Opelika, Alabama

in Union raids, along with railroads and government property. But Opelika wouldn’t be held back; the citizens rebuilt and by 1870 the town was once again a booming center of commerce. Now, Opelika is a small, manufacturing center with a population nearing 31,000 people. Mayor Gary Fuller shares, “What has always made the difference in Opelika is the people. People do make a difference to a community and that is certainly true for us. We have exceptional people that live here and work here and raise their families here.” For many years, Opelika relied on textile and cotton mills as a main economic driver. With these businesses closing their doors, the city has had to undergo an economic reinvention, and they have risen to the challenge. “We were always recruiting good paying jobs,” says Fuller, “but in the last 12 to 15 years, we really had to reinvent ourselves. Now we have more folks working than ever in our history.” Director of Economic Development Lori Huguley explains, “We are very fortunate to have a great location on the I-85 corridor. Things started when Hyundai added a location in Montgomery, which is an hour away. We got the first big Tier 1 supplier to Hyundai. Not long after that, Kia put a plant about 20 miles away. We really became a ‘go-zone’ for automotive parts manufacturers that supply both Hyundai and Kia, so we have four big Tier 1 automotive suppliers.” Opelika is AT A GLANCE OPELIKA, ALABAMA WHAT: County seat of Lee County; population approx. 31,000 WHERE: East central Alabama WEBSITE: www.opelika-al.gov