SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE WELCOME TO MOBILE, ALABAMA Mobile is the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, Alabama’s only saltwater port, Mobile is located at the head of the Mobile Bay and the north-central Gulf Coast. The Port of Mobile has always played a key role in the economic health of the city beginning with the city as a key trading center between the French and Native Americans. Mobile first became a part of the United States of America in 1813, with the annexation of West Florida under President James Madison. In 1861 Alabama joined the Confederate States of America, which surrendered in 1865. As one of the Gulf Coast’s cultural centers, Mobile has several art museums, a symphony orchestra, a professional opera, a professional ballet company, and a large concentration of historic architecture. Mobile is known for having the oldest organized Carnival celebrations in the United States. The festival began to be celebrated in the first decade of the 18th century by its first French Catholic colonial settlers. Mobile was host to the first formally organized Carnival mystic society, known elsewhere as a krewe, to celebrate with a parade in the United States, beginning in 1830. In 2005 the first integrated mystic society had a parade for Mardi Gras. Contents Climate and Geography 02 Cost of Living and Transportation 03 Lifestyle, Sports, and Attractions 04 Shopping, Dining, and Culture 05 Schools and Education 06 GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE l 01 SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE CLIMATE Mobile’s geographical location on the Gulf of Mexico provides a mild subtropical Mobile, AL Climate Graph climate with hot, humid summers and mild, rainy winters. The air quality index for Mobile is 37% better than the national average and the pollution index is 87% better than the national average. This means Mobile residents can breathe easily as they enjoy the beautiful coastal weather. Average High/Low Temperatures Low / High January 25oF / 46oF July 64oF / 86oF Average Precipitation Rain 47 in. Snow 5 in. GEOGRAPHY Mobile is located in the southwestern corner of Alabama. Although over 25% of the city is covered by water, Mobile has a number of notable historic districts such as Ashland Place, De Tonti Square, Oakleigh Garden and Old Dauphin Way. Mobile’s French and Spanish colonial history has given it a culture distinguished by French, Spanish, Creole, African and Catholic heritage, in addition to later British and American influences. It is distinguished from all other cities in the state of Alabama. Mobile is the birthplace of the celebration of Mardi Gras in the United States and has the oldest celebration, dating to the early 18th century during the French colonial period. GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE l 02 SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE COST OF LIVING The cost of living in Mobile is below the national average. Mobile has significantly lower housing costs than the rest of the U.S. with an average median home price of $123,600. While grocery prices are just slightly above the national average, residents of Mobile enjoy lower goods and services and transportation costs. Alabama’s state income tax is 10% lower than the national average. Key Housing Figures* Median Home Purchase Price Median Monthly Rent (1BDRM) $159,500 $736 *Sources: www.zillow.com - accessed 09/22/2017, www.numbeo.com - accessed 09/22/2017 TRANSPORTATION Highways Interstate Highways 10, 65, 165 US Highways 43, 45, 90, 98 State Highways 163 Airports Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) Trent Lott International Airport (PGL) (38 miles away) Department of Motor Vehicles 3400 Demetropolis Road Mobile, AL 36693 http://www.mobilecountylc.com GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE l 03 SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT Being one of the oldest cities on the gulf coast, Mobile has always been able to offer visitors exciting, entertaining and educational experiences year-round. There are tons of fun things to do anytime you visit this historic coastal town! You’ll find museums and attractions showcasing everything from art to Mardi Gras, history to science and the military to mums. How about dancing in the street with thousands of new friends at one of the region’s many outdoor music festivals, catching Moon Pies thrown from fire-breathing dragon floats during Mardi Gras or taking in millions of glittering holiday lights on a 65 acre garden estate? If being on water is more your thing, you’ll discover adventures that bring you eye-to-eye with giant gators or have you shaking ‘fins’ with gentle sting rays. Maybe you’ll find yourself paddling toward an ancient Indian mound accessible only by water or sipping wine on a sunset cruise on the bay. OUTDOORS & ADVENTURE Parks & Trails Fun on the Water Attractions Discover More British Park Big Creek Lake Dauphin Island Sea Lab alabama.gov Cathedral Square Dauphin Island Mobile Zoo cityofmobile.org Mobile Botanical Gardens Mobile-Tensaw Delta USS Alabama mobile.org GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE l 04 SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE SHOPPING & DINING Gulf Coast Cuisine Shopping is Fun Mobilians are not afraid to eat, afraid to cook and certainly Many large businesses are headquartered in downtown not afraid to share. Anywhere you stop along the way in Mobile next to quaint, locally-owned art galleries, shops, Mobile, you’ll find a delicious experience waiting just for you. restaurants and bars. On any given weekday, you’ll encounter Wild caught gulf shrimp, blue crabs, oysters and more are as business people, artists, construction workers, shop owners, bountiful as succulent. Or, stack cornbread beside southern students, families and tourists making their way along flower fried chicken, collards, cheese grits and other soulful lined streets. In the evenings and on the weekends, we shake delicacies as good as momma’s. Slow-cooked pit barbecue is things up a bit, with festivals, outdoor markets, live concerts a prized local favorite. Farm to table locally sourced meals, and other special events (street pole vaulting, anyone?), shared with friends has become a popular movement. Food giving folks a reason to come downtown and linger for a few is art, and in Mobile, well, we’re all artists. hours or even a few days. In downtown Mobile, brunch is a sport, shopping an art and socializing a must. ART & CULTURE Mobile offers an array of historical and cultural attractions. One can view art, explore an antebellum home, or board a submarine in Mobile’s museums. Culture abounds in the many theaters of Mobile. Theaters: l Mobile Ballet l Mobile Opera l Mobile Symphony l Saenger Theatre of Mobile Museums: l Fort Conde Museum l Mobile Carnival Museum l Mobile Museum of Art l Old City Hall Museum GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE l 05 SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE EDUCATION IN MOBILE, AL Notable Colleges & Universities Elementary & High School University of South Alabama Mobile County School District Mobile, AL Schools University of Mobile There are 60 public schools in Mobile. The average student- Mobile, AL to-teacher ratio is less than 15:1. This is better than the national average of 16:1. Spring Hill College Mobile Educational Attainment Mobile, AL High School Graduates or higher 84% Bachelor’s Degree or higher 27% ITT Technical Institute Mobile, AL Contact 1 Magnum Pass Mobile, AL 36618 Bishop State Community College (251) 221-4387 l www.mcpss.com Mobile, AL CONNECT WITH GMS Founded in 1987, Global Mobility Solutions is a global corporate relocation services company that specializes in workforce mobility. The company’s corporate relocation services include global assignment management, domestic relocation management, and a range of pre-decision solutions. Global Mobility Solutions is a perennial winner of the HRO Today “Baker’s Dozen” customer satisfaction survey, being recognized as a top relocation company for the last four years in a row. Online Resources Phone & Email Baker’s Dozen www.gmsmobility.com 1-800-617-1904 Customer Satisfaction Ratings LinkedIn: Global Mobility Solutions [email protected] RELOCATION 2017 Winner GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS l SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILE l 06.