Fairhope is a city in
Baldwin CountyBaldwin County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Abraham Baldwin, a member of the United States Senate who never actually lived in what would become Alabama. As of 2000 the population is 140,415 . The estimated 2006 population from the U.S. Census Bureau is 169,162....
,
AlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its...
, on a sloping plateau, along the cliffs and shoreline of
Mobile BayMobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
. The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 12,480.
Fairhope is a principal city of the
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan areaDaphne-Fairhope-Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Baldwin County, the largest county by area in Alabama, which is located in the Mobile Bay region. As of 2007, the population was 171,769...
, which includes all of Baldwin County.
Fairhope is located at 30°31'35.018" North, 87°53'44.473" West (30.526394, -87.895687).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of which is land.
Its elevation is .
Fairhope was founded in November, 1894 on the site of former Alabama City as a
utopiaUtopia is a name for an ideal community or society, that is taken from Of the Best State of a Republic, and of the New Island Utopia, a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing a seemingly perfect socio-politico-legal system...
n single tax colony by the "Fairhope Industrial Association": a group of 28 followers of economist
Henry GeorgeHenry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "Single Tax" on land...
who had incorporated earlier that year in
Des Moines, IowaDes Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
.
Fairhope is a city in
Baldwin CountyBaldwin County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Abraham Baldwin, a member of the United States Senate who never actually lived in what would become Alabama. As of 2000 the population is 140,415 . The estimated 2006 population from the U.S. Census Bureau is 169,162....
,
AlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its...
, on a sloping plateau, along the cliffs and shoreline of
Mobile BayMobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
. The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 12,480.
Fairhope is a principal city of the
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley micropolitan areaDaphne-Fairhope-Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Baldwin County, the largest county by area in Alabama, which is located in the Mobile Bay region. As of 2007, the population was 171,769...
, which includes all of Baldwin County.
Geography
Fairhope is located at 30°31'35.018" North, 87°53'44.473" West (30.526394, -87.895687).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of which is land.
Its elevation is .
History
Fairhope was founded in November, 1894 on the site of former Alabama City as a
utopiaUtopia is a name for an ideal community or society, that is taken from Of the Best State of a Republic, and of the New Island Utopia, a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing a seemingly perfect socio-politico-legal system...
n single tax colony by the "Fairhope Industrial Association": a group of 28 followers of economist
Henry GeorgeHenry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "Single Tax" on land...
who had incorporated earlier that year in
Des Moines, IowaDes Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. Their corporate constitution explained their purpose in founding a new colony:
- "to establish and conduct a model community or colony, free from all forms of private monopoly, and to secure to its members therein equality of opportunity, the full reward of individual efforts, and the benefits of co-operation in matters of general concern."
In forming their demonstration project, they pooled their funds to purchase land at "Stapleton's pasture" on the eastern shore of
Mobile BayMobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
and then divided it into a number of long-term leaseholds. The corporation paid all governmental taxes from rents paid by the lessees, thus simulating a single-tax. The purpose of the single-tax colony was to eliminate disincentives for productive use of land and thereby retain the value of land for the community.
"Fairhope Avenue" was one of the properties on the 1910 version of the board game "
The Landlord's GameThe Landlord's Game is a board game patented in 1904 by Elizabeth Magie. It is a realty and taxation game, similar to Monopoly. Though many similar home-made games were played at the beginning of the 20th century and some predate The Landlord's Game, it is the first of its kind to have an attested...
".
In 1907 educator
Marietta JohnsonMarietta Johnson , educational reformer, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1864 and moved with her family to Fairhope, Alabama in 1907. There she would become famous as the founder of the progressive school which she called The School of Organic Education, now The Marietta Johnson School of...
founded the
School for Organic Education in Fairhope. The school was praised in
John DeweyJohn Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been very influential. Dewey, along with Charles Sanders Peirce and William James, is recognized as one of the founders of the philosophy of pragmatism and of functional psychology...
's influential 1915 book
Schools of Tomorrow. Dewey and Johnson were founding members of the Progressive Education Association.
Fairhope became a popular wintering spot for artists and intellectuals.
Sherwood AndersonSherwood Anderson was an American writer, mainly of short stories, most notably the collection Winesburg, Ohio...
,
Wharton EsherickWharton Esherick was a sculptor who worked primarily in wood. He reveled in applying the principles of sculpture to common utilitarian objects. Consequently he is best known for his sculptural furniture and furnishings...
, Carl Zigrosser, and
Upton SinclairUpton Sinclair, Jr. , was a Pulitzer Prize-winning prolific American author who wrote over 90 books in many genres. He achieved considerable popularity in the first half of the 20th century, gaining particular fame for his 1906 muckraking novel The Jungle. The book...
were among its notable visitors.
