SperlingViews - Mobile, Alabama

I graduated from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, and I am here to say that Mobile has one of the finest symphony orchestras in the south, and the city has a real funky, low key vibe. Mobile has the best Mardi Gras in North America, our little secret. [read more...]

I am looking forward to learning more about Mobile, Alabama. I just moved here 3 weeks ago today from the city of St. Louis Missouri. One of the big reasons I moved was to live in a place with less crime.[read more...]

My husband and I are relocating to Mobile from Miami. We've heard good things about Mobile overall. We are looking for a fun, safe area to live. We like walking to restaurants and shops, though we also would like a small fenced in yard for our dog. Any suggestions on which neighborhoods to hone in on? Thanks![read more...]

Everywhere you go, there will be somebody there to greet you and to ask you for spare change or a cigarette, in the downtown area, especially. Many of them are drunk enough to have a lapse in judgement and cuss you out, if you decline to give them something for free...[read more...]

That is about the only word that you can use to describe the drivers in Mobile. There only about 2 places in the U.S. where it is worse to drive. Be prepared for no courtesy, no blinkers, and a traffic accident on at least 2 major roads a day.[read more...]

Grew up in Mobile and attended University of South Alabama. Moved away for 3 years to a larger city, but am moving back soon. Mobile is a good mid-size city. It is nothing too exciting, but it definitely has its own culture and a uniqueness to it. Weather is absolutely great 9 months out of the year. Summer is rough, but you have a beach 45 minutes away. Downtown is progressing and is a neat area. With the addition of the Battlehouse Tower, the skyline is not bad coming in from the east over Mobile Bay. Unfortunately Mobile went through what many cities have over the years, an urban exodus. However, it seems like Mobile is starting to swing the pendelum back as many young couples and such are moving back into the core. Also, Mobile is one of the few cities where you can say the city (Downtown, Midtown, Spring Hill, West Mobile) is nicer than the surrounding suburbs. Unless you consider Eastern Shore a suburb. Eastern Shore (Daphne, Fairhope, etc) is very nice. [read more...]

I've lived in Mobile for 5 yrs now and I can't wait to leave. I've always lived in this area, but have only lived in the city for 5 yrs. I have children and hate how much crime is in the city. Don't get me wrong I understand cities have crime but it's terrible here. It really makes me anxious to leave Mobile! I just saw on the local news tonight that the nearest Wal-mart has had 50 violent attacks against women in 9 mths! I never feel safe enough to go out at night by myself. I don't want to live somewhere that makes me feel this way. (FYI: I'm not a paranoid freak). Not to mention the shopping is less than stellar; for the second largest city in Alabama I would have expected much better!! Then you have the issues of traffic and drivers. I've lived in D.C., and Mobile's traffic is worse sheerly due to the fact of BAD drivers! I have never seen such bad driving in my life!! It's like no one here knows how to drive! I'm truly amazed when I'm out. It's almost like you'd have to TRY HARD to be that bad at driving! And now last but not least....there's the school system! Here in Mobile you cannot send your children to public school sooo you better factor in tuition to your cost of living! No one I know sends their kids to public school because they're terrible. Mobile is a neat city with beautiful views, a deep, rich history, beautiful oak lined streets filled with mansions, and fun Mardi Gras festivities, and a mini version of New Orleans nightlife downtown. Great to visit, but for a family, I wouldn't want to call it home![read more...]

My husband and I are considering moving to Mobile and are a little concerned that the homeowners insurance may be high due to the hurricanes. And do most homeowners policies include windstorm coverage? I'd also appreciate any general advice anyone can give. Thanks![read more...]

I like the weather in Mobile. Spring and Fall are comfortably warm usually with a nice breeze. The summers are very hot and humid, as Mobile gets the most rainfall than any other major city, we get a lot of rain and thus makes the summers very humid. We also have to worry about hurricanes in the late summer and early fall. The winters are usually mild with very little (very, very seldom) snow. We do get our occasional very cold spell and sometimes icy conditions. I've lived in Mobile for over 25 years and seen temperatures as low as 6 degrees (before wind chill) and as high as 101 degrees (with a heat index of over 120).[read more...]

I have lived in Mobile all of my life (27 years). I have lived in many parts of the city, worked at many different places, graduated from the University of South Alabama, and began my professional career here. With that being said, I have been looking to escape for a while now and plan to do so the exact second that I finish my second degree in the spring. It's just ... extremely boring here. Now, if you have never been to Alabama, then please note Alabama is NOT like how it is portrayed in Hollywood. However, it still sucks. My humble opinion on a few specifc things regarding Mobile. Beaches? Someone said "minutes away from beaches"? Haha. No. But it is only a one hour drive to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - which are nice, but tiny "get-away" places. Now, depending on where you live, you might be minutes away from the dirty Mobile Bay waters. Looks pretty to drive on the long bridge over, but it is by no means a beach. Downtown? Dauphin Street (which is basically downtown) has a unique atmosphere and a decent amount of bars/clubs (if you are into that), but it is still small and pretty boring. Speaking of downtown, the Mobile downtown area is historic and unique, but there is not much to it. There is one tall building, one hotel, a few clubs and shops, and nothing else. Nobody actually lives downtown. However, coming from the eastern shore (Daphne), it does look pretty cool as you appraoch it from the BayWay (bridge connecting eastern shore and Florida to Mobile). Also, the hanging trees over Government boulavard are very cool. Population? If you don't like stereotyping, please ignore this paragraph. I hate to sound this way and it is definitely not politically correct - but it's true. The city is 50% white/50% black - but don't let that mislead you - it is COMPLETELY segregated. It's pretty crazy. There are "sections" of the city. Downtown, North of it (Creighton, Prichard, etc.), and South of it (Maysville, DIP, etc.) are all very low income areas. You also have a few other areas spread about. Then, you have Midtown and the Mall area, which might be the only diversified section of Mobile where whites and blacks co-exist, yet is still pretty low income to moderate income. You then have "Springhill" and "West Mobile" or "Hillcreat" where most of the upper-crust whites live. Then, you have the "other West Mobile" or "Schillengers" (which is actually outside city limits) where the typically redneck whites live. You can also throw in sma[read more...]

