Historic buildings in, 2010
Fort Deposit’s story
171 years in pictures
Census counts: 350 in 1880, 1,225 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1814 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
- 1855Fort Deposit is settled
Fort DepositAL
A town of 1,114, settled in 1855.
Photo: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,114
2025 Census estimate · −9.5% since 2020
Typical home
$130K
+5.1% in a year
Household income
$22K
median
Median age
33.1
years
Jobs based here
1,237
A job hub
Is Fort Deposit a good place to live?
Fort Deposit’s best subject grade is an A for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for health. 48% of residents live below the poverty line in Fort Deposit, against 16% in Alabama’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 98% of U.S. towns. On health, just 3 of Alabama’s 308 towns do worse. Fort Deposit has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Fort Deposit stand out
Where Fort Deposit beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here1,237
Residents who work375
Work
3.3 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 98% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
Typical home value
Fort Deposit$130K
Alabama$239K
Cost of livingA
2 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 93% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
32 measures vs. Alabama
2 better8 too close to call22 worse
| Widest gap | Fort Deposit | AL |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 22.8% | 9.6% |
Worth knowing · HealthD−
Less healthy than 99% of U.S. towns
Trails AL on 22 of 32 CDC measures, beats it on 2
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Small town
1,114 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Fort Deposit grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Fort Deposit is from typical.
HealthNear the bottom of U.S. towns on CDC estimates; The Health Care Authority of the City of Greenville- LV Stabler Hospital 11.9 miles awayD−Open →Jobs & income$22K median household incomeD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 3.5 of 20; 17.3% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitD−Open →SchoolsD−Open →Cost of livingAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 38% of U.S. communities; tornadoes tops the listBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 1% conserved landDOpen →History2 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life5.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.1; 10% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Fort Deposit: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fort Deposit, and how to reach them.
PowerPioneer Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterFort Deposit Water & Sewer BoardNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Fort Deposit’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLowndes County Absentee Elections ManagerLowndes County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026
ZIP code3603236032 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Fort Deposit.
HealthD−
Fort Deposit stands out in Alabama and nationally: a larger share of its adults say their health is fair or poor
37% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Fort Deposit, where Alabama’s towns sit at 24% and U.S. towns at 19%. 41% of Fort Deposit adults feel lonely. Among 188 Alabama towns, just 4 have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Fort Deposit.
1%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Fort Deposit | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 16% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 52% | 39% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 15% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
2 better8 too close to call22 worse
| What stands out | Fort Deposit | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10% | 14.1% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6% | 8.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 22.8% | 9.6% |
The Health Care Authority of the City of Greenville- LV Stabler Hospital
11.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsD−
On state tests, Fort Deposit’s schools trail 97% of Alabama districts
Its public schools are run by the Lowndes County school district. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
3%of AL districts it outscoresD−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Deposit Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 186 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
The average trip to work in Fort Deposit is longer than in most of Alabama or the rest of the country
The average trip to work in Fort Deposit is 36 minutes. Of the 187 Alabama towns we compare, none has a lower median household income than Fort Deposit. Since 2013, Fort Deposit has added 786 jobs, to 1,237 in 2023.
8%work in town
| Fort Deposit | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 36 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $22,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Fort Deposit8%
Montgomery20%
Greenville9%
Hayneville8%
Mobile3%
26 mi
median commute distance
1,237
jobs based in Fort Deposit
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
D−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 2% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade A
A typical Fort Deposit home is worth about $130K
The typical Fort Deposit home is worth about $130,000, up 5.1% in a year, 46% below the Alabama typical home. Fort Deposit’s median rent is $467 a month.
$130KZillow home value
| Fort Deposit | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $467 a month | $940 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 62% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
Fort Deposit$130K
Alabama$239K
+5.1%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Fort Deposit
Fort Deposit has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 91°, January nights drop to 36° and snow is almost unheard of.
91°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–61°
Spring52–77°
Summer69–90°
Fall53–78°
Nov 20
typical first frost
Mar 8
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Fort Deposit faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by tornadoes
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 62% of U.S. communities.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingHeat waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Safety
Crime reported in Fort Deposit
Fort Deposit's reported crime rate is above Alabama's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2023.
| Fort Deposit | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 28.4 per 1,000 residents | 21.3 | 13.1 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 1.8 per 1,000 residents | 3 | 1.8 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Fort Deposit1.8
Alabama4
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Fort Deposit28.4
Alabama17.7
U.S.19.5
2
violent crimes reported in 2023
32
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
0.9%conserved
| Fort Deposit | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.9% | 1.2% | 4.3% |
0.9%
conserved · 31 of 3,616 acres
2.8 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Fort Deposit
20pages on Fort Deposit
The big questions
SchoolsD−Behind 97% of AL districts · 2 schoolsSafety1.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthD−Better than AL on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$130K typical home · up 5.1% in a yearWork & commuteD−$22K median household income · 1,237 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 38% of U.S. communities · tornadoes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Fort Deposit; the nearest are
H Councill Trenholm State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Montgomery28.3 mi$5,190 in-state tuitionAlabama State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Montgomery30.5 mi$11,248 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Fort Deposit residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,206 people come to Fort Deposit for work
Where Fort Deposit’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,237jobs based in Fort Deposit
8%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Fort Deposit
Town in Alabama, United States
Fort Deposit is a town in Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. Since 1890, it has been the largest town in Lowndes County. As of the 2020 census, Fort Deposit had a population of 1,225. It is part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area. This town is named after a fort that was built under the order of General Andrew Jackson. This was a supply fort that was built to serve the soldiers during the Creek Indian War. There is an annual arts and crafts fair called Calico Fort on the second weekend of April every year. It was incorporated on February 13, 1891. It reportedly sits on the highest point of land between Montgomery and New Orleans, Louisiana.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 466 ft
- ZIP code
- 36032
- Area code
- 334
Questions about Fort Deposit
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Fort Deposit, AL expensive?
Not for the area. That is 2 years of the area's median household income ($64,010 across the Montgomery, AL metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Fort Deposit, AL known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Richard Williamson and Monk Gafford.