About Russell County
Russell County was established Dec. 18, 1832. The origin of the name "Russell" comes from Col. Gilbert C. Russell. There are 634 square miles in Russell County. It is bordered on the north by Lee County, on the west by Macon County, on the south by Barbour County and on the east by the Chattahoochee River. The original county seat was Seale, but it was moved to Phenix City in 1943.
The Russell County population, of about 50,000, is largely urban with 65 % residents living in an urban setting and 35% living in a rural setting. The demographics of the county are 56.1% white, 42.1% black, and 2.2% hispanics and others living in the county. Sixty-six percent of the population are high school graduates, and 9.7% are college graduates. The median household income for Russell County is $29,680.
Forestry and forestry products, peanuts, pecans, vegetables and cattle are the major agricultural crops in the county, and cotton, corn, soybeans and fruits are also grown. Major industries include Mead Coated Board, Boral Bricks (Bickerstaff Clay Products), Pillowtex Fieldcrest Cannon Inc., Southern Phenix Textiles, Continental Carbon Co., Pitts Trailer Enterprises, and York Sportswear Company.
Russell County is the home of the Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery and the Chattahoochee Indian Heritage Center. A portion of the Trail of Tears for the Cherokee Indians ran through a section of Russell County.