The Fairhope Single-Tax Corporation still operates, with 1,800 leaseholds covering more than in and around the current city of Fairhope. Despite the ideals of the corporation, the process of land speculation has propelled the transformation of Fairhope from utopian experiment to artist's and intellectual's colony, to boutique resort and affluent suburb of
MobileMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern U.S. state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 198,915 during the 2000 census...
. In fact, some local residents refer to Fairhope as "Carmel-by-the-Bay" alluding to Carmel-by-the-Sea on the
Monterey PeninsulaThe Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the private community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...
in
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
.
For over 50 years, fishermen and residents of Fairhope have experienced the "jubilee" phenomenon. During a
jubileeJubilee is the name used locally for a natural phenomenon that occurs sporadically on the shores of Mobile Bay, a large body of water on Alabama's Gulf Coast. During a jubilee many species of crab and shrimp, as well as flounder, eels, and other demersal fish will leave deeper waters and swarm—in...
along the shores of
Mobile BayMobile Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, lying within the state of Alabama in the United States. Its mouth is formed by the Fort Morgan Peninsula on the eastern side and Dauphin Island, a barrier island on the western side. The Mobile River and Tensaw River empty into the northern end of the...
, some aquatic animals, including
blue crabCrabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax.Crabs have a soft body covered with a hard shell. They are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, and armed with a...
s,
flounderFlounder is an ocean-dwelling flatfish species that is located off the Canadian and U.S. east coast of the Northern Atlantic, and the Pacific Ocean, in coastal lagoons and estuaries.-Taxonomy:...
,
stingrayThe stingrays are a family—Dasyatidae—of rays, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world, but the family also includes species found in warmer temperate oceans such as Dasyatis thetidis, and species entirely...
s, and
eelTrue eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 19 families, 110 genera and approximately 600 species. Most eels are predators...
s, come to the shallow water, such as around Fairhope, Alabama. At those times, it is possible to catch the fish, crabs, and other sealife near the water's edge.
A nearby attraction known as the Weeks Bay Nature Reserve is known for the many oaks, wildlife and pitcher plants along the elevated walkways through the swamp forest.
The Bell Building on the
Faulkner State Community CollegeFaulkner State Community College is a two-year public college located in Baldwin County, Alabama established in 1965. Faulkner State has three locations. The administrative campus is located in Bay Minette, Alabama...
campus currently houses the Marietta Johnson Museum and Fairhope Historical Museum. Fairhope is currently in the process of building a historic museum that will be located in the near center of downtown where the city hall was once located.
Government
Fairhope is governed by a Mayor and five person city council. The mayor serves as the full time city executive while council members serve part time.
Mayor: Tim Kant
Councilmembers:
- Debbie Quinn
- Lonnie L. Mixon
- Rick Kingrea
- Dan Stankoski
- Mike Ford
Development
Recent growth in the area has created growing pains for the city. Real estate developers are currently building commercial facilities in the downtown area that are larger than have been historically allowed and without having to allocate for parking and other impact needs.
In
July, 2007July 2007 is the seventh month of that year. It began on a Sunday and 31 days later, ended on a Tuesday.- International holidays :* July 1 - Canada Day * July 1 - July Morning * July 1 - Republic Day...
,
Wal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to the 2008 Fortune Global 500. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and...
opened a store just beyond the city limits. Original plans for a store within the city limits was blocked by residents seeking to protect Fairhope's small town image. The new store employs 400 people, 350 of whom are from Fairhope.
Building and zoning ordinances overlap with those of Baldwin County and some residents complain there is little accountability from zoning officials. Residents of the city want more control of construction projects near, but still outside, the city limits while residents outside the city limits want less city control of their property.
Climate
Fairhope has a
humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters. This climate type covers a broad category of climates, and the term "subtropical" may be a misnomer for the winter climate....
. It experiences hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, with average high temperatures ranging from 90°F (31.7 C) in the summer to 59°F (15 C) high during winter.
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
Average high
°F (°C) |
59 (15) |
63 (17) |
70 (21) |
77 (26) |
83 (28) |
89 (32) |
90 (32) |
89 (32) |
87 (30) |
79 (27) |
70 (21) |
62 (17) |
76.4 (24.6) |
Average low
°F (°C) |
39
(4) |
41 (5) |
49 (9) |
56 (13) |
63 (17) |
70 (21) |
72 (22) |
72 (22) |
68 (20) |
56 (13) |
49 (9) |
42 (5) |
56.3 (13.5) |
| Average rainfall: inches/mm |
5 /
127 |
6.1
155 |
6.1
155 |
4.1
104 |
5.4
137 |
6.6
168 |
7.3
185 |
6.7
170 |
5.7
145 |
3.2
81 |
4.2
107 |
4.9
124 |
65.1 /
1654 |
Source: weatherbase.com
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 12,480 people, 5,345 households, and 3,575 families residing in the city. Its
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was . There were 6,000 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.22%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 7.79%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.62%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,345 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.
