Mobile, AL, United States

Capital City

The population of Mobile, AL has swelled to 204,689 after a recent annexation, making it the second-largest city in Alabama - but don't let the numbers fool you. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city still struggling to resolve funding for a long-delayed Amtrak rail project. And the climate is no picnic, with Mobile claiming the dubious honor of being the wettest city in the contiguous United States, averaging a drenching 66.3 inches of rain per year. Still, if you can handle the paperwork and the downpours, Mobile's unique Creole culture, thriving port, and long history as the birthplace of Mardi Gras in America may make it an appealing option.