The City of Spanish Fort is located on the east side of Mobile Bay in Baldwin County, Alabama. It is the northernmost municipality in the area collectively referred to as the "Eastern Shore" area of Alabama.  It is situated on on the north side of Interstate 10 and overlooks Blakely River to the East. Spanish Fort also includes an entertainment and dining area along the Causeway which borders Mobile Bay, the Apalachee River and Blakely River.

The city was founded in 1993 and the population of the city as was listed at 5,423 according to the 2000 Census.

The prime retail center in Spanish Fort has been the Eastern Shore Centre - an outdoor lifestyle center that opened in 2004.  The Eastern Shore Centre is situated along I-10 at the Highway 181 exit and boasts over 320,000 SF of retail space that includes tenants such as Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Dillards, Belk, and Best Buy.

Set to open in the 2008 is Spanish Fort Town Center - which will add a second major regional retail attraction in Spanish Fort.  Spanish Fort Town Center is a mixed-use lifestyle center encompassing retail, restaurants, a hotel, and an autopark and will be anchored by a 134,000 square foot Bass Pro Shop retail center.  The approximately 1,000,000 square foot lifestyle center encompasses 257 acres and will include a Kohls, Circuit City, JC Penney and a Courtyard by Marriott.

The Highlands of Spanish Fort is an 11,076 acre master planned mixed use community by Internation Paper gained Planning and Zoning approval in early 2008. The Highlands of Spanish Fort represents the largest development in Baldwin County to date and has the planned capacity to support 28,000 homes and over 65,000 residents.

Spanish Fort was originally a French trading post and is notable for it historical significance - primarily for involvement is a number of battles.  It was attacked and destroyed by the British in 1781, but was rebuilt in 1799 and was claimed by the United States in 1814. It was an eastern defense to the city of Mobile during the American Civil War.  Spanish Fort was the site of the Battle of Spanish Fort during the American Civil War.  The battle was ultimately lost, which allowed Union forces to focus on Fort Blakely.