Fairhope is a city in

Baldwin County, Alabama Baldwin County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, on the Gulf coast. It is one of only two counties in Alabama that border the Gulf of Mexico, along with Mobile County. As of the 2020 census, the popul ...

, United States, located on the eastern

shoreline A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...

Mobile Bay Mobile Bay ( ) is a shallow 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. T ...

. The population was 22,477 at the 2020 census. Fairhope is a principal city of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan area, which includes all of Baldwin County.

History

Fairhope was founded on November 15, 1894, on the site of the former Alabama City as a

Georgist Georgism, in modern times also called Geoism, and known historically as the single tax movement, is an economic ideology holding that people should own the value that they produce themselves, while the economic rent derived from land—includ ...

"Single-Tax" colony by the Fairhope Industrial Association, a group of 28 followers of economist

Henry George Henry George (September 2, 1839 – October 29, 1897) was an American political economist, Social philosophy, social philosopher and journalist. His writing was immensely popular in 19th-century America and sparked several reform movements of ...

who had incorporated earlier that year in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

. Their corporate constitution explained their purpose in founding a new colony: In forming their demonstration project, they pooled their funds to purchase land at "Stapleton's pasture" on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay 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 Game ''The Landlord's Game'' is a board game patented in 1904 by Elizabeth Magie as . A realty and taxation game intended to educate users about Georgism, it is the inspiration for the 1935 board game ''Monopoly (game), Monopoly''. History file:Boa ...

'', a precursor of ''Monopoly''. In 1907, educator Marietta Johnson founded the School for Organic Education in Fairhope. The school was praised in

John Dewey John Dewey (; October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and Education reform, educational reformer. He was one of the most prominent American scholars in the first half of the twentieth century. The overridi ...

'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 Anderson Sherwood Anderson (September 13, 1876 – March 8, 1941) was an American novelist and short story writer, known for subjective and self-revealing works. Self-educated, he rose to become a successful copywriter and business owner in Cleveland and ...

Clarence Darrow Clarence Seward Darrow (; April 18, 1857 – March 13, 1938) was an American lawyer who became famous in the 19th century for high-profile representations of trade union causes, and in the 20th century for several criminal matters, including the ...

Wharton Esherick Wharton Esherick (July 15, 1887 – May 6, 1970) was an American artist and designer. An artistic polymath, he worked in a wide variety of art media including painting, printmaking, and sculpture. His design works range from architectural int ...

, Carl Zigrosser, and

Upton Sinclair Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. (September 20, 1878 – November 25, 1968) was an American author, muckraker journalist, and political activist, and the 1934 California gubernatorial election, 1934 Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

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 town has transitioned from utopian experiment to artists' and intellectuals' colony to boutique resort and affluent suburb of Mobile.

White flight The white flight, also known as white exodus, is the sudden or gradual large-scale migration of white people from areas becoming more racially or ethnoculturally diverse. Starting in the 1950s and 1960s, the terms became popular in the Racism ...

from nearby Mobile has caused the population of Baldwin County to almost triple since the 1940s, and particularly since desegregation, contributing to the mostly-White demographics of Daphne, Fairhope, and Spanish Fort. In 2019 the

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

termed Fairhope to be "A Southern Town That’s Been Holding On to Its Charm, for More Than a Century".

Geography

Fairhope is located on the shore of Mobile Bay. It is located south of

Daphne Daphne (; ; , , ), a figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater. There are several versions of the myth in which she appears, but t ...

and south of Spanish Fort. U.S. Route 98 (Greeno Road) runs north–south through the city. It lies on a sloping plateau. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which 0.019 square mile (0.05 km²), or 0.16%, is water. Its elevation ranges from sea level at the bay to in the city center.

Climate

Fairhope has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

. It experiences hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, with average temperatures ranging from in the summer to during winter.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 22,477 people, 7,790 households, and 5,606 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 15,326 people, 6,732 households, and 4,395 families residing in the city. Its

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 7,659 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 91.1%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 6.2%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.0%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.9% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. There were 6,732 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84. 21.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $66,157, and the median income for a family was $93,549. Males had a median income of $60,591 versus $36,218 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $35,086. About 5.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Fairhope is governed by a mayor and five-person city council which was last elected in 2016. The mayor serves as the full-time city executive, while council members serve part-time. Mayor: Sherry Sullivan.
Council members: * Jack Burrell * Corey Martin * Jimmy Conyers * Robert Brown * Kevin Boone

Development

Local and national real estate developers have built commercial facilities in the downtown area that are larger than have been historically allowed. Fairhope's building and

zoning ordinance In urban planning, zoning is a method in which a municipality or other tier of government divides land into land-use "zones", each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from other zones. Zones may be defined for ...

s overlap with those of Baldwin County.

