Fyffe, Alabama Facts for Kids

Fyffe is a small town located in DeKalb County, Alabama, in the United States. It became an official town in 1956. According to the 2020 census, about 967 people lived there. Fyffe is built on top of a place called Sand Mountain.

History of Fyffe
Geography and Location
Population and People
Town Government
Education in Fyffe
- Sports Achievements
Arts and Culture
Notable People from Fyffe
See also

History of Fyffe

Fyffe was started in the 1880s. No one is quite sure where the name "Fyffe" came from. It seems the Postal Service suggested it when a post office opened there. A high school was built in 1917, not long after the town began.

In 1959, Fyffe hosted a special event called the National Sacred Harp Singing Convention. This gathering brought together many Sacred Harp musicians from the area. A famous music expert named Alan Lomax recorded many of their performances.

On April 27, 2011, a very strong tornado, known as an EF5 tornado, hit Fyffe. It first touched down in Lakeview, damaging small buildings and breaking trees. The tornado grew stronger as it moved, causing serious damage to homes and buildings. It then continued on to Rainsville, where it caused even more destruction.

Geography and Location

Fyffe is located at coordinates 34.446899 degrees North and 85.906590 degrees West. The town is found along State Route 75. It is southwest of Rainsville and Shiloh. Fyffe is also close to the eastern edge of Sand Mountain.

The U.S. Census Bureau states that the town covers about 4.4 square miles (11.4 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1960	230	—
1970	311	35.2%
1980	1,305	319.6%
1990	1,094	−16.2%
2000	971	−11.2%
2010	1,018	4.8%
2020	967	−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate

In 2010, Fyffe had a population of 1,018 people living in 418 households. Most of the people were non-Hispanic white (93.7%). There were also small percentages of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, there were 971 people living in Fyffe. The town had 411 households, with 286 of them being families. About 30.2% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.36 people. The average family had 2.84 people.

The median age in Fyffe in 2000 was 37 years old. About 23.9% of the population was under 18. About 17.2% of the population was 65 or older.

Town Government

Fyffe has a Mayor/Council form of government. This means the town is led by a mayor and a group of council members.

Education in Fyffe

Fyffe is home to Fyffe High School, whose sports teams are known as the "Red Devils." The school is part of the DeKalb County School System. For the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, Fyffe High School is classified as a 3A school. The current Principal is Tim McCollum.

Sports Achievements

The Fyffe High School football team is very successful. They have won many state championships. These wins happened in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. The team is led by Coach Paul Benefield. Many people see them as one of the most dominant teams in Alabama's Class 2A history.

The Fyffe High School basketball team also won a state championship in 2021. That team was led by Coach Neil Thrash, who has since retired. Fyffe High School's cheerleading teams have also been very strong. They won 11 state championships in both 2A and 3A categories between 2012 and 2023.

The girls' varsity basketball team was very dominant in the late 1980s and 1990s. Under Coach Mike Cochran, they won state championships in 1986, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2000.

Arts and Culture

Fyffe became famous for UFO sightings on February 11 and 12, 1989. More than 50 people called the Fyffe Police Department to report seeing strange things in the sky. At that time, the town had fewer than two thousand residents. The late comedian Bill Hicks even mentioned these sightings in his album "Relentless."

To remember these events, Fyffe hosts an annual UFO (Unforgettable Family Outing) Festival every August. The festival offers hot air balloon rides for everyone to enjoy. It also features live music and outdoor games, making it a fun event for families.

Notable People from Fyffe

Lowell Barron – An Alabama state senator.
Vestal Goodman – A Southern Gospel music artist and a founding member of the Happy Goodman Family.
Charlie Long – A former professional football player.
Frank O. Slater – A Navy sailor who died in World War 2. The ship USS Slater was named in his honor.
Bobby Wood – A Tennessee state representative.

Fyffe, Alabama facts for kids

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