Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island

      island in the Gulf of Mexico (Mexico, Gulf of), at the entrance to Mobile Bay off the southwest coast of Alabama, U.S., about 30 miles (50 km) south of Mobile. Included in Mobile county, the island is about 15 miles (25 km) long.

      It was visited in 1699 by the explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville (Iberville, Pierre Le Moyne d'), who had been sent by Louis XIV to establish a base for French colonization of Louisiana. Originally called Massacre Island (because human bones were found on the shore), it was renamed (1707) for the title of the heir to the French throne. It briefly was a Spanish possession in 1762, when France ceded its territory east of the Mississippi River to Spain, but the next year it went to England by the Treaty of Paris; in 1780 it was reclaimed by Spain. Although the United States claimed it in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, possession was not gained until 1813. Fort Gaines, begun on the island's eastern point in 1821, was captured during the American Civil War by Union forces under Admiral David Farragut (Farragut, David) during the Battle of Mobile Bay (Mobile Bay, Battle of) (1864).

      Dauphin Island now serves as a resort area. It is periodically buffeted by hurricanes (tropical cyclones) and can sustain overwash and wind damage during the storms. The fort is preserved as a historic site, and a bird sanctuary is located on the island. The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is held in July.

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  • Dauphin Island — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Dauphin Island es una villa de Alabama situada en el condado de Mobile, localizada en una barra también conocida como Dauphin Island. Según el censo del 2000 la población de la ciudad es de 1.371 habitantes. Se… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Dauphin Island — Lage im County und in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Dauphin Island — Dauphin Island, AL U.S. town in Alabama Population (2000): 1371 Housing Units (2000): 1691 Land area (2000): 6.196887 sq. miles (16.049863 sq. km) Water area (2000): 159.882283 sq. miles (414.093195 sq. km) Total area (2000): 166.079170 sq. miles …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Dauphin Island, AL — U.S. town in Alabama Population (2000): 1371 Housing Units (2000): 1691 Land area (2000): 6.196887 sq. miles (16.049863 sq. km) Water area (2000): 159.882283 sq. miles (414.093195 sq. km) Total area (2000): 166.079170 sq. miles (430.143058 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Dauphin Island — 30° 15′ 23″ N 88° 07′ 31″ W / 30.2564, 88.1253 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dauphin Island — Original name in latin Dauphin Island Name in other language State code US Continent/City America/Chicago longitude 30.25548 latitude 88.10972 altitude 8 Population 1238 Date 2011 05 14 …   Cities with a population over 1000 database

  • Dauphin Island — Sp Dòfino salà Ap Dauphin Island L Meksikos įl., JAV (Alabama) …   Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė

  • Dauphin Island, Alabama — Dauphin Island   Town   Town of Dauphin Island Fort Gaines on the eastern end of …   Wikipedia

  • Dauphin Island Air Force Station — Part of Air Defense Command (ADC) Type Air Force …   Wikipedia

  • Dauphin Island Airport — NAIP aerial image, 23 June 2006 IATA: none – ICAO: none – FAA LID: 4R9 …   Wikipedia

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