Blakeley is one of the oldest towns in Alabama. In its prime, it was one of the largest cities in Alabama, and a commercial rival to the city of Mobile, just across the bay. Blakely once boasted numerous businesses, homes, a newspaper and one of the earliest steamboat construction facilities in the state. Blakeley's descent began in the late 1820's brought on from a combination of economic factors and recurring epidemics of yellow fever, which obliterated the city's population. After the Civil War, Blakeley was essentially abandoned. Today, Historic Blakeley State Park is located within the scenic Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and is one of the largest and most diverse attractions within the Gulf Coast region.