I have lived in Mobile all of my life (27 years). I have lived in many parts of the city, worked at many different places, graduated from the University of South Alabama, and began my professional career here. With that being said, I have been looking to escape for a while now and plan to do so the exact second that I finish my second degree in the spring. It's just ... extremely boring here. Now, if you have never been to Alabama, then please note Alabama is NOT like how it is portrayed in Hollywood. However, it still sucks. My humble opinion on a few specifc things regarding Mobile. Beaches? Someone said "minutes away from beaches"? Haha. No. But it is only a one hour drive to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - which are nice, but tiny "get-away" places. Now, depending on where you live, you might be minutes away from the dirty Mobile Bay waters. Looks pretty to drive on the long bridge over, but it is by no means a beach. Downtown? Dauphin Street (which is basically downtown) has a unique atmosphere and a decent amount of bars/clubs (if you are into that), but it is still small and pretty boring. Speaking of downtown, the Mobile downtown area is historic and unique, but there is not much to it. There is one tall building, one hotel, a few clubs and shops, and nothing else. Nobody actually lives downtown. However, coming from the eastern shore (Daphne), it does look pretty cool as you appraoch it from the BayWay (bridge connecting eastern shore and Florida to Mobile). Also, the hanging trees over Government boulavard are very cool. Population? If you don't like stereotyping, please ignore this paragraph. I hate to sound this way and it is definitely not politically correct - but it's true. The city is 50% white/50% black - but don't let that mislead you - it is COMPLETELY segregated. It's pretty crazy. There are "sections" of the city. Downtown, North of it (Creighton, Prichard, etc.), and South of it (Maysville, DIP, etc.) are all very low income areas. You also have a few other areas spread about. Then, you have Midtown and the Mall area, which might be the only diversified section of Mobile where whites and blacks co-exist, yet is still pretty low income to moderate income. You then have "Springhill" and "West Mobile" or "Hillcreat" where most of the upper-crust whites live. Then, you have the "other West Mobile" or "Schillengers" (which is actually outside city limits) where the typically redneck whites live. You can also throw in sma[read more...]

I have never been to Memphis, but I can tell you if you don't have issues with pay and heat it is truly wonderful. There are many things for a 35yr old man to do. Plenty of beautiful women, great beaches minutes away, art and history museums, good people. You should check it out![read more...]

June - August in Mobile is typically very hot. Combined with the humidity, the heat indexes can become miserable.[read more...]

I read all posts thus far. I am living in Memphis now so anything about race or wages doesn't phase me one bit. Mobile has to be better. And Hot, pleeeeeze. I would like to know if Mobile has seen any of the "real" revitalization of the downtown and waterfront areas that other cities have seen. I'm looking for any real culture, does it exist? Art, Restaurants, Music? Anything for a 35 year old single white guy besides church? Any comments?[read more...]

For the southern coastal states, I-10 seems to represent a dividing line between liberalism and what lies North. Mobile is no exception, with two universities, an influx of foreign students, snowbirds to the Redneck Riviera, and the heavy travel on I-10 itself. I have been living here for 5 years from Denver, all the while driving with no air conditioning. Humidity gets to be high in the summer, though the temp. never seems to go above 90. There are really no ugly parts of Mobile, as industry seems never to have put down roots. The economy is somewhat stagnant, though cost of living is not high.There are interesting cultural attractions, but they are not bursting from the seems like in Boston; one has to keep one's eye out for them. Everyone is talking now about the arrival of Thyssen Krupp and the job Bonanza. For the rest of us, it will mean higher rents and prices.[read more...]

Mobile has a great city history of more than 300 years. Where can you go to find oak trees that canopy the street over historic homes? Mobile's Mardi Gras is actually one you can take your children to and not have to cover their eyes. The people are friendly and despite the wages being on the lower end, the cost of living/property taxes are comparable. I love Mobile and all of it's splendor.[read more...]

Pros: close to gorgeous florida beaches, gulf shores, pensicola beach. Dauphin island is not that great if any of it is still there after the hurricane. low cost of living. cons:I agree with the comment about service, people are not friendly at fast food places and the like. Some definate racial tension, neighborhoods are somewhat segregated. Schools are poor in my opinion, I'm a product of Mobile public schools. U of South Alabama is a low quality university. Summers are brutal and long. City is for drivers, not bike or pedestrian friendly.[read more...]

White sand and clear water![read more...]

Unfortunately, the southern hospitality has departed Mobile. After returning to Mobile following military service, I have experienced the worst customer service behavior and attitude than any places I visited and lived while in the military. The people performing customer service occupations in Mobile display an attitude toward the customer as though "they are doing you a favor." I grew up in Mobile; thus, I'm sadly disappointed. My "peeps" have contracted a very bitter disposition toward the world.[read more...]

Transportation is next to nothing.[read more...]