| Phenix City | |
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| — City — | |
| View of Phenix City from a plane | |
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Phenix City
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| Counties | Russell, Lee |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sonny Coulter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.8 sq mi (64.1 km2) |
| • Land | 24.6 sq mi (63.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 243 ft (74 m) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 30,067 |
| • Density | 1,139.7/sq mi (469.06/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 36867-36869 |
| Area code(s) | 334 |
| FIPS code | 01-59472 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0155193 |
| Website | http://www.phenixcityal.us |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,224 |
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| 1890 | 3,700 | 66.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,153 | 12.2% | |
| 1910 | 4,555 | 9.7% | |
| 1920 | 5,432 | 19.3% | |
| 1930 | 13,852 | 155.0% | |
| 1940 | 15,351 | 10.8% | |
| 1950 | 23,305 | 51.8% | |
| 1960 | 27,630 | 18.6% | |
| 1970 | 25,281 | −8.5% | |
| 1980 | 26,928 | 6.5% | |
| 1990 | 25,312 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 28,265 | 11.7% | |
| Est. 2007 | 30,663 | 8.5% | |
Phenix City is a city and the county seat in Russell County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Portions of Lee County are addressed as Phenix City, 36870 ZIP code, for the sole purpose that Smiths Station does not have full incorporation to annex the area. As of 2006, the population of the city was 30,067, according to Census Bureau estimates.[1]
Phenix City is sometimes called a "Hub City", as it lies immediately west of Columbus, Georgia, which is a much larger city. It is included in the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area, but a section is located in Lee County, and is, therefore, in the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Statistical Area in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Russell County[2].
In 2007, BusinessWeek named Phenix City the nation's #1 Best Affordable Suburb to raise a family.[3]
Currently, the mayor is Sonny Coulter, a local businessman, and previous mayor. The city manager, who holds the task of organizational matters is Wallace Hunter.
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Phenix City is located at (32.472822, -85.020121)[4].
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.8 square miles (64 km2), of which, 24.6 square miles (64 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (0.61%) is water.
The last true battle of the Civil War took place in Phenix City, then known as Girard.[5]
In the late 19th century, Girard made up most of current downtown Phenix City, while Phenix City was mostly in Lee County. In the early 20th century, the two towns consolidated into the present Phenix City as county lines were redrawn to account for population shifts involved in the Auburn University opening and expansion.
Phenix City was notorious during the 1940s and 1950s as being a haven for organized crime, prostitution, and gambling, the result of its proximity to the United States Army training center at Fort Benning, Georgia. The leaders of the crime syndicate in Phenix City were Jimmie Matthews and Hoyt Sheppard. Albert Patterson, from Phenix City, was elected to become attorney general of Alabama, but was brutally shot down outside his office on 14th Street. As a result, the city had a negative reputation, and many people still associate this legacy with Phenix City. The Tragedy and the Triumph of Phenix City, Alabama by Margaret Ann Barnes chronicles these events, which led to the small town to be known as "Sin City, USA". The bordertown was the subject of an acclaimed film, The Phenix City Story, made in 1955.
In 1955, it won the All-America City Award from the National Municipal League.
Phenix City is home to many Christian churches. The denominations are as follows:[6]
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 28,265 people, 11,517 households, and 7,566 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,149.1 people per square mile (443.6/km²). There were 13,250 housing units at an average density of 538.7 per square mile (208.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.94% White, 44.97% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,517 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,720, and the median income for a family was $33,740. Males had a median income of $28,906 versus $21,348 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,619. About 18.8% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 20.6% of those age 65 or over.
In the city, the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
Although Alabama is legally part of the Central Time Zone, Phenix City's proximity to the larger city of Columbus, Georgia means that Phenix City and areas within a 10-15 mile radius (such as Smiths Station, Alabama) observe Eastern Time on a de facto basis, including the Phenix City municipal government.
Phenix City also receives all major television networks and radio stations from nearby Columbus, Georgia. There are, however, three radio stations licensed in Phenix City: WURY-LP (97.1 FM), WGSY (100.1 FM), and WHAL (1460 AM).
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