Blakeley, Alabama, is a historic ghost town with a rich past dating back to the early 19th century. Below is detailed information about the town:
County: Baldwin County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 30.74222° N, 87.92417° W
Elevation: Approximately 10 feet (3 meters)
Time Zone: Central Time Zone (UTC-6; UTC-5 during Daylight Saving Time)
Established: 1813
Disestablished: Late 19th century
Comments: Blakeley was founded in 1813 by Josiah Blakeley, an entrepreneur from Connecticut. The town quickly grew and, at its peak, rivaled nearby Mobile in size and commerce. It served as the Baldwin County seat from 1820 until 1868. During the Civil War, Blakeley was the site of the Battle of Fort Blakeley in April 1865, one of the last major battles of the war. Blakeley is a ghost town in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.
During the height of its existence, Blakeley was a thriving town that flourished as a competitor to its western neighbor, Mobile. Blakeley was the county seat for Baldwin County from 1810 until 1868, when the county government was moved south to Daphne. It was the location of a major fort during the Civil War. One of the last battles of the Civil War was fought here in April 1865, as Union soldiers overran Confederates.
The town is now in an Alabama historic state park known as Historic Blakeley State Park, north of Spanish Fort. Blakeley had a “deep natural port, which was reachable by ships that could not cross the Dog River bar, a sandbar that sometimes impeded shipping access to Mobile.” For some years, Blakeley competed with Mobile to be the top port in what was then the Alabama Territory. A post office operated under the name “Blakeley” from 1826 to 1866. In 1974, the ghost town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Remains: Today, the site of Blakeley is preserved within Historic Blakeley State Park. Visitors can explore remnants of the town, including old streets, foundations, and a cemetery. The park also features well-preserved Civil War fortifications and offers various recreational activities.
Current Status: Preserved as part of Historic Blakeley State Park
Remarks: Blakeley’s decline began in the mid-19th century due to factors such as yellow fever outbreaks, economic downturns, and competition from Mobile. The town was eventually abandoned, but its historical significance has been recognized and preserved through the state park, which offers guided tours and educational programs.
