Semmes, Alabama

Semmes  (pronounced , locally ) is a city in western Mobile County, Alabama, in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area.   Formerly an unincorporated community, voters in Semmes approved incorporation of a part of the community as the city of Semmes on August 17, 2010.   After a statutory enumeration, or census, the town was officially declared incorporated on May 2, 2011, by Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis.   The statutory census indicated that the town has a population of 2,897 people.  It covers .   The current mayor is David Baker.  He is the second mayor of the city, succeeding Judy Hale. 

Geography 
Semmes is located at 30.778N, -88.259W. Elevation is 256 feet.   The Semmes area is bounded to the North by the Citronelle area, bounded to the East by the cities of Saraland and Prichard, bounded to the South by the city of Mobile, and finally bounded to the West by Big Creek Lake. 

Climate 
Semmes is on the central Gulf Coast and has a subtropical climate, which consists of warm, wet winters and very hot, very humid summers.  Semmes is also vulnerable to hurricanes, which the area frequently experiences. 

Demographics

History 
The community was named for Admiral Raphael Semmes (1809–1877), an officer in the United States Navy from 1826 to 1860 and the Confederate States Navy from 1860 to 1865. 

Incorporation 
On March 3, 2010, the members of the Friends of Semmes and the associated Incorporate Semmes organizations presented Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis with a petition seeking to incorporate an area within the Semmes community as the City of Semmes.   The proposed incorporation did not include the entire area known as Semmes due to certain population density requirements of Alabama State Law.   Judge Davis set the date for the referendum as Tuesday, August 17, 2010.   After voting closed, unofficial returns showed the plebiscite passing with 74.19% of the voters in favor of incorporation.   The vote must be certified by the Probate Judge to be official, however, this seems almost certain as the number of provisional ballots is not enough to overcome the deficit.   Some voters complained about the "zig-zag" nature of the proposed city limits which excluded some areas of the community from the vote, with some even referring to the proposed city as a gerrymander. 

Once the election was certified in August, the Mobile County Probate Judge ordered an enumeration, or census, of the citizens of the new municipality, in accordance with Alabama law.   The enumeration was completed in late April, 2011, and the city was declared incorporated by the Probate Judge on May 2, 2011.    The Probate Judge also set the date of the first municipal election which was scheduled for June 28, 2011, to elect the mayor and the 5 at-large city council seats.   Additionally, the City of Mobile, upon the issuance of the order of incorporation, removed the Semmes from its police, fire, and planning extraterritorial jurisdictions, and no longer provides any services to the areas or collects any taxes in the area. 

Only one person, Judy Hale, filed with the Probate Judge to run for the office of Mayor, and, as such, was deemed elected without an election taking place.   Likewise, only 5 citizens qualified to run for the 5 at-large City Council seats, and were subsequently deemed elected.   Those Council Members are: Jerry Shirey, Dave Baker, Mary Calhoun, Phillip Dodd, and Teresa Bonner.   They took the oath of office at the first Semmes City Council meeting on June 6, 2011.  In 2015 and 2016, Semmes held its general election, and Judy Hale's reelection campaign came up short after reports of corruption, and David Baker won.  He was sworn in around November. 

Future 
Leaders of the incorporation effort stated to members of the local media and to some citizens not included in the incorporation area that future plans include several annexations of the surrounding area. 

Education

Primary and secondary education 
Semmes is a part of the Mobile County Public Schools system. 
 Secondary
 Mary G. Montgomery High School (9-12)
 Semmes Middle School (6-8)
 Primary (all K-5)
 Semmes Elementary
 Allentown Elementary

Elementary schools serving nearby areas outside of the city limits:
 Elsie Collier Elementary School
 Tanner Williams Elementary School
 Turner Elementary

Private schools:
 Semmes First Baptist School
 Faith Academy (Mobile)
 Day Star Christian Academy (Wilmer)

Higher education 
Semmes is in proximity to five tertiary institutions:
 Bishop State Community College
 Faulkner University, Mobile Campus
 Spring Hill College
 University of Mobile
 University of South Alabama

Parks

Community Park 
The first-ever Community Park in Semmes opened on February 3, 2007.  The  park was built adjacent to the Semmes Community Center at a cost of $600,000. 

Semmes Heritage Park 
Semmes School is the oldest continuous-in-use school in the State of Alabama and is listed on the Alabama Historical Landmarks.   In 1994, a group of volunteers, former students, teachers and community citizens formed "Alumni & Friends of Semmes School, Inc." to preserve the 1902 one-room Semmes School and return it to its original location.     The Mobile County School Board had planned to tear down the school when concerned citizens formed a group to save to school.   The School Board gave a 99-year lease to the group and moved the school back to its original site.    The school was restored to its 1902 status in 1998 by volunteers and donations, and continues to operate with volunteers as a hands-on 1900s school. 
Alumni & Friends of Semmes School is a volunteer organization whose goal is that Semmes 1902 School will continue to be used as a living history classroom.   Malone Chapel is a replica of Mt. Pleasant Church that was located on this exact spot.   The chapel is rented for weddings and special events with the funds going towards operational expenses. 

Notable people
 Jake Peavy, Major League Baseball pitcher
 Ralph Staten, former American football linebacker and defensive back

References

External links 
 City of Semmes
 Semmes Chamber of Commerce
 Save Semmes -- A Website for the Community of Semmes AL
 Semmes Heritage Park -- Original 1902 Semmes School House & Replica Malone Chapel; Operated and Maintained by Alumni and Friends of Semmes School
 Talk of Semmes™  -- Online newspaper for and about Semmes Alabama. 

Category:Cities in Mobile County, Alabama
Category:Cities in Alabama
Category:Populated places established in 2011