LOXLEY — The fastest-growing municipality in Alabama's fastest-growing county is not on Mobile Bay or the Gulf Coast, according to census reports.

Between the census counts of 2010 and 2020, Loxley grew by 127%. Its population increased from 1,632 to 3,710. The change means that for the first time, Loxley, which has been a town since being incorporated in the 1950s, has been designated a city, Mayor Richard Teal said.

"I'm excited about it," Teal said. "I've been in Loxley all my life, and to see us finally growing and people recognizing Loxley is exciting to me."

Under Alabama law, an incorporated municipality with a population of less than 2,000 is a town. Any municipality with more than 2,000 is a city.

The city recently placed banners on local streetlights proclaiming the "City of Loxley."

Teal said the designation is an honor, but he is more pleased that an increasing number of people recognize the charms of the community.

"The exciting thing is that people are calling Loxley home now," Teal said. "What this is going to mean for Loxley is more opportunity for a better quality of life here. As far as tax revenue going up with businesses and restaurants, we'll be able to do more with our parks and recreation."

The mayor said the population has continued to increase.

"Some of the subdivisions that weren't full then (during the census count) are full, with new homes now," he said.

Teal said the official designation as a city will also make the city eligible for more assistance programs.

"It'll help us with more of the grants and funding and things," he said. "We'll be more competitive in the grant market by being a city."

Teal said that as Loxley grows, he hopes that more businesses as well as residents will be drawn to the city.

"We love our neighbors over on the Eastern Shore and everywhere, but if we want to go to a good sit-down restaurant or something, we have to travel over to the Eastern Shore or to Robertsdale or Foley," Teal said. "We would hope that as the city grows that we would have the same kinds of things in our city. Such as doctors' offices. We have to travel to go to the doctor. We have a dentist office here, but hopefully somebody will recognize that we need doctors and maybe an urgent care and something of that nature."

Between the 2010 and 2020 census counts, Baldwin County's total population grew 27.16 percent, from 182,265 to 231,767. The second fastest growing municipality in Baldwin County was Summerdale with a 70.3% increase to 1,468.

That rate was followed by Gulf Shores with a 54.1% increase to 15,014. Other cities with increases included Orange Beach with a 48.8% increase to 8,095, followed by Spanish Fort with a 47.8% increase to 10,049 and Fairhope with a 46.7% change to 22,477.
Foley, which grew by 39.1%, had the biggest numerical increase in Baldwin County, adding 5,717 residents in the decade.