View source for Fairfield, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Other uses|Fairfield (disambiguation){{!}}Fairfield}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fairfield, Alabama
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = "An Older City Moving in a New Direction"
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Fairfield, Alabama.png
|image_map                = File:Jefferson County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fairfield Highlighted 0125120.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Fairfield in Jefferson County, Alabama.
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Alabama]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Eddie Penny<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carol |first1=Robinson |title=Fairfield mayor ousted from office |url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2019/02/fairfield-mayor-ousted-from-office-city-council-president-sworn-in-as-mayor.html |access-date=February 28, 2020 |work=Advance Local |date=February 13, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.46
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.46
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 666
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 10000
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 2890.17
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|28|36|N|86|55|0|W|region:US-AL|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 35064
|area_codes                = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205 & 659]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 01-25120
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403587<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403587}}</ref>
|website                  = https://cityoffairfieldal.org/
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 8.96
|area_land_km2 = 8.96
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|population_density_km2 = 1115.79
}}

'''Fairfield''' is a city in western [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson County]], [[Alabama]], United States. It is part of the [[Birmingham, Alabama, metropolitan area|Birmingham metropolitan area]] and is located southeast of [[Pleasant Grove, Alabama|Pleasant Grove]]. The population was 10,000 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Fairfield is home to [[Miles College]], a [[historically black college]] enrolling over 1,100 students.<ref>{{cite web |title=College Navigator - Miles College |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=miles&s=all&id=101675 |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |website=nces.ed.gov}}</ref>

==History==
This city was founded in 1910 in which the featured speaker at the dedication ceremony was former President [[Theodore Roosevelt]]. It was originally named Corey, after [[William Ellis Corey|the President of U.S. Steel Corporation]]. Corey departed U.S. Steel under a cloud of scandal, and the town's name was later changed to the city in which his successor as president lived, [[Fairfield, Connecticut]]. It was planned as a model city by the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] to house workers in their new Fairfield Works plant, now owned by [[U.S. Steel]], similar to its northeastern city of [[Ensley (Birmingham)|Ensley]].

It was incorporated on January 1, 1919.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3142|title=Fairfield|website=Encyclopedia of Alabama}}</ref>

In May 2020, the city entered [[bankruptcy]]. Jefferson County had declared bankruptcy in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fairfield files bankruptcy citing millions in debt |url=https://www.cullmantimes.com/news/fairfield-files-bankruptcy-citing-millions-in-debt/article_4deddc48-9aaf-11ea-a844-1757a8b87ba2.html |access-date=May 21, 2020 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=The Cullman Times |date=May 20, 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.5|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 5003
|1930= 11059
|1940= 11703
|1950= 13177
|1960= 15816
|1970= 14369
|1980= 13242
|1990= 12200
|2000= 12381
|2010= 11117
|2020= 10000
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Fairfield racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0125120&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|217
|2.17%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|9,474
|94.74%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|7
|0.07%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|8
|0.08%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|3
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|132
|1.32%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|159
|1.59%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 10,000 people, 4,441 households, and 2,532 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 11,117 people, 4,229 households, and 2,738 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|3,176.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,935 housing units at an average density of 1,410 per square mile (536.4/,/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 94.6% Black or African American, 4.2% White,  0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,229 households 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.3% were married couples living together, 31.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 32.7% of households were one person and 12.4% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.10.

The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 14.3% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% 65 or older.  The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median household income was $34,242 and the median family income  was $41,841. Males had a median income of $34,854 versus $29,788 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,221. About 22.2% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 40.5% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 12,381 people, 4,600 households, and 3,141 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|3,503.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 4,960 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,403.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 8.90% White, 90.23% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races.  0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,600 households 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 28.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.2% of households were one person and 12.0% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.17.

