Fort Payne, Alabama

Fort Payne is a city in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 14,877.[3] The city is the county seat of DeKalb County. The city calls itself the "Official Sock Capital of the World."

Fort Payne, Alabama
Gault Avenue in downtown Fort Payne
Gault Avenue in downtown Fort Payne
Nickname: 
Official Sock Capital of the World
Location of Fort Payne in DeKalb County, Alabama.
Location of Fort Payne in DeKalb County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 34°27′13″N 85°42′23″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyDeKalb
Area
  Total56.76 sq mi (147.01 km2)
  Land56.41 sq mi (146.09 km2)
  Water0.35 sq mi (0.92 km2)
Elevation1,079 ft (329 m)
Population
  Total14,877
  Density264/sq mi (102/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
35967-35968
Area code256
FIPS code01-27616
GNIS feature ID2403645[2]
Websitewww.fortpayne.org

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred here in 2003.[4]

Local Attractions

Little River Canyon, just outside Fort Payne city limits.
National Park Service photo

Fort Payne has the headquarters for the nearby Little River Canyon National Preserve, a 14000 acre National Park Service facility. The canyon itself is at Lookout Mountain outside the city limits. Another attraction is DeSoto State Park, a smaller facility with a lodge, restaurant, cabins, and river access areas.

Education

Fort Payne is served by the Fort Payne City Schools system which includes:

  • Wills Valley Elementary (K-2)
  • Williams Avenue Elementary (3-4)
  • Fort Payne Middle School (5-8)
  • Fort Payne High School (9-12)

Fort Payne is also served by the Northeast Alabama Community College which is in Rainsville.

Health care

  • DeKalb Regional Medical Center- 134 bed facility

Media

  • Radio stations
    • WFPA-AM 1400 (News/Talk)
    • WZOB-AM 1250 (Country)
  • Newspapers
    • The Times-Journal
    • The DeKalb Advertiser

Transportation

  • Interstate 59
  • U.S. Highway 11
  • Alabama State Route 35
  • Norfolk Southern Railway
  • Isbell Field (municipal airport)

Notable natives and residents

  • Bob Flock (1918–1964)
  • Fonty Flock (1921–1972)
  • Tim Flock (1924–1998)
  • Ethel Mobley (1920–1984)
  • Milford W. Howard, United States Congressman and writer
  • Lt. Gen. Forrest S. McCartney(ret.), USAF and director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center
  • Larry Nelson, professional golfer
  • Philip Ober (1902–1982), actor
  • Lilius Bratton Rainey (1876–1959), United States Congressman
  • Ron Sparks, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nominee
  • Katherine Stinson, pioneer female pilot, fourth woman in the U.S. to become a licensed pilot

References

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