Satsuma, Alabama

Satsumais a city inMobile County,Alabama, United States. At the2020 census, the population was 6,749,up from 6,168 at the 2010 census. Known prior to 1915 as "Fig Tree Island", the city was named after thesatsuma orange, which was successfully cultivated and grown in Alabama starting in 1878, a gift fromEmperor MeijiofJapan.Satsuma is a part of theMobile metropolitan area.
The area was inhabited for thousands of years by differing cultures ofindigenous peoples.
Satsuma is in northeastern Mobile County; it is bordered to the southwest bySaraland, to the northeast byCreola, and to the southeast by an undeveloped extension of the city ofMobile.U.S. Route 43andInterstate 65are the main highways through Saraland, intersecting at the northern edge of the city. Downtown Mobile is 13 miles (21 km) to the south.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, Satsuma has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km), of which 0.05 square miles (0.13 km), or 0.68%, are water.The city is bordered to the east by Gunnison Creek, a tidal tributary of Bayou Sara, which leads to theMobile River.
At the2000 censusthere were 5,687 people in 2,017 households, including 1,688 families, in the city. The population density was 873.1 inhabitants per square mile (337.1/km). There were 2,107 housing units at an average density of 323.5 per square mile (124.9/km).  Theracial makeupof the city was 93.72% White, 5.05% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,017 households 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 14.8% of households were one person and 6.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.10.
The age distribution was 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median household income was $50,496 and the median family income  was $53,180. Males had a median income of $39,123 versus $24,851 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,972. About 4.7% of families and 6.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
At the2010 censusthere were 6,168 people in 2,290 households, including 1,774 families, in the city. The population density was 948.9 inhabitants per square mile (366.4/km). There were 2,416 housing units at an average density of 371.7 per square mile (143.5/km). Theracial makeupof the city was 88.7% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,290 households 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.8% of households were one person and 8.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.05.
The age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% 65 or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median household income was $59,289 and the median family income  was $63,333. Males had a median income of $46,938 versus $33,791 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,087. About 0% of families and 0.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 0% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2020 United States census, there were 6,749 people, 2,205 households, and 1,705 families residing in the city.
Satsuma is served by theSatsuma City School System, following the successful separation from theMobile County Public School Systemin 2012.
Satsuma voted on April 12, 2011, to create its own school system.The Satsuma City School System is served by two schools, Robert E. Lee Elementary (K-6) andSatsuma High School(7-12).
Before the Satsuma City School System was founded, the schools that served Satsuma included Robert E. Lee Primary School (Kindergarten through 2), Robert E. Lee Intermediate School (3 through 5), North Mobile County Middle School (6-8),Satsuma High School(9-12). Lee Primary, Lee Intermediate, and Satsuma High were in the city of Satsuma, while North Mobile County Middle was inAxis.
Before theSaraland City Schoolssystem formed, Satsuma residents attended Adams Middle School inSaraland. In 2003,officials of Satsuma,Saraland, andChickasawcontemplated forming the "Delta School District."Such a split would have required an act from theAlabama Legislature.In June 2006, theCity of Saralandvoted to break away from theMobile County Public School Systemand form its own school system.On September 7, 2010 North Mobile County Middle School opened, replacing the role of Adams Middle School in Saraland, because residents outside of Saraland are no longer zoned to Adams Middle.
Satsuma residents considered leaving Mobile County schools since circa 2001.In 2010, the City of Satsuma began conducting a study on whether it can split from the Mobile County school system. Tom Williams, a council member of Satsuma, said he began considering splitting once Mobile County decided to situate the new middle school in Axis, 12 miles (19 km) from Satsuma, since students have longer bus rides to the school and that the school is further away from fire and police stations.The Mobile County government built the school outside of the Satsuma city limits so the city government would be unable to possess the school if it opted to secede.