The age distribution was 26.7% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% 65 or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median household income was $27,845 and the median family income  was $38,552. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $25,143 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,607.  About 16.5% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 25.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Fairfield has its own school system, independent from Jefferson County. The system includes three [[elementary school]]s, Forest Hills [[Middle School]], [[Fairfield High Preparatory School]] (formerly Fairfield High School), and an alternative all-grades school.

The city is also home to [[Miles College]], a [[historically black college]] operated by the [[CME Church]]. The school was founded in 1898.

==Industry and business==
[[File:U. S. Steel Fairfield Works in Fairfield, Alabama.jpg|thumb|Main entrance to the [[U.S. Steel]] Fairfield Works]]
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Though the [[United States]]' steel-making industry has gone through a decline through the last half of the 20th century, U.S. Steel's Fairfield Works continues to be a major employer, though not in the levels seen around the 1950s. Advances in steel-making technology have enabled the works to produce roughly the same amount of product as during that era, but with a much smaller workforce.

Portions of the works have been closed over the years, but many parts of the complex have been reopened by smaller industries, some of which are steel-related.

Fairfield is traversed by [[Interstate 20|I-20]]/[[I-59]]. Three railroads serve the area: [[CSX Transportation]] (former [[Louisville and Nashville Railroad]]), [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] (former [[Southern Railway (US)|Southern Railway]]), and short-line [[Birmingham Southern Railroad]], which is headquartered in Fairfield.

The city's downtown area features a number of small businesses, primarily service-related. Other retail businesses are concentrated along Aronov Drive, northwest of Western Hills Mall, though those [[strip mall]]s have declined due to closures of [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]], [[Winn-Dixie (supermarket)|Winn-Dixie]], and [[Sears]] locations. Walmart shut its doors in early 2016. All public bus transportation was terminated in July 2016 for failure to pay the bill. The water board has threatened to cut off all water to public buildings because of non payment. On May 20, 2020, the city of Fairfield filed for bankruptcy.

===Western Hills Mall===
{{main|Western Hills Mall}}
Western Hills Mall is the city's major shopping mall.

==Notable people==
* [[U. W. Clemon]], federal judge who was born in Fairfield.
* [[Red Cochran]] and [[Jim Tolbert]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] players were born in Fairfield.
* [[Oliver W. Dillard]], Major General US Army Retired, graduated from the Fairfield Industrial High School
* [[Cleveland Eaton]], Jazz musician with the [[Count Basie Orchestra]] was born in Fairfield.
* [[Dennis Edwards]], singer with [[The Temptations]], was born in Fairfield.
* [[Walter Gilbert (American football)|Walter Gilbert]], member of the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].
* [[Tim Johnson (linebacker)|Tim Johnson]], former professional football [[linebacker]].
* [[Doug Jones (politician)|Doug Jones]], lawyer, United States Attorney and Senator. Born in Fairfield.
* [[Larry Langford]], former Fairfield Mayor, Jefferson County Commission President, and mayor of Birmingham]] resided in Fairfield.
* [[George Lindsey]], actor in ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]'') was born in Fairfield.
* [[James MacKay (Georgia politician)|James MacKay]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and congressman was born in Fairfield.
* [[Spider Martin]], photographer was born in Fairfield.
* [[Willie Mays]], attended school in Fairfield played [[baseball]], [[American football|football]], and [[basketball]].
*[[Demetrius Newton]], [[civil rights]] lawyer and member of the [[Alabama House of Representatives]].
* [[Allene Roberts]], actress, ''[[The Red House (film)|The Red House]]'', was born in Fairfield.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100201223741/http://www.fairfieldmainstreet.org/ Fairfield Main Street Inc]
*{{HAER |survey=AL-110 |id=al1002 |title=City of Fairfield, Fairfield, Jefferson County, AL |photos=4 |color= |dwgs= |data=8 |cap=1}}

{{Jefferson County, Alabama}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Fairfield, Alabama|*]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]
[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Jefferson County, Alabama]]
[[Category:Planned communities in the United States]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]
[[Category:Company towns in Alabama]]
[[Category:Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Alabama]]