FAIRHOPE, Ala.—A recent survey shows that 78 percent of Fairhope residents contacted know something about the Fairhope Single Tax Corp. But many of those surveyed have limited knowledge about the organization that founded their model community, set aside parklands for public use and continues to donate to community projects.

The remaining 22 percent of Fairhope residents polled knew nothing about the oldest and largest single-tax colony in the U.S.

The survey—conducted by a local firm, Pamela Denham and Associates, to measure the public’s awareness of the FSTC—showed that of those who were aware of FSTC, a majority of them had a positive perception of the organization and its accomplishments.

Of those respondents, 50 percent had a positive opinion of the organization; 11 percent had a negative opinion; 1.4 percent had both positive and negative feelings toward FSTC; 29 percent didn’t know their opinion; and nearly 8 percent offered a long list of overwhelmingly positive comments about the organization, citing its role in founding Fairhope and its contributions to the city from its inception to today.

Approximately one-third to one-half of all respondents who were familiar with the FSTC knew that the organization:

“We are very pleased with the results,” said FSTC President Larry Thomas. “We found out that the perception is very positive and that there are some other areas where we need to do some more public education, awareness and demonstration of single-tax theory.”

Thomas said the organization’s 11-member board worked with a Daphne firm to conduct the scientific telephone surveys to gauge how well the organization was fulfilling its constitutional charge to educate the public about its history, role and accomplishments.

“We were interested in how the community recognizes us,” Thomas said. “One of our responsibilities, as put forth by our constitution and our founding fathers, is to educate the public about single-tax theory and demonstrate its value to the community. Once we find out what people know about FSTC and what they don’t know, we can do a better job of educating them.”

Toward that end, the organization each year offers a 12-week seminar on single-tax theory and Henry George. The next class will be held in August in the FSTC room at the Fairhope Public Library. The cost is $25, which covers the price of two books and a workbook.

For more information contact FSTC at  928-8162 or visit online at www.fairhopesingletax.com.

About Fairhope

Single Tax Corp.

In 1894, 28 idealists mostly from Des Moines, Iowa, founded Fairhope  on the utopian principles of economist and writer Henry George. In his book “Progress and Poverty,” George theorized that government could create vast wealth by applying a “single tax” to the land. The Fairhope colonists set aside public parklands and used a portion of the “rent” from its leaseholders for the betterment of the community.

FSTC has donated millions of dollars for capital projects, public art and education in Fairhope over the years. It is the oldest and largest continuous single-tax colony in the world.

The FSTC owns nearly 4,500 acres inside and outside city limits.