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The
Semmes Community voted on August 17, 2010 by nearly a 3 to 1
margin to become
Alabama
's 461'st municipality.
Mobile County Probate
Court Judge Don Davis declared the City of
Semmes
incorporated with a population of 2,897 on May 2, 2011 after an
official census of the municipality was completed.
Semmes is located almost in the center of
Mobile County
,
Alabama
and covers over 2,100 acres.
Semmes is located at 30.778N, -88.259W. Elevation is 256
feet. The Semmes area is bounded to the North by the City
of Citronelle, bounded to the East by the City
of Saraland and City
of
Prichard
, bounded to the Southeast by the City
of
Mobile
, and finally bounded to the West by
Big
Creek
Lake
.
Semmes
functions as a Class 8 municipality with a Mayor/Council form of
government. The
Council is represented by 5 members who are elected to serve a
four-year term.
Historically,
the Semmes Community was founded around the railroad and the
Semmes Land Company was incorporated in November, 1900, Book 3
Page 484. The rail
was set up to transport harvested yellow pine from areas north
of the community, as well as to provide passenger
transportation. The
community was named for Admiral Raphael Semmes (1809–1877), an
officer in the United States Navy from 1826 to 1860 and the
Confederate States Navy from 1860 to 1865.
Today,
Semmes is best known for its large nurseries that produce
ornamental shrubs, the most popular being the azalea.
Our nurseries grow many of the azaleas sold throughout
the United States -- several varieties developed at Semmes
nurseries have won national recognition and awards.
Locally owned nurseries have become a large part of the
City's character and charm.
Our subtropical climate is ideal for growing ornamentals.
The Annual Semmes Azalea Festival (named for the plant)
has been sponsored by a local non-profit, The
Friends of Semmes, for over a decade.
Thousands of attendees and participates turn out for this
event which raises funds for several charities.
There
are two elementary schools that service the Semmes Community -
Allentown Elementary and Semmes Elementary.
We boast the State's largest middle school - Semmes
Middle. And at
Mary
G.
Montgomery
High School, we're the home of the Vikings.
These schools are all part of the Mobile
County Public School System.
Semmes also is home to the oldest continuous-in-use
school in the State of
Alabama
at our 1902 original one-room
Semmes
School
- preserved and operated by the "Alumni & Friends of
Semmes School, Inc". On
the same site, we have a replica of the
Mt.
Pleasant
Church
- the quaint chapel is rented for weddings and special events.
More information can be found on the www.semmesheritagepark.org
website.
Since
our City's incorporation, Semmes has attracted many new
businesses due to our "business friendly
atmosphere." Semmes boasts the LOWEST
city general sales tax in all of Mobile County at 2.5%.
There is also no "city" property tax for
landowners.
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