Service publication Alabama Coastal Region Ecological Characterization : A 

 Socioeconomic Study (Friend et al . 1981 ) . That publication contains a great 

 deal of detailed data and mapped information. 



Mobile County has a land surface area of 321,408 ha (793,600 acres) and 

 Baldwin County, the largest county in Alabama, has 427,835 ha (1,056,400 

 acres). In 1975, the land usage in these two coastal counties was in the 

 following percentages: 48% in forest; 19% in agriculture, 3% in transpor- 

 tation, communications and utilities; 2% in residential; 1% in industrial and 

 commercial; and 27% undeveloped. Table 8 presents a summary of land use 

 acreage in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. Mobile County is predominantly 

 urban and industrial, while Baldwin is primarily rural and agricultural with 

 the exception of urban centers along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. The 

 two-county population in 1980 was 442,819 persons. 



The major agricultural products of coastal Alabama include soybeans, 

 nursery products, vegetables, cattle, and calves. In 1978, cash receipts 

 from farm marketing were $106.9 million. In 1979 the total dollar amount 

 decreased slightly due to damage by Hurricane Frederic in September of that 

 year. 



The majority of forests in the two counties are pine species (loblolly 

 and shortleaf) used for pul pwood for the manufacture of paper products. Next 

 in importance is saw timber and the harvesting of veneer logs for plywood. 



Table 8. 1975 land use by county in acres and percent of total 

 acreage (South Alabama Regional Planning Commission 19 77). 



Total urban 82,532 10.4 31,305 3.0 



Public and semipublic 13,571 1.7 3,580 0.7 



Agriculture 



Forestry 



Wetlands 



Water 



Undeveloped dry 



Other open 



TOTAL 



42 



