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Alabama County
Russell County, Alabama
Phenix City's Sin City past and Fort Benning's economic anchor - from Phenix City's notorious 1950s vice era (in the early 1950s, Phenix City was one of the most lawless cities in America - gambling dens, prostitution, and organized crime operated openly across the Chattahoochee River from Fort Benning's soldiers, earning it the nickname "Sin City of the South" until a 1954 political assassination prompted the governor to declare martial law and clean up the city in one of the most dramatic law enforcement actions in Alabama history) to Fort Benning/Fort Moore's economic dominance (the massive Army installation across the river in Columbus provides enormous economic activity to Phenix City and Russell County through military employment and the service economy).
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Office: Russell County Emergency Management Agency
Address: 1000 Broad St, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298-0479
Alert System: AL Alert statewide; CodeRed; Phenix City/Columbus, GA bi-state emergency coordination
Shelter Info: Contact EMA for shelter locations; Chattahoochee River flood planning
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: East Alabama county directly across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia; Phenix City is county seat and a suburb of Columbus; Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning – US Army Infantry and Armor Center) is directly across the river in Georgia, creating unique bi-state military emergency coordination needs; tornado risk; river flooding risk
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Road Dept: Russell County Highway Department
Phone: (334) 298-0479
Public Transit: Columbus, GA transit (METRA) serves Phenix City; bi-state commuter patterns; demand-response within county
Road Conditions: ALDOT – algotraffic.com; Columbus, GA GDOT for Georgia side
Notes: US-280, US-431, and multiple Chattahoochee River bridges connect Phenix City to Columbus; Fort Moore (GA) creates massive military traffic across bridges; Russell County is effectively part of the Columbus, GA metro area; Phenix City has a complex urban-suburban character tied to Columbus
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Russell County Building Department
Address: 1000 Broad St, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298-7984
Services: Building permits for unincorporated areas
Notes: Phenix City has extensive separate permitting; Hurtsboro, Seale have separate permits; residential growth in Russell County driven by Fort Moore/Columbus economy; active development in suburban Phenix City areas
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Russell County Veterans Service Office
Address: 1000 Broad St, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298-0479
VA Medical: Central Alabama Veterans HCS – Montgomery | (334) 272-4670; Columbus, GA VA also accessible; Fort Moore Tricare for active duty
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; Fort Moore proximity means extremely active veteran and active duty population
Notes: Fort Moore (Army Infantry/Armor) generates one of the highest concentrations of military families in the Southeast; transition assistance from Fort Moore is critical; multiple VSO chapters active; very robust veteran services ecosystem
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Russell County Public Library / Phenix City Public Library
Address: 1600 13th Ave, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 297-1018
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Alabama Digital Library, children’s programs
Notes: Library serves mixed military-family and civilian population; Columbus Public Library (GA) accessible across river for area residents; military family programming important
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Chattahoochee River water recreation (river forms county’s eastern boundary); Walter F. George Lake (Lake Eufaula – upstream); Idle Hour Country Club area; Phenix City Amphitheater; Fort Moore recreation facilities (for military/DOD)
Notes: Fort Moore/Columbus offers extensive recreation for military families; Chattahoochee River provides kayaking and fishing; Phenix City has invested in downtown riverfront development; the river between Alabama and Georgia is a unique bi-state recreation asset
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Russell County GIS – russellcountyalabama.com or through state GIS
Notes: Mid-sized county with active development; functional GIS; bi-state mapping coordination with Muscogee County (Columbus, GA) GIS
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Russell County Animal Shelter / Phenix City Animal Control
Phone: (334) 298-0479 (County); Phenix City Animal Control: (334) 448-2875
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control; military family pet services important (deployment-related surrenders)
Notes: Military community creates unique animal service needs; Columbus, GA animal control handles Georgia side; bi-state coordination on stray animals crossing Chattahoochee
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Russell County Solid Waste – (334) 298-0479; Phenix City Sanitation
Recycling: Some options in Phenix City
Environmental: Chattahoochee River water quality (multi-state – Alabama, Georgia, Florida); Fort Moore environmental management (federal); ADEM – adem.alabama.gov; EPA and Army Corps of Engineers involvement
Notes: Chattahoochee River is subject to the tri-state water wars (Alabama-Georgia-Florida); water rights and water quality are ongoing federal concerns; Fort Moore manages its own environmental compliance under Army regulations; Phenix City riverfront development requires environmental permits; agricultural land on Alabama side creates nonpoint source pollution concerns
About Russell County
Russell County is east Alabama’s former Sin City and Fort Moore gateway county – Phenix City’s 1954 martial law cleanup from one of America’s most corrupt small cities is one of the most dramatic law enforcement stories in Alabama history.
Phenix City (the county seat, population ~37,000) sits directly across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia and Fort Moore – the Army installation’s economic influence dominates the Russell County economy through military families, contractors, and the service sector.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Russell County Revenue Commissioner at 1000 Broad Street, Suite 101, Phenix City, AL 36867, phone 334-298-6922. AL residential assessed at 10% of market value.
