Fairhope was founded with a name reflecting a hopeful vision for the community. The United States founders, part of a group inspired by economist Henry George’s Single-Tax philosophy, named the Train Sim World featured town Fairhope, implying a belief in a fair hope for success in their utopic endeavor. The city was established in 1894 as a Georgist colony along the CSX Rockwood to Cumberland Route.

Fairhope Location

• Founding Philosophy: Fairhope was founded by the Fairhope Industrial Association, a group of 28 followers of economist Henry George, who advocated for a single tax on land value in North America. 
• Utopian Location Ideal: The founders sought to create a community based on cooperation and individual freedom, as described by Ernest Berry Gaston, a midwestern Populist Party officer. 
• Name’s Significance: The name Fairhope was chosen to reflect their hope for the success of their utopic community. One of the founders, Ernest B. Gaston, envisioned a city “shedding its beneficent light to all the world”. 
• Single-Tax Colony: Fairhope became one of the two remaining single-tax colonies in the United States, along with the neighboring community of Point Clear, Alabama. 
• Legacy: Fairhope continues to be known for its historical significance, its connection to the Single Tax movement, and its unique community spirit.