Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island is a town of 1,852 people in Mobile County, Alabama, founded in 1702.
Why visit Dauphin Island
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 4 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Dauphin Island Bridge, Dauphin Island School and Fort Gaines.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 46°F.
Weather in Dauphin Island
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Dauphin Island
Dauphin Island (French: Île du Dauphine), is an island town in Mobile County, Alabama, United States, on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. It was incorporated in 1988. The population was 1,778 at the 2020 census, up from 1,238 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Mobile metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Dauphin Island, Alabama (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Dauphin Island Bridge
Bridge · 3.0 mi
Bridge in Alabama, United States of America
Museums and landmarks5
Dauphin Island School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic building on Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States
Fort Gaines
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Historic fort on Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States
Indian Mound Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Archaeological site in Alabama, United States
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Isle Dauphine Club
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic building in Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Museum · 4.2 mi
Marine education and research center in Alabama, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes4
The Carriage Wine and Market
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
1522 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island
Tu-We 10:00-21:00; Th-Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Islander’s Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · Burger, Seafood · 1.3 mi
1504 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island
Dority's Bar & Grill
Restaurant · 2.1 mi
1010 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island
History
Serpentine shell middens, perhaps 1,500 years old, attest to at least seasonal occupation by the American Indian Mississippian Mound Builder culture. Shell Mound Park, along the island's northern shore, is administered by the Alabama Marine Resources Division.
In 1519, the Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda was the first documented European to visit, staying long enough to map the island with remarkable accuracy.
On January 31, 1699, the French explorer Pierre Le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville, one of the founders of French Louisiana, arrived at Mobile Bay and anchored near the island on his way to explore the mouth of the Mississippi River. D'Iberville mistakenly named it "Île du Massacre" (Massacre Island) because of a large pile of human skeletons discovered there. In reality, the site was a Mississippian burial mound which had been broken open by a hurricane, not a massacre site; however, the dramatic misnomer stuck.
D'Iberville later established a port for Fort Louis de La Louisiane on the island due to its abundant timber, reliable supply of fresh water, and deep-water harbor. The settlement consisted of a fort, a chapel, government-owned warehouses, and residences.
From the History section of Dauphin Island, Alabama on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship4
Saint Edmund by the Sea Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.4 mi
823 Cadillac Avenue, Dauphin Island
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries1
Map of Dauphin Island
28 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 46°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 62°F | 49°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 67°F | 56°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 74°F | 63°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 81°F | 71°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 76°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 78°F | 6.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 78°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 76°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 77°F | 67°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 68°F | 56°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 61°F | 49°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dauphin Is #2 (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Mobile County has had 28 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-10-09: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2023-01-15: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-12-10: Hurricane Zeta (Hurricane)
- 2020-09-20: Hurricane Sally (Hurricane)
- 2020-09-14: Hurricane Sally (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Mobile International Airport (BFM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 26 miles away.
- Bayou La Batre 13 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Tillmans Corner 23 mi north, about 37 min by car
- Fairhope 24 mi northeast, about 39 min by car
- Pascagoula 25 mi west, about 41 min by car
- Moss Point 26 mi northwest, about 42 min by car
- Bon Secour 26 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Gulf Shores 27 mi east, about 43 min by car
- Mobile 29 mi north, about 46 min by car
- Foley 30 mi east, about 49 min by car
- Daphne 31 mi northeast, about 49 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Dauphin Island 06May2010 01, Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Indian Mound Park 06May2010 06, Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Isle Dauphine Club, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dauphin Island 09172008 001, Altairisfar, Public domain
- Gordon Persons Bridge 06May2010 01, Altairisfar (Jeffrey Reed), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Common Loon (6947832558), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Common Loon (6947832968), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rallus crepitans 187187044, dvollmar, CC BY 4.0
- Ocean Buoy - panoramio, Dameon Hudson, CC BY 3.0
- Bagre marinus 53172681, John P. Friel Ph.D., CC BY 4.0
- Bagre marinus 53172627, John P. Friel Ph.D., CC BY 4.0
- Bagre marinus 53172703, John P. Friel Ph.D., CC BY 4.0
- Bagre marinus 53172616, John P. Friel Ph.D., CC BY 4.0
- Bagre marinus 53172659, John P. Friel Ph.D., CC BY 4.0
- Bagre marinus 53172642, John P. Friel Ph.D., CC BY 4.0
- Scarlet Tanager (7102024259), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Prothonotary Warbler (6947832258), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Orchard Oriole (7098679965), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Yellow Warbler (7098680547), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Tanager and Kingbird (7094947199), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Scarlet Tanager (6952608142), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Female Orchard Oriole. (7093895977), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Red-eyed Vireo (6946969304), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak (7093899679), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Blue Grosbeak? (6948878182), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Female Summer Tanager (7093897573), Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
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