Baldwin County, or portions of it at least, have been part of the Spanish Empire, the British Empire, the independent Republic of West Florida and the United States. As an American territory, it has been a part of the Alabama Territory, the state of Alabama and earlier, the Mississippi Territory.

As a result of this diverse background, the county has been the site for numerous events that link it to the earliest explorations of North America and the conflicts between European nations for control of the entire continent. As an American property, however, it began its existence in the Mississippi Territory of the Old Southwest.

But how and when was the Mississippi Territory established? Congress designated the establishment of the Territory in 1798. At that time, it included all of present-day Mississippi and Alabama, excluding the Indian Territory that was dispersed within the same region.

When the Territory was established, a mixture of Europeans, including the French, Spanish and English had lived in places like New Orleans, Mobile and Natchez for quite some time. Of course, during the colonial period and early statehood, many Americans had made their way by water and over land to settle in what would become the Mississippi Territory.

Based on several historical works covering the era and region, Natchez was, for its time, a heavily populated area, with about 4,500 people by the time Mississippi became a U.S. Territory. Many of these people had sworn an allegiance to the Spanish crown before Natchez was turned over to the United States.

As Andrew Ellicott made his way through Natchez in 1796, on his way to survey the boundary between Spanish West Florida and the U.S. Territory, he was met by cordial resistance from the Spanish authorities who were on their way out.

On the southwestern edge of the Territory, the Tombigbee settlements were made up of far fewer settlers, many of whom had intermarried into the local Indian populations. As the 19^th century dawned, more immigrants made their way to the Mississippi Territory, seeking opportunity. Some of those ambitious people found what they were looking for in what would become Baldwin County.

As Mississippi received its opportunity for statehood in 1817, its eastern half was separated to make up the newly formed Territory of Alabama. Two years later, Alabama became the 22^nd state, bringing Baldwin County into the Union.

For a brief period of time, the mass movement of people into the Old Southwest slowed because of the War of 1812.

While the population growth stagnated, the activity in the region did not. Patriotism stirred a number of the residents of the lower Mississippi Territory to enlist in the service of the United States. More than 6,000 Mississippi Territory residents enlisted to defend their country.

Countless others prepared to defend their homes from the British as well as an enemy closer to home, the Red Stick Creeks. After the conflict ended, settlement in the region reached a fever pitch. Aided by the Federal Road, immigrants from the Carolinas and Georgia made their way to Baldwin County via the direct overland route at a much reduced cost when compared to travel along the waterways. The influx of people eventually led to the creation of the states of Mississippi in 1817 and Alabama in 1819.