Bon Secour, Alabama

 community, unincorporated area / community

Bon Secour, Alabama (postal zip code 36511) is located along the eastern coastline of Bon Secour Bay, (a contiguous bay that sits to the east of Mobile Bay). Over 35 miles due east of the Alabama-Mississippi state line, near Gulf Shores, Alabama and over 45 miles west of Pensacola, Florida. The name "Bon Secour" derives from the French phrase meaning "safe harbor" due to the secluded location on the inside coast of the Fort Morgan peninsula of southern Alabama.

Bon Secour lies on the Bon Secour River. Elevation is 10 feet above sea level. The estuarial river system empties into Bon Secour/Mobile Bay.nnThe population of the town was recorded as 302 (see detailed Demographics below). However, since hurricane Ivan, single family housing developments and the population have continued to grow at an amazing rate.nnBon Secour is sometimes mentioned in hurricane report statistics, for the region, since Bon Secour is the first town inside the eastern coastline of Mobile Bay when entering the bay from the south, indicating weather and tide conditions for the population at the south end of Mobile Bay, nearest the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. By contrast, Mobile, Alabama is located near the (diagonally opposite) north end of Mobile Bay, much farther from the Gulf tide and hurricane storm surges.nnBon Secour has a rich history. It was originally a French fishing village settlement dating back to the late 19th century. Currently it is a beautiful, southern gothic, waterfront community that serves as a safe harbor (as named), to a current commercial fishing fleet. There are several major seafood industry businesses currently operating out of the Bon Secour estuary.