Phenix City

Phenix City, Alabama
—  City  —
View of Phenix City from a plane
Location in Russell County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 32°28′22″N 85°1′12″W / 32.47278°N 85.02°W / 32.47278; -85.02Coordinates: 32°28′22″N 85°1′12″W / 32.47278°N 85.02°W / 32.47278; -85.02
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Russell
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

Phenix City is a city 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 Smith's 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 lies in the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Lee County nominal is in the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. The city is the county seat of Russell County^{[2][page needed]}. It is also a suburb immediately west of Downtown Columbus, Georgia which is just across the Chattahoochee River.

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.

History

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. 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".

In 1955, it won the All-America City Award from the National Municipal League.

Time Zone (official and observed)

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.

Media

There are three radio stations licensed to serve Phenix City: WURY-LP (97.1 FM), WGSY (100.1 FM), and WHAL (1460 AM). Also, Phenix City receives television signals from Columbus, Georgia.

In popular culture

• Ralph J. Bryant, The first black graduate of Columbus College & C.E.O of Decatur Capital Management was born and raised in Phenix City.

• The character "Maggot" from E.M. Nathanson's novel The Dirty Dozen was from Phenix City.
• The 1955 film The Phenix City Story (directed by Phil Karlson) is a biopic film noir focusing on the rampant crime and corruption in the city (then called "the wickedest city in the United States") and the 1954 murder of newly-elected Alabama Attorney General Albert Patterson.
• Ska saxophonist Rolando Alphonso of the Skatalites had a 1960s hit titled "Phenix City"
• The late recording artist Jimmie Spheeris was born in Phenix City in 1949. Also, Freddie Hart a Country singer who wrote and recorded "Phenix City" is from there.
• Gov John Malcolm Patterson (Gov of Ala 1958-61) was from Phenix City.
• The town gained attention in 1999 when Phenix City National Little League advanced to the final of the Little League World Series.
• The city is mentioned in the film Driving Miss Daisy.
• The city is mentioned as a former bootlegging city by the character played by Robert Mitchum in the film Thunder Road.

References

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Lee County, Alabama County seat: Opelika Cities Auburn | Opelika | Phenix City‡ | Smiths Station Towns Loachapoka | Notasulga‡ | Waverly‡ Unincorporated communities Beauregard | Beulah | Gold Hill | Hopewell | Marvyn | Roxana | Salem Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Russell County, Alabama County seat: Phenix City City Phenix City‡ Town Hurtsboro CDP Ladonia Unincorporated communities Fort Mitchell | Glenville | Holy Trinity | Seale Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Columbus, Georgia-Auburn, Alabama Combined Statistical Area Central Cities/Largest Cities Columbus · Auburn      Columbus, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area      Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area Cities in Georgia Bibb City · Buena Vista · Cataula · Columbus City · Cusseta · Custer Terrace · Fort Benning South · Fortson · Hamilton · Hopewell · Juniper · Midland · Mountain Hill · Mulberry Grove · Pine Mountain · Rehobeth · Ridgeway · Shiloh · Upatoi · Waverly Hall · West Point · Whitesville Cities in Alabama Beauregard · Bee Hive · Beulah · Creek Stand · Fort Mitchell · Franklin · Glenville · Gold Hill · Holy Trinity · Hurtsboro · Ladonia · Loachapoka · Marvyn · Notasulga · Opelika · Phenix City · Roxana · Salem · Seale · Shorter · Smiths Station · The Bottle · Tuskegee · Waverly Counties in Georgia Chattahoochee · Harris · Marion · Muscogee Counties in Alabama Lee · Macon · Russell

External links

• The Fall and Rise of Phenix City from The Malefactor's Register