Lillian, Alabama

The community was named for Lillian Kee (1889-1972), the daughter of William Thomas Kee, postmaster.^[5] In 1630, the King of Spain gave land grants to the Suarez family that included the current site of Lillian.^[6] Francisco Suarez operated a ferry near the modern site of Lillian. After the United States took control of Mobile during the War of 1812, a stockade fort was constructed in the area. This fort was eventually burned by Spanish forces a few months later.^[7] The Baldwin Colonization Company purchased the area around Lillian in 1923 to promote the area as a resort location. Lillian was once home to a school and hotel.^[8] The hotel was originally located in Elberta then dismantled and moved to Lillian.^[9]

The Lillian post office was established in 1884.^[10]

The Perdido Bay Bridge, which spans Perdido Bay from Lillian to Florida, was first constructed in 1916. The bridge replaced a ferry that operated between Alabama and Florida.^[8] The original bridge was operated by the Perdido Bay Bridge and Ferry Company, but ownership was transferred to the states of Alabama and Florida when a second bridge was completed in 1930.^[11] The bridge was originally operated as a toll bridge, but tolls were discontinued in 1943.^[12] The current bridge was completed in 1980.^[8]

The Old Spanish Cemetery in Lillian includes burials from as early as the 16th century.^[13][14]

The Lillian Swamp is managed as a nature preserve as part of the Forever Wild Land Trust.^[15] The swamp is also listed as an Alabama Gulf Ecological Management Site due to its importance as an estuarine habitat and stopover for migratory birds.^[16]