Historic Blakeley State Park
Encyclopedia
Historic Blakeley State Park is located in Baldwin County
, Alabama
on the Tensaw River
delta
. The park encompasses an area once occupied by settlers in what was a thriving community on the river. Later, Confederate
soldiers were garrisoned here and fought in the last major battle of the U.S. Civil War against superior Union
forces.
named Blakeley a state park and created a separate state authority to oversee operations. Although it is called a state park and receives state funding, it is not operated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
.
In 1993, Blakeley was named a Class A Civil War site by the United States Congress. The park is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail due to it being the site of the Battle of Fort Blakely
. Some remnants of battlefield operations remains including the Confederate Breastworks that cross the park. Some effort is underway to restore the Confederate and Union constructs that supported the Battle of Fort Blakeley. That battle, involving over 16,000 soldiers occurred on the same day as the Confederate surrender. African-American troops made up a significant number of the Union forces
Little evidence remains today of the previous town of Blakeley
. A few historical markers designate important locations such as brick kiln and an old oak tree used as a hanging tree for the local courts. A river crossing here once linked Mobile and Baldwin counties. Prior to the establishment of the town of Blakeley, an ancient Native American
village existed and, later, a large plantation occupied this location.
just 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of the town of Spanish Fort, Alabama
. The park is bounded on the east by the highway and by the river to the west. Mobile, Alabama
can be seen in the distance across the river. Camping, both primitive and RV camping is available year round. Group campsites are also available. Numerous picnic areas and over ten miles (16 km) of hiking trails are found within the park. The park charges a fee for admission and for camping. A motorized launch takes guests on a tour of the delta region during warmer months.
Baldwin County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.7% White*9.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*4.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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...
on the Tensaw River
Tensaw River
The Tensaw River is a distributary of the Mobile River, approximately 36 mi long, in southern Alabama in the United States. It is formed as a bayou of the Mobile approximately 6 mi south of the formation of the Mobile by the confluence of the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers...
delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
. The park encompasses an area once occupied by settlers in what was a thriving community on the river. Later, Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldiers were garrisoned here and fought in the last major battle of the U.S. Civil War against superior Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
forces.
History
The park was created in 1976 as a private not-for-profit foundation. The goal was to preserve and re-develop the area. In 1981 the Alabama LegislatureAlabama Legislature
The Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of Alabama. It is a bicameral body composed of the Alabama House of Representatives, with 105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 35 members...
named Blakeley a state park and created a separate state authority to oversee operations. Although it is called a state park and receives state funding, it is not operated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
OverviewAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for the conservation and management of Alabama's natural resources including state parks, state lands, wildlife and aquatic resources. ADCNR also issues hunting and fishing licenses for the state...
.
In 1993, Blakeley was named a Class A Civil War site by the United States Congress. The park is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail due to it being the site of the Battle of Fort Blakely
Battle of Fort Blakely
-Sources:**-External links:*...
. Some remnants of battlefield operations remains including the Confederate Breastworks that cross the park. Some effort is underway to restore the Confederate and Union constructs that supported the Battle of Fort Blakeley. That battle, involving over 16,000 soldiers occurred on the same day as the Confederate surrender. African-American troops made up a significant number of the Union forces
Little evidence remains today of the previous town of Blakeley
Blakeley, Alabama
Blakeley is a ghost town in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. It was the location of a major fort during the Civil War. The town is now in an Alabama historic state park known as Historic Blakeley State Park near Spanish Fort....
. A few historical markers designate important locations such as brick kiln and an old oak tree used as a hanging tree for the local courts. A river crossing here once linked Mobile and Baldwin counties. Prior to the establishment of the town of Blakeley, an ancient Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
village existed and, later, a large plantation occupied this location.
Location
The 1400 acres (5.7 km²) park is located on Alabama 225Alabama State Route 225
State Route 225 or SR-225 is a long route that serves as a connection between Stockton and Spanish Fort in western Baldwin County.-Route description:The southern terminus of SR-225 is located at its intersection with U.S. Highway 31 in Spanish Fort...
just 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of the town of Spanish Fort, Alabama
Spanish Fort, Alabama
Spanish Fort is a suburb of Mobile, Alabama in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 5,423. It is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan area....
. The park is bounded on the east by the highway and by the river to the west. Mobile, Alabama
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...
can be seen in the distance across the river. Camping, both primitive and RV camping is available year round. Group campsites are also available. Numerous picnic areas and over ten miles (16 km) of hiking trails are found within the park. The park charges a fee for admission and for camping. A motorized launch takes guests on a tour of the delta region during warmer months.