 |year record high F = 108 |Jan record low F = 4 |Feb record low F = 9 |Mar record low F = 19 |Apr record low F = 29 |May record low F = 38 |Jun record low F = 52 |Jul record low F = 66 |Aug record low F = 60 |Sep record low F = 44 |Oct record low F = 28 |Nov record low F = 25 |Dec record low F = 7 |year record low F = 4

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 8,095 people, and 3,793 households, and 2,343 families residing in the city. The population density was 550.2 PD/sqmi. There were 14,545 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 91.8% White, 1.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other races and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population. 15.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 2.1% were under 5 years of age, and 28.5% were 65 and older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,441 people, 2,492 households, and 1,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 370.1 PD/sqmi. There were 11,726 housing units at an average density of 737.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 2.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,492 households, out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the city, the population was 18.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $66,656, and the median income for a family was $69,964. Males had a median income of $54,806 versus $47,019 for females. The per capita income for the city was $40,153. About 1.2% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Sports

The city of Orange Beach hosts many sporting events and tournaments at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The Sportsplex, located north of the Gulf State Park and a short distance from The Wharf, comprises a football/soccer stadium with a seating capacity of 1,500. The facility also has several baseball and softball fields. The Backcountry Trail system through the Gulf State Park has a trailhead located at the Sportsplex.

The Sportsplex has hosted the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament on numerous occasions, in addition to the NCAA Division II men and women's soccer tournament. The facility once served as home to the Alabama Lightning of the North American Football League.

The city also owns and operates the Orange Beach Shooting Complex, which offers trap and skeet options for both Orange Beach residents and non-residents, and local high school shooting sports teams.

A 112 ft high Ferris wheel is located at The Wharf in Orange Beach.

Orange Beach is home to the Orange Beach Running Club, which meets every Monday evening to run a 5K.

Education

Orange Beach is part of the Orange Beach City Schools system. Orange Beach Elementary School is the city's only elementary school and serves students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Students in grades seven and twelve attend Orange Beach Middle and High School.

Previously residents were in the Baldwin County Public Schools school district and zoned to Gulf Shores Middle School and Gulf Shores High School in neighboring Gulf Shores. In 2019, these schools separated into the Gulf Shores City Schools district. For the 2019-2020 school year, Orange Beach grade 7-10 students and grade 7-10 students in unincorporated areas had a choice between remaining with Gulf Shores schools or attending temporary classrooms established by Baldwin County schools. Orange Beach Middle and High opened in 2020. In 2022, Orange Beach separated from the Baldwin County district.

Columbia Southern University is a private, online-only university that is located in Orange Beach, with a campus in Orange Beach on Canal Road and a larger campus on the Beach Express road.

Transportation

Countywide dial-a-ride transit service is provided by BRATS, the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System.

References

References

1. (August 19, 2024). "Council Members". City of Orange Beach.
2. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. {{GNIS. 2404439
4. "Orange Beach (AL) sales tax rate".
5. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. [https://seatemperature.info/orange-beach-water-temperature.html Orange Beach water temp]
7. (August 19, 2024). "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau.
9. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Orange Beach city, Alabama".
10. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau.
11. "How many people live in Orange Beach city, Alabama". USA Today.
12. "Orange Beach Sportsplex". City of Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department.
13. "Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail". City of Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department.
14. "Orange Beach Shooting Complex". Orange Beach, AL Coastal Resources.
15. "Attractions on Alabama's Gulf Coast". Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism.
16. (August 9, 2019). "Work on Orange Beach school campus continues". [[Al.com]].
17. "Orange Beach high school opening". [[Al.com]].
18. Sharp, John. (2022-05-05). "Orange Beach poised to be Alabama’s next city school system after separation agreement approved". [[Al.com]].
19. "BRATS".