Gardendale, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gardendale, Alabama
City
Gardendale Civic Center (2015)
Flag Seal Logo
Location of Gardendale in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Jefferson
Settled	1825
Incorporated	1955
Area
• Total	22.98 sq mi (59.53 km2)
• Land	22.98 sq mi (59.52 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	679 ft (207 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,044
• Density	698.14/sq mi (269.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35071
Area code	205 & 659
FIPS code	01-29056
GNIS ID	2403681

Gardendale is a city located in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It's a northern suburb of Birmingham. In 2020, about 16,044 people lived there.

Gardendale's Story: A Look at Its History

Gardendale began as a large farm settlement around 1825. More settlers arrived later, and the community became known as Jugtown. This name came from a big factory that made jugs and churns in the area.

A school teacher named Hettie Thomason Cargo thought the name "Jugtown" was a bit embarrassing. She led a effort to change it. In 1906, the community chose the name Gardendale. The City of Gardendale officially became a city in 1955.

Today, Gardendale has grown a lot. It has over 16,000 residents. The city is home to more than 400 businesses, 4 schools, and 24 churches.

Important Moments in Gardendale's Past

In 1996, the Olympic torch passed through Gardendale. This happened during the weeks leading up to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Before Interstate 65 was built, U.S. Route 31 was the main road. It connected Nashville, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama. This old road was once a twisting two-lane path. Parts of it are still visible today.

You can find parts of the old U.S. 31 as Snow Rogers Road, North Road, Moncrief Road, and Main Street. In 2008, new signs were put up along this old route. They show its importance as a stagecoach path in the 1800s.

Gardendale has added many street lights and traffic signals over the years. The city has also expanded its borders since 1980. New homes have been built, especially in the western and northern areas.

A group called the Gardendale Historical Society started in 2006. They work to record the city's history. They have a museum with old photos and items. You can visit it on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Gardendale's Location: Understanding Its Geography

Gardendale covers about 18.0 square miles (46.6 km2) of land. With recent additions, its total area is now around 25.0 square miles (64.7 km2). Gardendale is on a major route for goods traveling from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast.

Roads and Transportation in Gardendale

Two main highways serve Gardendale: Interstate 65 and U.S. 31. A new highway, Interstate 22, now runs from near Gardendale to Memphis, Tennessee.

Another future road project is the Northern Beltline. This highway will eventually become Interstate 422. It will cross I-65 on the northern edge of Gardendale. This project is still many years away from being finished.

Major roads that go east and west in Gardendale include Fieldstown Road, Tarrant Road, and Mt. Olive Road. There are plans to extend Fieldstown Road further east in the future.

Natural Features and Resources

Gardendale is in an area that once had a lot of coal. You can still find old, closed coal mines nearby. The city is also at the end of a mountain ridge that runs from Tennessee into Alabama.

No large rivers flow through Gardendale. However, several streams in the area feed into the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. This river flows north and west of the city.

Some parts of Gardendale, especially to the east, are rocky and hilly. These areas have deep valleys and are not very populated.

Rail and Air Travel

A freight train track runs along the eastern edge of Gardendale. It carries goods but not passengers. If you want to take a passenger train, the nearest Amtrak station is in Birmingham, about 10 miles (16 km) south.

For air travel, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is nearby.

People of Gardendale: Demographics

Gardendale's Population in 2020

In 2020, Gardendale had 16,044 people. There were 5,551 households and 3,790 families living in the city.

Gardendale's Population in 2010

In 2010, the city had 13,893 people. There were 5,670 households. About 27.4% of households had children under 18. Most households (56.1%) were married couples.

The average household had 2.42 people. The average family had 2.92 people.

The median income for a household was about $60,244. For families, it was about $79,044. A small percentage of families (1.9%) and people (3.5%) lived below the poverty line.

Gardendale's Economy: Businesses and Growth

Most new businesses in Gardendale have opened along Fieldstown Road and Odum Road. These areas are on the west side of the city. Some development has also happened along Mt. Olive Road.

Older shopping and dining areas are found along U.S. 31. A new City Center is being built on Mt. Olive Road. This is where the new city hall and offices will be located.

New stores are planned near Interstate 65 at exit 275. This area is within Gardendale's city limits. The meeting point of I-65 and the future Interstate 422 is expected to bring more businesses to this area.

Arts and Culture in Gardendale

Gardendale hosts an annual event called the Magnolia Festival. It takes place every spring. The festival is held around the Civic Center complex on Main Street.

Learning in Gardendale: Education

Gardendale has several schools for its students.

Public Schools in Gardendale

The Jefferson County Schools district operates Gardendale's public schools.

• Gardendale Elementary School opened in 1969.
• Bragg Middle School was built later for the growing number of students.
• Gardendale High School serves older students. Both Bragg Middle School and Gardendale High School are called the Rockets. Their school colors are maroon and gray.

Snow Rogers Elementary School is also in Gardendale. Students from Snow Rogers go on to Bragg Middle School or North Jefferson Middle School. Then they attend Gardendale High School or Mortimer Jordan High School.

Mt. Olive Elementary is in the nearby Mt. Olive community. A new Gardendale High School building opened in early 2010.

In 2013, the city tried to create its own school system. This effort was stopped by a court in 2018. The court ruled that the city's plan was not fair. Gardendale still collects a local tax for schools, and Jefferson County also collects a countywide school tax.

Private Schools in Gardendale

• Tabernacle Christian School is run by Gardendale Baptist Tabernacle. Their sports teams are called the Torches.
• Gardendale Christian Academy is a school and daycare. It is run by Gardendale Church of the Nazarene. Their mascot is King's Knights.

Adult Education in Gardendale

Gardendale used to have the Rogers Area Vocational School. This building has been removed to make space for sports fields and student parking.

Media in Gardendale

Gardendale is part of the Birmingham, Alabama, television and radio market. This is one of the largest markets in the United States.

Newspapers that cover Gardendale include The Birmingham News. The North Jefferson News used to be based in the city but merged with another paper in 2020.

Radio station WPYA (97.3 FM) is licensed to Gardendale. It plays Top 40 music for the Birmingham area. The station's studios are not in Gardendale, even though it is licensed there.

Notable People from Gardendale

• Mario Addison - professional football player
• Jack Biddle - state legislator
• Jordan Howard - professional football player
• Pat Keedy - former professional baseball player
• Trey Mullinax - PGA professional golfer
• John Salter - mixed martial arts fighter
• Willie Wyatt - former Alabama Crimson Tide Football and Arena Football League player
• Chris Fryar - drummer for the Zac Brown Band

See also

In Spanish: Gardendale para niños