Semmes (pronounced /sɛmz/, locally /sɪmz/) is a city in western Mobile County, Alabama, in the Mobile metropolitan area. It was incorporated in 2011. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,941.[2]
Semmes, Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location in Mobile County, Alabama | |
| Coordinates: 30°46′41″N 88°15′32″W / 30.778°N 88.259°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Mobile |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Brandon Van Hook |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.63 sq mi (37.89 km2) |
| • Land | 14.60 sq mi (37.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 217 ft (66 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 4,941 |
| • Density | 338.52/sq mi (130.71/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 36575[3] |
| Area code | 251 |
| FIPS code | 01-69240 |
| Website | cityofsemmesal |
History
editThe community was named for Admiral Raphael Semmes (1809–1877), an officer in the United States Navy from 1826 to 1861 and the Confederate States Navy from 1861 to 1865.
Incorporation
editOn March 3, 2010, the members of the Friends of Semmes and the associated Incorporate Semmes organizations presented Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis with a petition seeking to incorporate an area within the Semmes community as the City of Semmes. The proposed incorporation did not include the entire area known as Semmes due to certain population density requirements of Alabama state law. Judge Davis set the date for the referendum as Tuesday, August 17, 2010.[4] After voting closed, unofficial returns showed the plebiscite passing with 74.19% of the voters in favor of incorporation.[5] Some voters complained about the "zig-zag" nature of the proposed city limits, which excluded some areas of the community from the vote, with some referring to the proposed city as a gerrymander.[6]
Once the election was certified in August, the Mobile County Probate Judge ordered an enumeration, or census, of the citizens of the new municipality, in accordance with Alabama law. The enumeration was completed in late April 2011, and the city was declared incorporated by the Probate Judge on May 2, 2011.[7] The Probate Judge set the date of the first municipal election to be June 28, 2011, to elect the mayor and the five at-large city council seats.[8] The city of Mobile, upon the issuance of the order of incorporation, removed Semmes from its police, fire, and planning extraterritorial jurisdictions, and no longer provides any services or collects any taxes in the area.
Only one person, Judy Hale, filed with the Probate Judge to run for the office of Mayor, and, as such, was deemed elected without an election taking place. Likewise, only five citizens qualified to run for the five at-large City Council seats, and were subsequently deemed elected. The council members were Jerry Shirey, Dave Baker, Mary Calhoun, Phillip Dodd, and Teresa Bonner. They took the oath of office at the first Semmes City Council meeting on June 6, 2011.
The current mayor of Semmes is Brandon Van Hook, a local business owner. He was elected in August 2020 and replaced incumbent Mayor David Baker who only served one term.[citation needed]
Future
editLeaders of the incorporation effort stated to members of the local media and to some citizens not included in the incorporation area that future plans included several annexations of the surrounding area.[9]
Geography
editSemmes is located in west-central Mobile County at 30°46′40″N 88°15′32″W / 30.77778°N 88.25889°W. The elevation is 244 feet (74 m) above sea level.[10] It is 11 miles (18 km) west of Prichard and 15 miles (24 km) northwest of downtown Mobile. U.S. Route 98 (Moffett Road) is the main highway through Semmes, leading southeast into Mobile and northwest 77 miles (124 km) to Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Semmes has a total area of 14.6 square miles (38 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.24%, are water.[1]
Climate
editSemmes is on the central Gulf Coast and has a subtropical climate, which consists of warm, wet winters and very hot, very humid summers. Semmes is also vulnerable to hurricanes, which the area frequently experiences.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F (°C) | 60 | 64 | 71 | 79 | 85 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 87 | 80 | 70 | 63 | 77 |
| Avg low °F (°C) | 40 | 43 | 50 | 58 | 64 | 71 | 73 | 73 | 69 | 57 | 49 | 43 | 57 |
| Rainfall (in inches) | 4.8 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 5.9 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 64 |
| Relative Humidity(%) | 59.0 | 73.0 | 71.5 | 72.5 | 71.5 | 72.5 | 74.0 | 76.5 | 76.5 | 74.0 | 70.5 | 72.0 | 75.0 |
| Source: Climate Zone[11] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,941 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2] | |||
2020 census
edit| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,828 | 77.47% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 569 | 11.52% |
| Native American | 54 | 1.09% |
| Asian | 41 | 0.83% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 225 | 4.55% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 223 | 4.51% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,941 people, 2,243 households, and 1,446 families residing in the city.
Education
editPrimary and secondary education
editSemmes is a part of the Mobile County Public Schools system.[13]
- Secondary
- Mary G. Montgomery High School (9-12)[14]
- Semmes Middle School (6-8)[15]
- Primary (all K-5)[16]
Elementary schools serving nearby areas outside of the city limits:[16]
Private schools:[22]
Higher education
editSemmes is in proximity to five tertiary institutions:[23]
Parks
editCommunity park
editThe first community park in Semmes opened on February 3, 2007. The 10,400 sq ft (970 m2) park was built adjacent to the Semmes Community Center at a cost of $600,000.[24]
Semmes Heritage Park
editSemmes School is the oldest continuously in-use school in the state of Alabama and is listed as an Alabama Historical Landmark. In 1994, a group of volunteers, former students, teachers and community citizens formed "Alumni & Friends of Semmes School, Inc." to preserve the 1902 one-room Semmes School and return it to its original location. The Mobile County School Board had planned to tear down the school when concerned citizens formed a group to save to school. The School Board gave a 99-year lease to the group and moved the school back to its original site. The school was restored to its 1902 status in 1998 by volunteers and donations, and continues to operate with volunteers as a hands-on 1900s school. Malone Chapel is a replica of Mt. Pleasant Church that was located on this exact spot. The chapel is rented for weddings and special events with the funds going towards operational expenses.[citation needed]
Notable people
edit- Jake Peavy, MLB pitcher[25]
- Ralph Staten, NFL player[26]
References
edit- ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Semmes city, Alabama: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Semmes AL ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ "Incorporate Semmes Website". Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Semmes voters overwhelmingly approve incorporation". August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Semmes Voters NBC LOCAL 15". Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Semmes order of incorporation" (PDF). Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ "Probate Court News". Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ "City of Semmes Facebook Page". Facebook.
- ^ "Semmes Community Profile". ACME Mapper U.S. Geological Survey maps: Semmes, AL. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Mobile". Climate-Zone.com. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Semmes Jurisdictions." City of Semmes. Retrieved on November 29, 2018. Used in combation with school attendance boundary maps
- ^ "High School." City of Semmes. Retrieved on November 29, 2018. Also: "Montgomery High School Attendance Zone[permanent dead link]." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Middle Schools." City of Semmes. Retrieved on November 29, 2018. Also: "Semmes Middle School Attendance Zone." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "Elementary Schools." City of Semmes. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Semmes Elementary Attendance Zone." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Allentown Attendance Zone." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Collier Attendance Zone." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018. Revised May 28, 2013. See Collier and Taylor changes
- ^ "Tanner Williams New Attendance Zone." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018. Former attendance zone
- ^ "Turner." Mobile County Public Schools. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Private Schools." City of Semmes. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Colleges." City of Semmes. Retrieved on November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Mobile Co. Commission..." Archived from the original on November 3, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2007.
- ^ Center, Bill. "It all started in Semmes". Union-Tribune Publishing Company. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ Clary, Gareth (December 4, 2013). "Former Alabama football player Ralph Staten arrested after high-speed chase in George County". GulfLive.com. Alabama Media Group. Retrieved March 15, 2015.