¶ 2. Geography and Communities
- Mapped extent coordinates: West longitude -88.02858, south latitude 30.223334, east longitude -87.450078, north latitude 30.436077, documented via the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Map Files
- County footprint: Wholly contained within southern Baldwin County, Alabama
- Gulf coastal municipalities: Includes almost the entire incorporated footprints of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach along the Gulf of Mexico barrier peninsula and coastline
- Estuarine and inland communities: Extends across Bon Secour along Bon Secour Bay and Perdido Beach on Perdido Bay, with partial overlaps into southern Foley and Elberta
- Water bodies and hydrology: Defined by coastal barrier waters, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Mobile Bay estuary outlets, Oyster Bay, and Wolf Bay
- Road transit arteries: Alabama State Route 59 serving as the primary north-south conduit through Foley to the coast, and Alabama State Route 182 traversing the beach barrier strip
¶ 3. Population and Electorate
- District population estimate: 52,359 residents (margin of error plus or minus 2,811), derived from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey via Census Reporter Table B01003
- Income metrics: Median household income of 78,007 dollars (margin of error plus or minus 3,716), adjusted for 2024 inflation, via Census Reporter Table B19013
- Poverty status: 4,977 individuals below poverty level within a total universe of 51,976 persons (margin of error plus or minus 1,441), via Census Reporter Table B17001
- Demographic characteristics: Features an older coastal retiree demographic coupled with seasonal hospitality workforces and growing residential suburban developments across South Baldwin
¶ 4. Elections and Political Context
- Incumbent representative status: Frances Holk-Jones assumed office following the 2022 general election cycle, documented via the Alabama Legislature Leadership Directory
- Election administration: The state primary occurred on May 19, 2026, followed by the runoff on June 16, 2026, and candidate lists certified in late August, per the Alabama Secretary of State Election Calendar
- 2026 general election candidacy: Frances Holk-Jones was officially certified as the Republican nominee on August 28, 2026, via the Alabama Secretary of State Republican Candidate Certification
- Electoral structure: The upcoming general election date is November 3, 2026; past cycles demonstrate a durable conservative voting profile characteristic of coastal Baldwin County
¶ 5. Economic and Civic Anchors
- Tourism and recreation anchor: Gulf State Park, located inside the district across Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, anchors the region's public beachfront access, state park lodge facilities, and trail system
- Conservation reserve: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, located inside the district on Fort Morgan Peninsula, safeguards coastal maritime habitats and coastal wetlands under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversight
- Primary healthcare anchor: South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, located in adjacent Foley, serves as the acute hospital center and emergency services provider for district residents
- Public higher education: Coastal Alabama Community College maintains regional locations including an active site in Gulf Shores providing vocational and collegiate coursework serving the district
- Local municipal education: Gulf Shores City Schools operates as an independent public school district located inside the municipal footprint within the district
- Coastal school system: Orange Beach City Schools operates an autonomous K-12 public educational system established inside the municipality
- Regional maritime logistics: The Port of Mobile, located across Mobile Bay, provides regional deepwater freight and maritime shipping networks supporting coastal commerce
- Regional military aviation installation: Fort Rucker, located inland in southeastern Alabama, serves as a major regional military aviation center with historical aerospace ties throughout southern Alabama
¶ 6. People and Organizations to Map
- Municipal government entities: City of Gulf Shores and City of Orange Beach local councils and planning boards managing zoning along the Gulf beachfront
- Healthcare networks: South Baldwin Regional Medical Center administrators and regional outpatient clinics operating in South Baldwin
- Education boards: Gulf Shores City Board of Education and Orange Beach City Board of Education managing infrastructure and curriculum investments
- Federal and state conservation stewards: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel managing the Bon Secour Refuge and Alabama Department of Conservation staff at Gulf State Park
- Research question one: What relationship, if any, exists between municipal capital improvement projects in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach and federal environmental review procedures for the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Gulf State Park?
- Research question two: What relationship, if any, exists between seasonal population fluctuations along the Gulf Coast and emergency medical resource utilization reported by South Baldwin Regional Medical Center?
- Research question three: What relationship, if any, exists between curriculum development at Coastal Alabama Community College and commercial hospitality or marine logistics operational demands across Baldwin County?
¶ 7. Representation and Legislative Work
- Chamber committee governance: Legislative committee records and daily roll calls are logged on the official legislative information system, documented via the Alabama Alison System
- Coastal policy focus areas: District legislation routinely involves coastal barrier insurance requirements, hurricane recovery financing, sales tax redistribution from tourism, and coastal beach renourishment funding
- Transportation infrastructure: Legislative priorities historically focus on funding additional evacuation and commuter capacity across the Intracoastal Waterway connecting Foley with Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
- Intergovernmental coordination: Legislative representation frequently coordinates with county commissioners, local municipal councils, and the Alabama Department of Transportation regarding highway widening and bridge permits