Editing Phil Campbell, Alabama (section)

==Town history==

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 one of only two towns in Alabama given both the first and last names of an individual - the other is [[Susan Moore, Alabama|Susan Moore]].

In June 1995 the Brooklyn writer [[Phil Campbell (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)|''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.<ref name="PhilCampbells">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/18/us/18alabama.html| title=Phil Campbells Congregate in the Town of Phil Campbell| author=Kim Severson| work=New York Times| date=June 18, 2011| location=PHIL CAMPBELL, Ala}}</ref>

=== Tornado ===
[[File:Phil Campbell tornado damage2.jpg|thumbnail|EF5 damage from the April 2011 tornado]]
{{Main|2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado|2011 Super Outbreak}}
On [[2011 Super Outbreak|April 27, 2011]], the town suffered extensive damage from a very large and swift-moving [[tornado]]. The tornado was rated [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF5]] with estimated winds of 210&nbsp;mph. The tornado damaged many buildings in and around the main part of town. Twenty-seven people in Phil Campbell died in the event.<ref name="PhilCampbells" /> A reporter stated that the town may never be able to recover from the tornado because the damage was so extensive.

Phil Campbell, an Ohio-born writer who settled in Brooklyn, New York, was planning another namesake convention for June 2011. After the tornado, he converted his organizing to a relief effort. He called on the Phil Campbells of the world and other supporters to unite under the slogan, "I'm with Phil". He set up a website for people to donate money to help repair houses in two areas of the town, in addition to assisting in the repair of the high school and city hall. Attendees at the convention later traveled to the town to assist the local community in rebuilding.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13601553 |title= Scot Phil Campbell helps rebuild US namesake town |date= May 31, 2011 |work= BBC News |access-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Andrew Reed, a resident of the town, directed a documentary about the Campbells' relief effort called ''I'm With Phil''.

The town was also affected by an F2 tornado on [[1974 Super Outbreak|April 3, 1974]].