South Alabama is the various parts of southern
Alabama. Although it is not a strictly defined geographic region, it generally includes all Alabama counties south of the
Black Belt. However, residents of the largest population center,
Mobile, often make the argument that the phrase refers only to the extreme southernmost parts of Alabama. In that view,
South Alabama consists of just the two counties that border the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay:
Baldwin County and
Mobile County. That area is characterized by extensive
wetlands, but also by long, sandy beaches which are very conducive to
tourism. Many deluxe
golf courses have been developed in the area in recent decades.