Education

Fairhope's public schools are part of the Baldwin County Public Schools system: * Fairhope High School (9–12) – 1,575 students, Principal Jon Cardwell. Fairhope High School is located in the southernmost part of Fairhope. It is estimated that 39% of the city of Fairhope's high school age students attend

Daphne High School Daphne High School is a secondary school located in Daphne, Alabama, United States. The school, which serves grades 9- 12, is a part of the Baldwin County Public Schools district. Students who attend the school live in the city of Daphne, its ...

that is north of Fairhope. * Fairhope Middle School (7–8) – 802 students, Principal Angie Hall * J. Larry Newton School (K–6) – 769 students, Principal Patrice Krueger, ( Barnwell, Alabama) * Fairhope West Elementary School (K-6) – 1,011 students, Principal * Fairhope East Elementary School (K-6) – 725 students, Principal Other schools in Fairhope include: * The Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education – continues to operate as a private school with 19 students as of 2023. The school offers education to life groups that traditionally span 1st through 8th grades. * St. Michael Catholic High School – beginning in 2016 with grades 9–12, adding a grade each year thereafter for a total enrollment 356 * Bayshore Christian School – beginning in 2002 with Kindergarten, adding a grade each year thereafter, currently offering PreK-12th grade for a total enrollment 435 * Faulkner State Community College – has a campus in Fairhope that provides

adult education Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained educating activities in order to gain new knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralph G. ''The Pr ...

, undergraduate courses, non-credit and community service programs * The

University of South Alabama The University of South Alabama (USA) is a public research university in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in May 1963 and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alaba ...

– 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

Transportation

Countywide

dial-a-ride Demand-responsive transport (DRT), also known as demand-responsive transit, demand-responsive service,
US National Trans ...

transit service is provided by BRATS, the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System.

Notable people

* Maude Balln, civil rights activist * Pinky Bass, photographer * Bob Baumhower, football player and businessman * Rick Bragg, writer *

Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapis ...

, singer and songwriter * Grayson Capps, singer songwriter * Eugenia S. Chapman, educator and Illinois state representative * Dave Edwards, musician *

Grant Enfinger Grant McArthur Enfinger (born January 22, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado#Fourth-generation Silverado / fifth-generation S ...

, professional race car driver *

Fannie Flagg Fannie Flagg (born Patricia Neal; September 21, 1944) is an American actress, comedian, and author. She is best known as a semi-regular panelist on the 1973–1982 versions of the game show ''Match Game'' and for the 1987 novel '' Fried Green To ...

(Patricia Neal), author and actress * Abbi Glines, writer * Winston Groom, novelist (''

Forrest Gump ''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. An adaptation of the Forrest Gump (novel), 1986 novel by Winston Groom, the screenplay of the film is written by Eric Roth. It stars Tom Hanks in the title rol ...

'') * Fred Nall Hollis (Nall), artist * Marie Howland, 19th century utopian and journalist * Marietta Johnson, educator and reformer * David King, former NFL defensive back *

Leon Lett Leon Lett Jr. (born October 12, 1968) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. Lett played college ...

, football player * Dean Mosher, artist, author and historian * George M. Murray, bishop in the Episcopal Church * Burton Ritchie, entrepreneur *

Philip Rivers Philip Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football for the ...

, former NFL quarterback * Janie Shores, Alabama Supreme Court justice * Anis Shorrosh (1933–2018), Palestinian Evangelical Christian author, speaker, and pastor * Eddie Stanky, former Major League Baseball player and manager * Dave Stapleton, former baseball player * Thompson Square, country music duo * Bill Varney, film sound editor * Bob Weltlich, former college basketball coach *

References

External links

City of Fairhope -- Official Website
* {{Authority control 1894 establishments in Alabama Beaches of Alabama Cities in Alabama Cities in Baldwin County, Alabama Georgist communities Populated coastal places in Alabama Populated places established in 1894 Utopian communities in the United States