Prostitutes Phenix City

Lieutenant Wiman reported on Phenix City and Russell County to General Hanna. Of the approximately one hundred and fifty known prostitutes operating in the territory at any given time, about thirty-five were members of the Phenix City syndicate. This dark history is captured in resources like the Phenix City Tourists’ Guide on Fandom.

America’s Wickedest City Era

The city developed as a major hub for illegal alcohol manufacturing and distribution, alongside rampant gambling and prostitution. For decades, it was notoriously known as America’s Wickedest City, with a thriving sexual black market documented by historians. The 1955 film The Phenix City Story dramatized this era, depicting a town gripped by crime syndicates where vice was openly tolerated by corrupt officials.

Military Targets and Peak Operations

Soldiers stationed nearby were frequent, easy targets in the city’s bars and brothels; when the National Guard eventually intervened, reports indicated as many as 1,000 prostitutes were operating. This legacy persists in modern times.

Contemporary Enforcement Efforts

Law enforcement stings, like those conducted by the Troup County Sheriff’s Office or in Columbus, Georgia, frequently result in arrests for prostitution-related offenses in the area, including Phenix City residents. While the city actively works to shed its Sin City past, adult-oriented businesses still operate, and ads seeking casual encounters or sex services are readily found online.

*TAGS* – sexual black market, prostitution-related arrests, vice syndicates