PERDIDO BEACH, Ala. — PERDIDO BEACH — While this 110-year-old site on the northern shore of Perdido and Wolf bays is anything but a new kid on the block, Perdido Beach officially became the newest municipality in Baldwin County on Wednesday.

That’s when Probate Judge Adrian Johns signed the order of incorporation making Perdido Beach the county’s fourteenth municipality.

The official number of inhabitants in the new town is 558.

“This is truly a historical event for Alabama, Baldwin County and Perdido Beach,” said Al Thompson, one of four Perdido Beach residents who submitted incorporation papers to Johns on Oct. 9, 2008.

“The community has worked hard to arrive at this point, but we have received a lot of help and support from the County Commission, their staff, other towns and agencies - more than we can mention.”

Thompson points out, however, that the hard work is just beginning.

“We are going to need all the help and support possible from the community. If we continue to work together, we will make this transition smoothly and painlessly.”

In January 2008 a poll was conducted in the community to determine feelings concerning incorporation. There were 268 individual responses. Of those, 57 percent (154) favored incorporation, 25 percent (68) favored remaining unincorporated, 8 percent (21) favored annexation by Elberta, while 7 percent (19) were undecided.

On April 21, 2009, a referendum was held on incorporation by the 485 registered voters within the proposed incorporated area. That referendum passed by a vote of 192 favoring incorporation and 113 opposing.

“I know without a doubt the citizens of Perdido Beach did the right thing by incorporating our community,” said Lynn Thompson this week. She is the wife of Al Thompson and was one of those present the day incorporation papers were submitted to Johns.

“Incorporation was the only choice we had to protect our community from being annexed by other municipalities that might not have had our best interest at heart. As surrounding towns grow, so do their needs.”

Lynn Thompson said protecting Perdido Beach’s “small town atmosphere” was the “number one reason we chose incorporation versus annexation.”

Patsy Parker and Bob Gross, both officers within the Perdido Beach Property Owners and Residents Association, were also on hand when the incorporation papers were submitted.

On hand Wednesday to submit the official enumeration of the new town to Johns were, besides the Thompsons and Parker, Pamela E. Douglas, Harry E. Douglas, Freda S. Fleming and Stephen E. Fleming.