About

Welcome to Mobile County!

We appreciate your interest in Mobile County, Alabama, and hope this site is useful in providing valuable information about our local government and community.

You will find valuable information regarding the function of the Mobile County Commission, county services, and answers to many frequently asked questions. You can browse current Commission agendas, a directory of government offices, and useful links to other county resources.

Mobile County, the second largest county in the state, is a county rich in southern charm and hospitality. With a population of more than 399,000, Mobile County is known for its bustling Port of Alabama. We are located in the extreme southwestern corner of the state, covering over 1,200 square miles. The county is bordered on the east by Mobile Bay and the Mobile Tensaw River Delta - the largest inland delta in the nation; on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and on the west by Mississippi. We are on the forefront of developing innovative techniques to better serve the citizens of this county. It is the Mobile County Commission's commitment to provide quality and efficient services to its communities.
Alabama legislators created Mobile County - one of the nation's fastest growing southern counties - in 1812. The county's colorful history began with the establishment of Native American villages, followed by the arrival of European explorers in 1509. The first European settlement was established in 1702, with the official designation as a county on December 18, 1812. In 1819, Mobile County became a part of the state of Alabama.
Three County Commissioners are elected from districts to concurrent four year terms. Their mission is to provide for the safety and welfare of all citizens through the delivery of essential public services. Mobile County is primarily an administrative and executive unit of government operating by laws set by the Alabama Legislature.
Other elected county officials include the Sheriff, License Commissioner, Revenue Commissioner, Probate Judge and the Treasurer. These officials are independent of the County Commission's authority. The Commission is only responsible for the budgets of each county official office.
History:
The Mobile Government Plaza is Mobile County's sixth courthouse. The first courthouse, built in 1825, was a two-story brick building with massive columns and a divided staircase leading to a piazza deck.
When the first courthouse was destroyed by fire, the second courthouse was built in 1853. Again of classical design, this three-story brick building featured classical columns and marble trim and was built at a cost of $70,289.08.
The second courthouse was destroyed by fire just 10 years after it was built, and a third courthouse was built in 1873. This impressive structure featured giant Ionic columns and a monumental entrance stairway rising from Government Street. Once again, the Mobile County's courthouse was destroyed by fire and a fourth courthouse was built in 1889. Designed by Rudolph Benz and built at a cost of $60,763, the fourth courthouse was an elaborate Victorian structure richly decorated with classical details and sculpture and topped with a massive clock tower .
The Benz courthouse was demolished to make way for a fifth and more modern courthouse designed by Cooper Antwerp which was built in 1958 at a cost of $4.7 million. In 1977, a $1.6 million addition was constructed.
The fourth County Courthouse, 1889, was designed by popular Mobile architect Rudolph Benz. The building, though basically classical in format, was embellished with grand Victorian detailing. The tall center clock tower dominated Mobile's skyline for more than a quarter century. (Photo from the University of South Alabama Archives).