21.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,913, and the median income for a family was $56,976. Males had a median income of $41,692 versus $27,959 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $25,237. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Fairhope's public schools are part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system.
- Fairhope High School
Fairhope High School is a public secondary school located in Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope High School is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system...
(9-12), 1,142 students, Principal Beverly Thomas. Fairhope High School is located in the southern most part of Fairhope. It is estimated that 39% of the city of Fairhope's high school age students attend Daphne High SchoolDaphne High School is a secondary school located in Daphne, Alabama. The school, which serves grades 9-12, is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools district. Students at the school live in the city of Daphne and its surrounding unincorporated areas and the city of Loxley...
that is north of Fairhope.
- Fairhope Middle School (6-8), 642 students, Principal Deadra Powe.
- J. Larry Newton School (K-8), 731 students, Principal Suellen Brazil.( In Barnwell, AL )
- Fairhope Intermediate School (4-5), 397 students, Principal Gartrell Austin Agee.
- Fairhope Elementary School (2-3), 278 students, Principal Terry E. Beasley.
- Fairhope K-1 Center (K-1), 459 students, Principal Pat Carlton.
Other schools in Fairhope include:
- Baldwin County Alternative School (6-12)
- The Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education continues to operate as a private school for with approximately 51 students as of July 2007. The school offers education to life groups that traditionally span 1st through 8th grades.
- Faulkner State Community College
Faulkner State Community College is a two-year public college located in Baldwin County, Alabama established in 1965. Faulkner State has three locations. The administrative campus is located in Bay Minette, Alabama...
has a campus in Fairhope that provides adult educationAdult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. This often happens in the workplace, through 'extension' or 'continuing education' courses at secondary schools, at a college or university. Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning...
, undergraduate courses, non-credit and community service programs.
- The University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama...
has a branch campus in Fairhope providing graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses in education, counseling, nursing and business alongside non-credit and community service programs.
Notable residents
- Dave Stapleton, former professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox
- Marietta Johnson, educator and reformer
- Bob Baumhower, football player (Miami Dolphins)
- Blanche Simmons, educator and music legend (Educators Hall of Fame)
- Marshall Chapman, songwriter and musician
- Terry Cline, author
- Ernest B. Gaston, founder of Fairhope
- Marie Howland, utopian and journalist
- Anna Braune, children's book author and illustrator
- Upton Sinclair (winter visitor), author (The Jungle)
- Winston Groom, author (Forrest Gump)
- Rick Bragg, author *Rick Bragg, author
- Judith Richards, author
- Dave Edwards (musician), Member of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, saxophone/reeds (1968-1979)
- W.C. Majors, football coach, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
- Leon Lett, football player (Dallas Cowboys)
- Watt Key, author of Alabama Moon
- Don Andrews, AWS, Don Andrews, Artist (watercolor) and Author
- W.E.B. Griffin aka William E. Butterworth, author
- Gregory Brown, guitarist and songwriter.
- Jack Normand, pianist-musician, band leader at Grand Hotel 50 years; recorded "On Mobile Bay" and many others
- Fannie Flagg, author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, actress in the movie Grease and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
- Willie Bean Roscoe P Coltrane, political satire icon
Further reading
- Dian Arnold (1999) "Fairhope: A Sentimental Review." link
- Paul E. and Blanche R. Alyea. (1956) "Fairhope, 1894-1954: The Story of a Single Tax Colony." Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
- Paul M. Gaston. (1984) Women of Fair Hope. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. Black Belt Press, 1993.
- Paul M. Gaston. (1993) Man and Mission: E. B. Gaston and the Origins of the Fairhope Single Tax Colony. Montgomery, Alabama: Black Belt Press.
- Paul M. Gaston. (2004) "My Yellow Ribbon Town: A Meditation on My Country and My Home." in Where We Stand: Voices of Southern Dissent. Montgomery, Alabama: New South Books. link
- Paul M. Gaston. (1985) "Gaston, Ernest Berry." in "Alden Whitman, ed., "American Reformers. New York: The H.W. Wilson Co.
- Mary Lois Timbes and Robert E. Bell. (2001) "Meet Me at the Butterfly Tree: A Fairhope Memoir." Fairhope: Over the Transom.
External links