Where is Fort Payne, Alabama, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Fort Payne Located? - Fort Payne is a city located in the DeKalb County of Alabama, United States. Fort Payne lies between 64.9029 Degrees North latitudes and 147.4106 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Fort Payne, Alabama

Where is Fort Payne, Alabama

Fort Payne Map, Alabama, USA

Where is Fort Payne?: The Google Map showing the location of Fort Payne in the U.S. state of Alabama.

Where is Fort Payne Located?

Fort Payne is a city located in the DeKalb County of Alabama, United States. Fort Payne lies between 64.9029 Degrees North latitudes and 147.4106 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Fort Payne city is 14877 people and the city has a total area of 56.19 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Fort Payne, Alabama Quick Facts

PropertyInformation
CityFort Payne
CountyDeKalb County
StateAlabama
State CapitalMontgomery
US RegionSouthern United States
Latitude34.4443° N
Longitude85.7197° W
Elevation1,050 ft (320 m)
Land Area56.37 sq mi
Water Area0.16 sq mi
Total Area56.53 sq mi
Population (latest Census year)14,877 (2020 Census)
Population Density264 per sq mi
ZIP Code35967
Area Code256
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST, UTC−6)
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5)
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code01-28816
Congressional District4th Congressional District

Nearby Cities to Fort Payne, Alabama

  • Rainsville, Alabama — 9 mi North
  • Collinsville, Alabama — 12 mi Southwest
  • Scottsboro, Alabama — 27 mi North
  • Albertville, Alabama — 30 mi Southwest
  • Gadsden, Alabama — 36 mi South
  • Rome, Georgia — 39 mi East
  • Guntersville, Alabama — 42 mi Southwest
  • Chattanooga, Tennessee — 52 mi Northeast
  • Huntsville, Alabama — 75 mi Northwest
  • Birmingham, Alabama — 90 mi Southwest

Driving Distances from Fort Payne, Alabama

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
RainsvilleAlabama915 min
CollinsvilleAlabama1218 min
ScottsboroAlabama2735 min
AlbertvilleAlabama3040 min
GadsdenAlabama3645 min
RomeGeorgia3950 min
GuntersvilleAlabama4255 min
ChattanoogaTennessee521 hr
HuntsvilleAlabama751 hr 25 min
BirminghamAlabama901 hr 40 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Fort Payne, Alabama

CategoryInformation
Airport NameChattanooga Regional Airport (nearest major airport)
IATA CodeCHA
PortNot applicable
Major HighwaysInterstate 59, U.S. Route 11, Alabama Highway 35, Alabama Highway 68
Train/Amtrak ServiceNearest Amtrak station is Anniston, Alabama
Local Bus/Transit ServiceDeKalb County public transportation services
  • Interstate 59 provides major north-south access between Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
  • U.S. Route 11 connects Fort Payne with nearby communities throughout northeast Alabama.
  • Alabama Highway 35 provides access to scenic areas including Little River Canyon National Preserve.
  • The city's location in the Appalachian foothills makes it an important regional center for northeast Alabama.

What are top Places to Visit in Fort Payne, Alabama

Landmark NameType
Little River Canyon National PreserveNational Preserve
DeSoto State ParkState Park
Alabama Fan Club and MuseumMusic Museum
Fort Payne Depot MuseumRailroad Museum
Orbix Hot GlassArt Studio
Little River FallsWaterfall
Martha's FallsWaterfall
Beulah CampgroundOutdoor Recreation Area
Big Wills CreekNatural Attraction
DeKalb TheatreHistoric Theater

Colleges and Universities in Fort Payne, Alabama

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Northeast Alabama Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeAssociate degrees, workforce training and transfer programs
Jacksonville State UniversityPublicUniversityEducation, business, nursing and regional higher education
Gadsden State Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTechnical education, career programs and workforce development
Fort Payne City SchoolsPublicK–12 DistrictPublic education serving Fort Payne students

Waterbodies in Fort Payne, Alabama

Little River, Little River Canyon, Big Wills Creek, Big Wills Creek Reservoir, DeSoto Falls Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Guntersville, Chattooga River

Golf Courses in Fort Payne, Alabama

Terrapin Hills Golf Course, Cherokee County Country Club, Gadsden Country Club, Silver Lakes Golf Course, Twin Lakes Golf Course

Fort Payne, Alabama — Key Historical Facts

  • Fort Payne was named after Fort Payne, a military stockade built in the early 1830s during the forced removal period of the Cherokee people from the southeastern United States.
  • The city developed as an agricultural and industrial center after European-American settlement expanded in the region during the nineteenth century.
  • Fort Payne became nationally known as the "Sock Capital of the World" because of its large hosiery manufacturing industry, which grew significantly during the twentieth century.
  • The city's location near the Appalachian Mountains and Little River Canyon helped establish tourism and outdoor recreation as important parts of the local economy.
  • Today, Fort Payne serves as the county seat of DeKalb County and is known for its natural attractions, manufacturing heritage, music history, and access to northeast Alabama's scenic landscapes.

References

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