Government Street (Mobile, Alabama)
Encyclopedia
Government Street is the name given to U.S. Route 90
and portions of U.S. Route 98
within the city limits of Mobile
, Alabama
. It is known as Government Street east of Pinehill Drive and as Government Boulevard west of Pinehill Drive. It is the most important road on Mobile's far south side and is the only nominally east–west road on Mobile's south side to come into the city from outside the western city limits and reach the downtown business district. The only other two east–west thoroughfares in the city to do so are Moffett Road/Springhill Avenue and Old Shell Road. Government is a two-lane highway throughout the city limits, from Water Street to the western city limits. It is the only thoroughfare in Mobile to have intersections with both Interstate 10
and Interstate 65
within the city limits.
Government Street begins at Water Street in downtown Mobile. It expands after crossing Royal Street, where additional lanes join from U.S. Route 98 via the Bankhead Tunnel
. U.S. Route 98 leaves the route at Broad Street, with the remainder of Government continuing as U.S. Highway 90. It continues onward for approximately 3.6 miles (5.8 km) to Pinehill Drive, where it becomes Government Boulevard. It then continues for approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) until it ends at the southwestern-most limits of the city, in Theodore
. This area, along with the Tillmans Corner
business district, was annexed into the city in September 2008.
. In the early 1820s the marshlands between the Mobile River
and Royal Street were filled in with the bricks and other material from the demolished fort. Government Street was run westward from the old esplanade
that had been situated beside the river and fort. It has traditionally been a street where Mobile's government-related functions were concentrated. Barton Academy
, Old City Hall
, the Mobile County License Commissioner Offices, Mobile Government Plaza
, the Mobile Public Library
, Mobile Bar Association, and Social Security Administration all continue to lie along Government Street. Government has a reputation as "mansion row" in the city. The area east of Houston Street has many 19th to early 20th century mansions that date back to the time when Government was the most prestigious address that one could have in the Mobile.
U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S...
and portions of U.S. Route 98
U.S. Route 98
U.S. Route 98 is an east–west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended westward into Mississippi and eastward across the Florida...
within the city limits of Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is known as Government Street east of Pinehill Drive and as Government Boulevard west of Pinehill Drive. It is the most important road on Mobile's far south side and is the only nominally east–west road on Mobile's south side to come into the city from outside the western city limits and reach the downtown business district. The only other two east–west thoroughfares in the city to do so are Moffett Road/Springhill Avenue and Old Shell Road. Government is a two-lane highway throughout the city limits, from Water Street to the western city limits. It is the only thoroughfare in Mobile to have intersections with both Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
within the city limits.
Route description
Bankhead Tunnel
The Bankhead Tunnel is a tunnel in Mobile, Alabama that begins on Government Street in downtown Mobile, travels eastbound under the Mobile River, and emerges to join the Battleship Parkway....
. U.S. Route 98 leaves the route at Broad Street, with the remainder of Government continuing as U.S. Highway 90. It continues onward for approximately 3.6 miles (5.8 km) to Pinehill Drive, where it becomes Government Boulevard. It then continues for approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) until it ends at the southwestern-most limits of the city, in Theodore
Theodore, Alabama
Theodore is a census-designated place in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 6,811 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Mobile metropolitan statistical area...
. This area, along with the Tillmans Corner
Tillmans Corner, Alabama
Tillman's Corner is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,685. It is a part of the Mobile metropolitan statistical area.-Geography:...
business district, was annexed into the city in September 2008.
History
The street was laid out and named after the close of Mobile's colonial era, following the demolition of the obsolete Fort CondeFort Conde
Fort Conde, located in Mobile, Alabama, is a reconstruction, at 4/5 scale, as a third of the original 1720s French Fort Condé at the site...
. In the early 1820s the marshlands between the Mobile River
Mobile River
The Mobile River is located in southern Alabama in the United States. Formed out of the confluence of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers, the approximately river drains an area of of Alabama, with a watershed extending into Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. Its drainage basin is the...
and Royal Street were filled in with the bricks and other material from the demolished fort. Government Street was run westward from the old esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
that had been situated beside the river and fort. It has traditionally been a street where Mobile's government-related functions were concentrated. Barton Academy
Barton Academy
Barton Academy is a historic Greek Revival school building located on Government Street in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was under construction from 1836 to 1839 and was designed by architects James H. Dakin, Charles B. Dakin, and James Gallier. Gallier and the Dakin brothers also designed...
, Old City Hall
Old City Hall (Mobile, Alabama)
Old City Hall, also known as the Southern Market, is a historic complex of adjoining buildings in Mobile, Alabama, that currently houses the Museum of Mobile. The complex was built from 1855 to 1857 to serve as a city hall and as a marketplace...
, the Mobile County License Commissioner Offices, Mobile Government Plaza
Mobile Government Plaza
Mobile Government Plaza, also known as the City-County Administration Building, is a high-rise in the U.S. city of Mobile, Alabama. Completed in 1994 at a cost of US$73 million, the building rises and 12 stories at its highest point. The roof of the building is the site of two twin architectural...
, the Mobile Public Library
Mobile Public Library
The Mobile Public Library is public library system primarily serving Mobile County, Alabama. The system is a department of the city of Mobile and receives funding from Mobile County and the city of Saraland.-History:...
, Mobile Bar Association, and Social Security Administration all continue to lie along Government Street. Government has a reputation as "mansion row" in the city. The area east of Houston Street has many 19th to early 20th century mansions that date back to the time when Government was the most prestigious address that one could have in the Mobile.