Mobile is a city and the county seat of Mobile County in Alabama, United States. It sits on the Mobile River at the head of Mobile Bay on the north-central Gulf Coast. As Alabama's only deep-water port, it serves as a critical economic hub for the region. The city functions as a major trading center and administrative capital for its surrounding county.

French colonists founded the original settlement in 1702 south of existing Native American villages. Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville established the site to control French claims to La Louisiane. The colony served as the French colonial capital from 1702 to 1711 before relocating downriver to its present location due to disease and flooding.

The city features a large concentration of historic architecture and several art museums. Fort Condé, originally built by the French and later renamed by the British and Spanish, stands as a key landmark. The area includes the Colonial Fort Condé welcome center and preserves sites from its colonial past, including the original Old Mobile Site.

Mobile is known for Mardi Gras, the oldest organized Carnival celebration in the United States. The festival has been celebrated since the first decade of the 18th century by Alabama's French Creole population. The city also hosts a symphony orchestra, professional opera, and a professional ballet company, drawing visitors with its rich cultural heritage.

The population was 187,041 at the 2020 census. The economy relies heavily on the Port of Mobile, which is the twelfth-largest port in the United States. Access is provided by Interstate 10 and Interstate 65, as well as Mobile Regional Airport and Amtrak services. The city remains a vital commercial and cultural center for the Gulf Coast.