Public Records
Home Health: (334) 775-9044
Fax: (334) 291-5478
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
WIC, environmental, home care, clinical (STD, family planning, vaccines, breast/cervical cancer screening)
Search Russell County public records for Phenix City, Hurtsboro, and Russell County residents.
Courts & Legal
Russell County Probate Court at 1000 Broad Street, Phenix City, AL 36867, phone 334-298-7979, handles probate.
Senior Services
Senior Services: —
Transportation: —
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
501 14th St., Phenix City, AL 36867
(334) 298-6986
CIRCUIT CLERK (Court Records)
501 14th St., Phenix City, AL 36867
(334) 298-6986
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Russell County Probate Court (marriage licenses, will and estate files, land deeds – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Russell County Historical Commission, 801 Dillingham Street, Seale, AL 36875
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Russell County Probate Office 501 14th Street, Phenix City, AL 36867 (334) 298-7979 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (call ahead to confirm, especially around lunch)
Step 1: figure out which path applies
This is the fork in the road that determines everything else – how long it takes, what it costs, and whether you need an attorney.
Small/Summary Distribution – for estates made up of personal property only (no real estate) worth up to roughly $47,000 (the threshold is CPI-adjusted annually; it rose from about $36,000 to ~$47,000 under the Revised Alabama Small Estates Act, effective October 1, 2025). No personal representative is appointed, and there’s no months-long court oversight – just a single verified petition.
Formal Probate – required if the estate includes real property, exceeds the small-estate threshold, or there’s a dispute among heirs. This appoints a personal representative (an executor if there’s a will, an administrator if there isn’t) with legal authority to act for the estate.
If the estate qualifies for summary distribution
Wait at least 30 days after the death before filing – filings submitted earlier will be rejected.
The surviving spouse (if there is one) is the only person who can file; if there’s no surviving spouse, any rightful heir can.
File a verified petition with the Russell County Probate Court listing the decedent’s assets, debts, and heirs, plus the will if one exists.
Notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county; no distribution can happen until 30 days after publication.
The petitioner must separately notify the Alabama Medicaid Agency by certified mail (Medicaid has 30 days to respond with any claim against the estate – this step is required in every case, not just where Medicaid was involved).
Once both 30-day windows close and the judge approves, the court issues an order you can present to banks or other institutions to claim and distribute the property.
Simple, uncontested cases can wrap up in weeks to a few months. Anything with disputed debts or unclear heirs takes longer.
If formal probate is required
Gather what you’ll need before your first visit: the original will (if any), several certified copies of the death certificate, a list of assets and debts, and names/addresses of all heirs and beneficiaries.
File a Petition for Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Petition for Letters of Administration (without one). Filing fee is a flat $45, plus $3/page for wills over 5 pages, and covers three certified copies of the letters.
Creditor notice must be published once a week for three successive weeks in a Russell County newspaper of general circulation.
If uncontested with waivers filed, a hearing may not be required; otherwise the judge holds one and, if approved, issues the Letters.
The personal representative then has 2 months to file a full inventory of estate assets, and creditors have 6 months from the grant of letters (or 5 months from first publication, whichever is later) to submit claims.
After debts and taxes are settled, the representative files a final accounting; once approved, assets are distributed and the estate is formally closed.
Alabama requires an estate to stay open a minimum of 6 months, whether or not there’s a will.
A will must be filed for probate within 5 years of the date of death, or it loses effect.
What it costs
Court filing: $45 flat (plus the per-page will fee noted above).
Personal representative compensation: capped by law at 2.5% of the estate’s value received plus 2.5% of disbursements (extra allowed for genuinely extraordinary work).
Attorney fees: not fixed by statute – negotiated between the family and the attorney. Alabama doesn’t require an attorney for probate, but most formal (non-small-estate) cases benefit from one, especially if there’s a dispute or the estate includes real property.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
PROBATE JUDGE (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Estates)
501 14th St., Phenix City, AL 36867
(334) 298-6986
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
1000 Broad St., Phenix City, AL 36867
(334) 298-6535
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
BOARD OF REGISTRARS (Voter Registration)
501 14th St., Phenix City, AL 36867
(334) 298-6986
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
2401 Old Schoolhouse Rd., Phenix City, AL 36867
(334) 297-0597
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM
Health Dept
Russell County Health Dept
DHR / SNAP / Medicaid
dhr.alabama.gov 211
WIC
Up to 185% FPL — call Health Dept
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Russell County Health Department
Address: 516 14th St, Phenix City, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 298-2411
Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/russell
Services: Immunizations, WIC, family planning, STI testing, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Russell County residents often use Columbus, GA healthcare facilities (Piedmont Columbus Regional, St. Francis-Emory) due to proximity; military families use Fort Moore Tricare; health department serves uninsured/Medicaid population primarily
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Phenix City
Population: 59,000
Area: 640 sq mi
Established: 1832
Tier: 3
Public Records
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Search public records for Russell County residents.
