Incorporated in 1907, the City of Bay Minette, which is the county seat of Baldwin County, got its name from nearby Minette Bay. Nestled in the pine forests of North Baldwin County, Bay Minette is conveniently located 35 miles northeast of Mobile, Alabama, 45 miles west of Pensacola, Florida, and 75 miles east of Biloxi, Mississippi. Because of its favorable location, the community of just over 8,100 enjoys the economic, social and cultural benefits of the surrounding urban areas while maintaining the charm and relaxed pace of a small southern community. In addition to being home to a thriving timber industry, surrounding forests serve as a playground for the southern sportsman, as does the nearby Tensaw River Delta and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Bay Minette is also surrounded by restored Civil War and early American history sites perfect for history buffs, family picnics, hikers and campers.
Home to the Bay Minette campus of Coastal Alabama Community College, the city has enjoyed steady, managed growth for many years. As the seat of Baldwin County, residents have numerous employment opportunities through local government, the county board of education, as well as legal and other professional offices, which support the county government. Bay Minette also offers residents employment opportunities in manufacturing and industry and the city actively seeks new employers through partnerships with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance and the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.