Fairfield, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fairfield, Alabama
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Location of Fairfield in Jefferson County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Alabama | |
| County | Jefferson | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.46 sq mi (8.96 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.46 sq mi (8.96 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 666 ft (203 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,000 | |
| • Density | 2,890.17/sq mi (1,115.79/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
35064
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| Area code(s) | 205 & 659 | |
| FIPS code | 01-25120 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403587 | |
| Website | https://cityoffairfieldal.org/ | |
Fairfield is a city in western Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the larger Birmingham metropolitan area. In 2020, about 10,000 people lived there.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Fairfield
Fairfield was founded in 1910. At its dedication ceremony, former President Theodore Roosevelt was the main speaker. The city was first named Corey, after an executive from the U.S. Steel Corporation.
Later, its name was changed to Fairfield. This new name came from the city where the President of U.S. Steel lived, which was Fairfield, Connecticut. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company planned Fairfield as a special "model city." It was designed to house workers for their new Fairfield Works plant, which is now owned by U.S. Steel.
Fairfield officially became an incorporated city on January 1, 1919. In May 2020, the city faced financial challenges.
Where is Fairfield? Geography
Fairfield covers about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) of land. It does not have any large bodies of water within its city limits.
People of Fairfield: Demographics
The population of Fairfield has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 5,003 | — | |
| 1930 | 11,059 | 121.0% | |
| 1940 | 11,703 | 5.8% | |
| 1950 | 13,177 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 15,816 | 20.0% | |
| 1970 | 14,369 | −9.1% | |
| 1980 | 13,242 | −7.8% | |
| 1990 | 12,200 | −7.9% | |
| 2000 | 12,381 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 11,117 | −10.2% | |
| 2020 | 10,000 | −10.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, about 10,000 people lived in Fairfield. There were 4,441 households and 2,532 families. Most residents were Black or African American (about 94.7%). A smaller number of residents were White (2.17%) or from other racial backgrounds. About 1.59% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Learning in Fairfield: Education
Fairfield has its own school system. This system is separate from the larger Jefferson County school system. It includes three elementary schools, Forest Hills Middle School, and Fairfield High Preparatory School. There is also an alternative school for all grades.
The city is also home to Miles College. This is a historically black college that was founded in 1898. It is run by the CME Church.
Jobs and Businesses
The United States' steel-making industry has changed a lot. Even so, U.S. Steel's Fairfield Works is still a major employer in the city. While it doesn't employ as many people as it did in the 1950s, new technology allows it to produce a similar amount of steel with fewer workers.
Some parts of the Fairfield Works complex have closed over time. However, many sections have been reopened by smaller companies. Some of these new businesses are also related to steel production.
Fairfield is easy to reach because I-20 and I-59 pass through it. Three different railroads also serve the area. These include CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and the Birmingham Southern Railroad. The Birmingham Southern Railroad has its main office in Fairfield.
The city's downtown area has many small businesses. Most of these offer services to the community. Other stores are located near the Western Hills Mall. However, some larger stores like Kmart, Winn-Dixie, and Sears have closed. Walmart also closed its store in early 2016.
Famous Faces from Fairfield
Many notable people have connections to Fairfield:
- U. W. Clemon was a federal judge born in Fairfield.
- Red Cochran and Jim Tolbert were former NFL players born in Fairfield.
- Oliver W. Dillard, a retired Major General in the U.S. Army, graduated from Fairfield Industrial High School.
- Cleveland Eaton, a jazz musician who played with the Count Basie Orchestra, was born in Fairfield.
- Dennis Edwards, a singer with The Temptations, was born in Fairfield.
- Walter Gilbert is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Tim Johnson was a professional football linebacker.
- Doug Jones, a lawyer and former U.S. Senator, was born in Fairfield.
- Larry Langford, a former mayor of Fairfield and Birmingham, lived in Fairfield.
- George Lindsey, an actor known for The Andy Griffith Show, was born in Fairfield.
- James MacKay, a congressman from Georgia, was born in Fairfield.
- Spider Martin, a photographer, was born in Fairfield.
- Willie Mays, a famous baseball player, attended school in Fairfield. He played baseball, football, and basketball there.
- Demetrius Newton, a civil rights lawyer and member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
- Allene Roberts, an actress from The Red House, was born in Fairfield.
Images for kids
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A friendly robot icon.
See also
In Spanish: Fairfield (Alabama) para niños
