Satsuma has an easygoing rural vibe
The city of Satsuma has a small citrus fruit to thank for its unique name: the Mandarin Satsuma orange. Originally cultivated in Japan, this bright and sweet orange arrived in Alabama in 1878 and was soon planted in the Fig Tree area, later named Satsuma. By the early 1920s, Satsuma’s namesake trees were severely damaged by cold weather and citrus canker, ending the fruit’s local reign. Though satsumas no longer grow here, imagery of the beloved fruit brightens the neighborhood. Today, Satsuma is a rural suburb north of Mobile known for its schools and slower pace – although that may change thanks to regional growth. “It is a small community," says Melissa Strickland, a Realtor with Keller Williams Spring HiIl and a longtime Mobile resident but “it is up and coming, and it is building out.”
Wright Park and Steel Creek Park are the key green spaces
With its colorful water elements, the Splash Pad at Fred K. Wright Municipal Park surely resembles heaven for the six-and-under set. A covered pavilion with picnic tables overlooks the action on the splash pad. The park also has a Little Free Library, tennis and pickleball courts, and baseball and softball fields for local youth leagues. Steele Creek Park is another public green space, this one beside a creek and a boat launch. “You can fish there, there’s a disc golf course throughout and there's a community center and lodge there,” says Morgan Waller, the office assistant at Satsuma City Hall. Boating is also popular on the city’s canals and small rivers and on nearby Bayou Sara.
Cottages, ranchers and Georgian-style homes are commonly seen
Satsuma is primarily residential, with a rural feel, and there is very little commercial development. Home styles include Craftsman cottages with attached garages, ranch-style houses, cabin-style condominium units and full-brick Georgian-style homes. Prices range from $160,000 for a three-bedroom rancher to $489,000 for a four-bedroom Colonial with a deep-water pier. Townhomes in the gated Cypress Landing development run from $379,000 to $465,000. Satsuma sits directly north of the city of Saraland, which is booming thanks to its top-notch school district. “You bleed into Satsuma from Saraland,” Strickland says. “A lot of people think they are in Saraland when they are in Satsuma, but it’s not as developed and not growing as rapidly.”
Satsuma High has an enviable graduation rate
More than 750 students are enrolled in grades pre-kindergarten through six at Lee Elementary School, where students can dive into activities from archery to robotics. The school earns a grade of A- from Niche. Grades seven through twelve attend Satsuma High. The graduation rate at Satsuma High is 96%. Students have their pick of 43 clubs and extracurriculars, including Chess Club, the LEO leadership club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Niche grades the school B+.
U.S. 43 runs through town
Satsuma is about 14 miles north of downtown Mobile via I-65. Highway 43 runs through town and links with Saraland to the south. Mobile International Airport is 20 miles south. There is no public bus system in Satsuma.
The Fourth of July is the city’s biggest celebration
Held at Wright Park, the Fourth of July party is the city’s top annual festival. “They do a big fireworks show, and vendors come out and food trucks,” says Waller. “It’s our ‘We love Satsuma’ event.” The calendar at the Satsuma Library stays busy with activities, from plant swaps to poetry classes. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten effort at the library is a free program that helps parents get their children reading before they even start elementary school.
Homemade Southern fare is on the menu at Chalkboard Kitchen
Dining and shopping options are limited, and most commercial development hugs Highway 43 in Saraland. “It’s not as developed or commercialized as Mobile,” Strickland says. “It’s a more mom-and-pop feel.” The two restaurants in Satsuma are Bay City Grill and Chalkboard Kitchen. Bay City Grill serves tavern fare like chili fries, burgers and wings while homemade southern comfort food is on the menu at Chalkboard Kitchen. Daily specials there might include pork barbecue, Nashville hot fried chicken and okra. One nearby shopping hub is Shiny Hen, an antiques store on Highway 43 with more than 50 vendors selling trinkets, treasures and slices of local history. For groceries, it’s a short drive to the Rouses Market in the northern reaches of Saraland.
Photography Contributed By
Justin Hartley
