Homewood, Alabama

Homewood, Alabama
City

Bird's-eye view of the Samford University campus

Location in Jefferson County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°28′6″N 86°48′29″W / 33.46833°N 86.80806°W / 33.46833; -86.80806
Country United States
State Alabama
County Jefferson
Area
 • Total 8.3 sq mi (21.5 km2)
 • Land 8.3 sq mi (21.5 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 666 ft (203 m)
Population (2013)[1]
 • Total 25,750
 • Density 3,017.2/sq mi (1,164.8/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 35209, 35219, 35259
Area code(s) 205
FIPS code 01-35800
GNIS feature ID 0120316
Website http://www.homewoodal.net/

Homewood is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, located on the other side of Red Mountain due south of the city center. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 25,167.[1]

Geography

Homewood is located at 33°28′6″N 86°48′29″W / 33.46833°N 86.80806°W / 33.46833; -86.80806 (33.468306, -86.808146).[2] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21 km2), all land.[2]

The city, along with the rest of Jefferson County, lies atop iron, coal, and limestone deposits.[3]

Shades Creek, which is part of the Cahaba River system, runs through Homewood.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19306,103—
19407,39721.2%
195012,86673.9%
196020,28957.7%
197021,1374.2%
198021,4121.3%
199022,9227.1%
200025,0439.3%
201025,1670.5%
Est. 201425,802[5]2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
2013 Estimate[7]

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,043 people, 10,688 households, and 5,878 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,014.7 people per square mile (1,163.6/km²). There were 11,494 housing units at an average density of 1,383.6 per square mile (534.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.75% White- or Caucasian American, 15.30% Black or African-American, 0.20% Native American, 2.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[2]

There were 10,688 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.0% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.87.[2]

In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 17.8% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.[2]

The median income for a household in the city was $55,431, and the median income for a family was $70,256. Males had a median income of $40,969 versus $34,694 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,491. About 4.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[2]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,648 people, 10 households, and 5,760 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,032.2 people per square mile (1,170.5/km²). There were 11,385 housing units at an average density of 1,371.7 per square mile (529.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.696% White- or Caucasian American, 17.3% Black or African-American, 0.2% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 5,000% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 7.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[2]

There were 10,092 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.02.[2]

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 17.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.8 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.[2]

The median income for a household in the city was $57,215, and the median income for a family was $78,252. Males had a median income of $50,163 versus $41,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,601. About 5.1% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.[2]

History

Early history and development

The first settlers of the area which would eventually become Homewood arrived in the early 1800s. The area's population, however, did not grow significantly until Birmingham suffered a major cholera epidemic in 1873 (See Timeline of Birmingham, Alabama).

Speculators soon began buying up land and developing communities in the countryside surrounding Birmingham. Many of the smaller communities which would eventually become Homewood were developed during this time period, including Rosedale, Grove Park, Edgewood, and Oak Grove.

Edgewood saw the greatest amount of development. The community contained an Electric Railway leading to downtown Birmingham by 1911 and a man-made lake by 1915.[8] The lake was created by the construction of a dam along Shades Creek near Columbiana Road. Two parallel roads were graded on either side of the lake with the intention of creating a race track around the lake, however these plans never came to fruition. The roads eventually became Lakeshore Drive and South Lakeshore Drive.

Incorporation

In 1926, a local attorney named Charles Rice started a movement to merge several of the communities surrounding Birmingham. In September of the same year, Rosedale, Edgewood, and Grove Park voted to incorporate under the name Homewood. The city of Hollywood, Alabama was annexed into Homewood in 1929.

In 1955, Oak Grove was also annexed into Homewood.[8]

The Great Depression and World War II

The Great Depression and a polio epidemic, which sickened 80 children in Homewood, greatly damaged Homewood's economy and social landscape.

The regional economy picked up after the outbreak of World War II and the accompanying steel boom in Birmingham, where production ramped up in order to contribute to the war effort.

During the 1940s, Homewood's police and fire departments doubled in size to accommodate a 73.9 percent increase in the city's population from 1940 to 1950.[8]

The Civil rights era

In 1959, Homewood voters defeated a move by Birmingham to annex the city. A second attempt supposedly succeeded in July 1964, but voting irregularities and lawsuits prevented the outcome of that election in the courts until September 9, 1966, when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled the 1964 vote null and void (See "City of Birmingham v. Bouldin"). In a special election on December 13, 1966, a vote for annexation failed with 65 percent of Homewood residents voting against the annexation.[8]

Homewood avoided the worst of the turmoil associated with the Civil Rights Era and, more specifically, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's 1963 Birmingham campaign.[8] However, in September 1963, the Shades Valley Sun newspaper reported on a racially motivated bombing on Central Avenue in Rosedale.[9]

In 1970, Homewood created its own school system, breaking away from the Jefferson County school system. The new Homewood High School opened in December 1972.[8]

Schools

Public schools

The Homewood City School System is made up of five schools, including three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school:[10]

Homewood High School Patriot Marching Band

The Homewood High School Patriot Marching Band is a large marching ensemble made up of students from Homewood High School.[11]

It has participated in many national and international events, listed below:[11]

Colleges and universities

Private schools

Parks

Notable people

Trivia

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Jefferson County | Encyclopedia of Alabama: Geography". Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Shades Creek". Outdoor Alabama. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Homewood | Encyclopedia of Alabama: History". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  9. ↑ "Rosedale Park Historic District, Homewood City, Jefferson County, Homewood, AL, 35209". www.livingplaces.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  10. ↑ "List of Homewood City Schools". Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Homewood Band Website".
  12. ↑ "Homewood Parks & Recreation". www.homewoodparks.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.

External links

Coordinates: 33°28′06″N 86°48′29″W / 33.468306°N 86.808146°W / 33.468306; -86.808146

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, March 12, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.