New census data reveals that Baldwin County, a corner of Alabama on the Gulf Coast known for its white-sand beaches and genteel towns, has experienced an upsurge in population and tourism within the last decade.
Home to the cities of Daphne, Fairhope and Foley, Baldwin County is the sixth fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation, according to a 2023-2024 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. With over 260,000 residents, its population has increased by 66.3% in the last 20 years, making it the fastest-growing county in the state.
The Census Bureau noted that 97% of the uptick is due to incoming migration, especially people who are 65 years or older.
This suggests that the area has become a retirement destination, potentially due to its cheaper housing market. In Baldwin County, the median value of homes is $287,000 while the national average is $303,400, according to census data.
Though Viktoria Riiman, a former socioeconomic analyst at the University of Alabama, said in 2018 that other age groups are also moving to Baldwin County for reasons besides its cheaper housing.
"Both retirees and younger families are moving to the county because it offers a high quality of life, from great amenities to quality schools and great economic opportunities,” Riiman told the university's news center.
But the growth spurt in population and residential development has strained local infrastructure, particularly in Fairhope, where the City Council recently approved a 9-month ban on new housing applications, local media outlets reported. In Foley, the local government responded to significant population growth by improving recreational centers and extending streets to lessen traffic snarls.
Similar to its bustling counties, the state of Alabama is also searching for ways to ease congestion caused by an influx of residents and tourists.
Areas like Gulf Shores are longtime vacation hot spots for people living in neighboring states like Louisiana. This especially rings true for New Orleanians, who no longer have a beach getaway after two local ones, Pontchartrain and Lincoln, shut down years ago
Beyond its beaches, Gulf Shores has attracted more visitors after Buc-ee's — a Texas-based megastore gas station chain expanding across the Gulf Coast — opened a location about half an hour away in Robertsdale, Alabama.
The sprawling convenience store, known for its brisket sandwiches, endless merchandise and pristine bathrooms, immediately drew in thousands of customers. As an attempt to ease congestion at its Alabama location, the company made a deal to open a Buc-ee's nearby in Harrison County, Mississippi, which is launching this summer.
"They needed our store to take the pressure off of Alabama," Bill Lavers, the executive director of Harrison County Development Commission, said in February. "They knew that that's what they needed because of the traffic that was going to come."
Throughout the year, Gulf Coast residents also flock to Fairhope, a town that carries the patina of Southern charm with its blend of boutiques and natural beauty, for an affordable vacation stay. Similar to Gulf Shores, corporate chains like Wawa and Publix have opened storefronts on the outskirts of Fairhope in response to Baldwin County's immense growth in population and tourism.
The Alabama Tourism Department said that 72% of travelers made a trip to the state, attracting 29 million tourists and generating nearly $30 billion in economic activities.