Daphne, AL
Daphne, a booming city on the Eastern Shore of the Mobile Bay, offers a historic, family-friendly community with a high quality of life. It has everything – from spectacular scenery to cutting-edge tech companies to home-grown mom-and-pop businesses.
Olde Town Daphne has retained its charm as the municipality has grown from a small community to a thriving cosmopolitan city that marches to the beat of its own drum. Daphne provides access to everything anyone would need – whether it’s a specialty store, big-name retailer or a service business.
Restaurants line its quaint Main Street and dining establishments across the city offer cuisine for every taste. Residents can catch a sunset on Mobile Bay then head to one of the locally-owned restaurants to enjoy a delicious meal prepared with area-sourced ingredients and served with a craft cocktail.
Daphne has been named one of the Best Places to Live in Alabama by Niche. Families, retirees and young professionals all find the city attractive for its moderate cost of living combined with access to a full range of amenities and a low crime rate. Parents can cheer on the kids as they play a ball game in one of the state-of-the-art sports facilities around town, or watch a movie at the 12-theater multiplex.
In addition to its wonderfully laid-back way of life, residents are drawn to Daphne’s highly-ranked public schools, part of the Baldwin County School System. The city also has three private schools – Bayside Academy, Christ the King Catholic School and Eastern Shore Christian School.
Residents have access to quality medical care with Thomas Medical Center, Infirmary Eastern Shore and the Thomas Hospital Emergency Room, along with several physician offices, a diagnostic center and urgent care facilities.
Daphne is also known as the Jubilee City, named for an unusual phenomenon that occurs when flounder, shrimp, crabs and other sea life gather in large numbers along the shore. A shift in the wind and low-oxygen levels in the water are attributed to the occurrence. Those lucky enough to hear the call of “Jubilee,” grab ice chests, nets and gigs for a large haul to fill the freezer.
But, residents and visitors don’t have to wait for a jubilee to catch fish or go crabbing, as Daphne’s Bayfront Park, May Day Park and Village Point Park Preserve all offer pier access. The city also has bay access parks that are hidden gems at Belrose Avenue, Dryer Avenue and McMillan Bluff. Boaters can launch at D’Olive Bay Ramp or put kayaks and canoes in the water at May Day Park. In all, Daphne offers 13 parks, three athletic complexes and five playgrounds.
Though Daphne was incorporated in 1927, its roots date back over 500 years. Before the first European settlers set foot on the Mobile Bay’s upper Eastern Shore, Native Americans settled the area, including the Alabama, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole and Tensaw tribes. Records indicate the earliest Spanish explorers moved through the area in the 1550s. Spanish control of the region was followed by French and British, and by the 1770s the community of Daphne was called “The Village.”
In 1874, a post office was established and the community was named “Daphne,” given by William Howard, a hotel owner and the first postmaster. Italian families found their way to Daphne in the early 1900s and settled the region. With a population of just 500, Daphne incorporated in 1927. The city now has a growing population of more than 27,000 and is Baldwin County’s largest city.
Daphne is perfectly poised for growth, providing an ideal home for those who work in Mobile or Baldwin County. It sits just off I-10, and U.S. Highways 90 and 98 run through its city limits. In addition, Ala. Highway 181 runs along its eastern corridor, opening access to a growing number of residential neighborhoods, shopping centers and business sites, including the Daphne Innovation and Science Complex, a 75-acre master-planned campus for Class A office and research space.
Whether it’s a family looking for a place to call home or a business looking for a great location, Daphne truly has it all. Apex Contracting Services is happy to provide its expertise in metal buildings, pole barns and roofing to this area. Our licensed and experienced team is ready to make your project happen.
