Prostitutes Phenix City

Organized Prostitution Operations

History shows Phenix City, Alabama, had a notorious reputation. Lt. Wiman reported on the city and county to Gen. Hanna, detailing widespread issues. Of the approximately one hundred and fifty known prostitutes working the Phenix City territory at a given time, about thirty-five were members of organized groups according to the Phenix City Tourists’ Guide. This guide highlighted the city’s darker aspects.

Vice Hub Development

Phenix City developed as a large-scale alcohol manufacturing and distribution hub, alongside rampant gambling and prostitution. This environment fostered a sexual black market, earning it the title America’s Wickedest City in some accounts. The city became infamous, particularly attracting soldiers from nearby Fort Benning. Reports indicate the world’s toughest fighting men were easy targets in Phenix City’s bars and brothels.

1954 Crackdown and Legacy

When the National Guard finally arrived in 1954 to restore order, Phenix City reportedly had as many as 1,000 prostitutes operating openly. This era of vice and corruption, where gambling, prostitution, and other illegal activities were openly tolerated by complicit law enforcement and organized crime figures, became the basis for the 1955 film The Phenix City Story.

The legacy of that period still surfaces. Law enforcement operations, like stings conducted by the Troup County Sheriff’s Office or Columbus Police, occasionally target prostitution and related activities in the region, resulting in arrests. While modern Phenix City has changed significantly, its mid-20th century history as a haven for organized crime, gambling, and prostitution remains a defining chapter.

*TAGS* – Phenix City sexual black market, organized crime prostitution, National Guard vice cleanup