Phenix City

Phenix City sits on the western bank of the Chattahoochee River at 74 meters elevation, facing Columbus, Georgia. The town has about 38,800 residents and lies partly in Russell County and partly in Lee County.

The settlement received its first official status in 1883 as Brownville and changed its name six years later to Phenix City. In 1954 the murder of lawyer Albert Patterson triggered a government intervention and eventually cleaned up the corrupt city administration.

The name recalls the Phoenix Mills across the river in Georgia, which once shaped the economic life of the region. Today a bridge connects both sides, and residents of both towns share shopping, jobs and recreation across the state line.

The river separates Alabama from Georgia, and several bridges lead directly over to Columbus, where most shops and services are located. On the ground there are branches of Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Troy University for further education.

On April 16, 1865, the last battle of the Civil War east of the Mississippi took place here when Union forces captured the town. This fight occurred one week after Robert E. Lee's surrender in Virginia.

Location: Russell County

Location: Lee County

Inception: February 23, 1883

Elevation above the sea: 74 m

Shares border with: Albany

Website: https://phenixcityal.us

GPS coordinates: 32.47278,-85.02000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:43