The Town Of Phil Campbell, Alabama

In the 1880s, a railroad work crew leader and engineer by the name of Phillip Campbell (originally from England) established a work camp. Mel Allen, a prominent local businessman, told Campbell that if he would construct a railroad depot and add a side track to the stretch of railroad going through the area, Allen could develop a town, which he would name after Campbell. Campbell built both the depot and siding, and Allen followed through on his promise. Phil Campbell is the only town in Alabama given both the first and last names of an individual. In June 1995 the Scots writer Phil Campbell organized a convention in this town for people with the name "Phil Campbell". Twenty-two Phil Campbells and one Phyllis Campbell attended; they hailed from all over the United States. The article about the Phil Campbell convention was published in Might magazine, a San-Francisco-based publication founded by writer Dave Eggers. The essay was later included in Might's anthology, Shiny Adidas Tracksuits and the Death of Camp, and the convention was mentioned by Ripley's Believe it or Not! A second "Phil Campbell Day" was organized the following year, but it was not as well attended. Phil Campbell's city hall maintains a file of all the Phil Campbells who visit and check in.