sentences:  Phenix City lies immediately west across the Chattahoochee River from the much larger Columbus, Georgia and observes Eastern Time on a "de facto" basis (in contrast to the rest of Alabama, which observes Central Time) due to Phenix City's strong economic ties to Columbus.Most of Phenix City is included in the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, but a section is located in Lee County, and is therefore in the Auburn, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.The entire city is part of the Columbus-Auburn-Opelika Combined Statistical Area.