Mobile is now the second-largest city in Alabama following a special election Tuesday, surpassing Birmingham in population for the first time in 123 years.

The outcome of the annexation vote resulted in 19,789 new residents who will almost immediately come into the city, and push the city’s population from 184,952 to 204,689 residents. The number of new residents coming into Mobile equates to about a population the size of Cullman.

Mobile’s population is now above Birmingham (197,493) and Montgomery (198,665). The city only trails fast-growing Huntsville, which has a population of 216,963.

“We’re bigger than Birmingham,” Stimpson proclaimed during a celebration at Kraver’s Seafood in west Mobile. “And we’re the second largest city in the state of Alabama.”

The additional residents was the result of three of four areas voting in support of annexation, anchored by an area called the Cottage Hill corridor filled with longtime subdivisions immediately west of the city limits. Voters within that corridor cast ballots at Creekside Church of Christ, where 1,933 voters said “Yes” to annexation, 1,066 said “No.”

Annexation was approved in two smaller areas — King’s Branch (295 “Yes”, 235 “No”) and Orchard Creek (46 “Yes” and 25 “No”).

“We are excited with the decision to serve you,” Stimpson said. “We are proud to claim you as Mobilians. It just tee’s up everyone for success. This is a springboard for us going forward.”

The only area to vote down the annexation plan was an area called the Airport Boulevard corridor, where 863 “No” votes were cast at Baker High School, to 431 “Yes” votes.

“I lived here 25 years and I moved out here to get away from the city for no particular reason,” said Robert McBride, 68, who voted at the high school on Tuesday afternoon. “I am just happy with the way things are. I’m not one for change very much.”

Stimpson said that he felt the Airport corridor “would be a challenge.” That area included 6,017 total residents. Had voters supported annexation, it would have increased the city’s overall population to over 210,000 residents.

“They are celebrating just like we are,” Stimpson said. “I know they are happy, we are happy. It’s a win-win.”

Stimpson said that residents who live in areas that voted to be annexed into the city can anticipate emergency medical services to begin “immediately.” He said by October 1, the city will provide garbage and trash services to the areas. And Stimpson said that police patrols will routinely happen within the areas.

“We will start patrolling the neighborhoods and things we can do inside the city in about a week,” Stimpson said.

The annexation vote will mean west Mobile businesses included within the new city jurisdictions will start charging a higher sales tax rate, adding an additional 5 percentage points on all sales. But residents will not see any increases in their property taxes for another five years.