Encompassing 1,590 square miles, Baldwin County is larger than Rhode Island.
But geographical size is only the beginning. With a current population of 276,610, Baldwin has grown 51% since 2010.
Fourteen municipalities share the county by the sea, perhaps the most diverse communities in Alabama. For Baldwin has a bayside, farmland, business districts, colleges, medical centers, a Civil War fort and a stretch of white-sand Gulf beach.
As the county grows, so do opportunities, in business, manufacturing, retail and other economic sectors budding at a fevered pace.
Leading the charge is tourism. In 2024, of the nearly $24 billion Alabama received in tourism revenue, Baldwin County accounted for nearly $10 billion of it.
A top draw is the Gulf, with its sugar-white sand and turquoise waters. But that’s not all of it.
“The area is shifting from a highly seasonal model to a stronger year-round visitor economy,” says Beth Gendler, president and CEO of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. “Growth drivers beyond the beaches include Gulf State Park, miles of trails and boardwalks, fishing, golf, sports tourism and a strong dining scene.”
Adjacent to Gulf Shores, Foley has become a sports tourism capital of Alabama. “We recognized the value of sports tourism and spent close to $40 million building fields and facilities,” recalls Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich. “Today, in any given month, Foley has from 10,000 to 30,000 participants in its soccer and other programs.”
For in Foley, the sky is the limit — literally. The city is poised to be a significant player in the aerospace industry. One of the city’s largest employers, Collins Aerospace, has 1,000 workers fabricating, building and testing aircraft systems and technologies.
On the north end of Baldwin County, inland towns and cities are driving success. One example is Bay Minette, Baldwin’s county seat and home to one of the biggest economic investments in Alabama’s history — Novelis, a $5 billion venture.
When completed, Novelis, a world leader in aluminum production and solutions, will house 2.8 million square feet under one roof — enough space to contain10 Eiffel Towers.
“Economic development in North Baldwin has long been powered by a strong and diverse industrial base,” says Kristina Pittman, executive director of the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. “Major employers such as Quincy Compressor, DentalEZ, International Paper and Plasmine Technology have served as steady economic engines for our community, providing quality jobs and long-term investment in the region.”
She adds, “This continued growth reflects not only industrial strength but also the community’s readiness to embrace opportunity, infrastructure development and a vibrant quality of life for current and future residents alike.”
In the central part of the county, officials broke ground in August 2024 on the Port Alabama Industrial Center in Loxley. Phase 1 will offer 2 million square feet of space available for potential industrial development.
The 900-acre site will be developed in three phases with plans for it to contain approximately 12 million square feet of Class A industrial space, close to the Port of Mobile.
On the Eastern Shore, Fairhope continues winning awards for beauty, charm and livability. Accolades include one from Southern Living, which in 2025 placed Fairhope in the Top 10 for “Dreamiest Place to Live in the Region.”
In addition, Fairhope, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores made Southern Living’s “50 Best Beach Towns in the South.”
Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan says, “We are doing a lot of things to enhance the quality of life and experiences people have when visiting us.” She adds, referencing the city’s $10 million waterfront restoration, “I think a lot of the attraction is our natural beauty and that we have the trees, we have beautiful flowers that we plant in downtown. We also have walkability, sidewalks, trails and paths making our town very accessible. It is inviting to people, especially to our downtown.”
Emmett Burnett is a Satsuma-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
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This section appears in the May 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
