Lee County received the rural segment at Marvyn as compensation, which was formerly in Russell County's northwest corner. Because the consolidated city still remained divided into two counties, in 1932, the Lee County portion was moved entirely into Russell County (also cited for the redraw was to account for population shifts involved in the Auburn University opening and expansion). On August 9, 1923, Russell County's neighboring Girard (which made up most of current downtown Phenix City) and Lee County's Phenix City formally merged, keeping the name of Phenix City. The 'Our Community/History' page confirms the uncertainty behind the name: ' Although no definitive source reveals why this name was chosen.'

The city's Seal also depicts the Phoenix burning up in its nest. The City Official website displays the mythical Phoenix. Census and was incorporated as such on February 19, 1897, by the state legislature. It appeared as Phenix City on the 1890 U.S. It was not clear if it was named for Phenix Mills in adjacent Columbus, Georgia, or for the fabled bird. Within the decade, the name would be changed to Phenix (or Phenix City), although some misspellings had it as 'Phoenix'. It was formally incorporated by the legislature on February 23, 1883. Census, it was listed as both Brownville and Lively. Because residents preferred Brownville, on the 1880 U.S. To compound the confusion, the nearby railroad depot was called Knight's Station. Because a community in Tuscaloosa County already claimed the name of Brownville, the post office insisted on the name of 'Lively'. On the south side was Girard, in Russell County, and the town of Brownville, on the north side, which was entirely within Lee County. Today's Phenix City initially began as two towns bordering each other on the North and South. Union General James Wilson was met with Confederate opposition as he crossed the Chattahoochee River in an attempt to destroy the military industry of Columbus, Georgia. What some claim was the last battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Columbus took place on Apin Phenix City, then known as Girard. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Phenix City has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated 'Cfa' on climate maps. The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.8 square miles (64 km 2), of which 24.6 square miles (64 km 2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km 2) (0.61%) is water. 431 runs north to south to the west of the city, concurrent with US 280, which it follows to Opelika, and leads south 47 mi (76 km) to Eufaula.Īccording to the U.S. 280 runs through the western part of the city from northwest to southeast, leading northwest 27 mi (43 km) to Opelika and southeast into Columbus. Route 80 runs through the northern and western parts of the city, leading west 44 mi (71 km) to Tuskegee and northeast to Columbus, Georgia. Several major highways run through Phenix City, namely U.S. It is the easternmost settlement in the state of Alabama as well as the Central Time Zone, but it and some other nearby areas unofficially observe Eastern Time, as these areas are part of the metropolitan area of the considerably larger city of Columbus, Georgia, which is in the Eastern Time Zone and adjacent to the city across the Chattahoochee River to the east. The city manager, who holds the task of organizational matters, is Wallace Hunter. Lowe, the city's first black mayor elected by the public. Troy University has a satellite campus in Phenix City.Īs of 2020, the mayor is Eddie N.

It is home to Chattahoochee Valley Community College, a public, two-year college with an acceptance rate of 100%. 1 Best Affordable Suburb to raise a family. In 2007, BusinessWeek named Phenix City the nation's No. The entire city is part of the Columbus-Auburn-Opelika Combined Statistical Area. Most of Phenix City is included in the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the remainder is in Lee County and therefore included in the Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Phenix City lies immediately west across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia and observes Eastern Time on a de facto basis (in contrast to the rest of Alabama, which observes Central Time) due to Phenix City's strong economic ties to Columbus. As of the 2020 Census, the population of the city was 38,816. state of Alabama, and the county seat of Russell County. Phenix City is a city in Lee and Russell counties in the U.S.

Phoenix city