Helena, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Helena, Alabama
City
"Old Town" Helena during a rare snowfall on January 19, 2008: These buildings date to the late 1800s.
Flag Seal
Location of Helena in Jefferson County and Shelby County, Alabama.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Shelby, Jefferson
Area
• Total	22.38 sq mi (57.95 km2)
• Land	22.06 sq mi (57.13 km2)
• Water	0.32 sq mi (0.82 km2)
Elevation	453 ft (138 m)
Population  (2022)
• Total	21,560
• Density	948.2/sq mi (366.09/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35080, 35022
Area code(s)	205
FIPS code	01-34024
GNIS feature ID	2404677
Website	http://www.cityofhelena.org/

Helena is a city in Alabama, a state in the United States. It is located in both Jefferson and Shelby counties. Helena is like a smaller town connected to the bigger city of Birmingham. It's part of the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area. In 2022, about 21,862 people lived there.

Helena first became an official city in 1877. But there were some mistakes in the paperwork. So, it became official again in 1917. This is why its population wasn't counted in the U.S. Census until 1920.

Helena's History: A Journey Through Time

Helena, AL town historical marker sign

Who Were the First People in Helena?

Long ago, the land where Helena now stands belonged to the Muscogee people. English colonists called them the Creek Indians. European-American settlers didn't arrive until 1849. This was after the U.S. government moved the Creek and other tribes away in the 1830s. They were moved to lands west of the Mississippi River.

The first European-American settlers came to Helena in 1849. They were soldiers who fought in the War of 1812. They liked the quiet valleys and streams after a big battle called the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. They first named their settlement "Cove." In 1856, a post office opened in Cove. Soon after, the settlers changed the town's name to Hillsboro.

Helena During the Civil War

The American Civil War started, and the South needed more factories. They needed to make things for the Confederate States of America. People started digging for coal and iron ore in the area. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad was built, making it easier to transport goods. Helena became an important place for making war supplies. Around 1864, a factory called a rolling mill was built. It was near the train tracks and processed iron from Selma.

A railroad engineer named Peter Boyle was working on a new train line. He met a woman named Helen Lee and fell in love. He decided to name the train station after her. Eventually, the whole town was named Helena after that train station.

What Happened During Wilson's Raid?

Towards the end of the Civil War, Union soldiers launched a big attack. They wanted to destroy the South's ability to fight. This was similar to Sherman's march from the year before. A group of cavalry led by James Harrison Wilson passed through Helena on March 30, 1865. They destroyed many of the new factories and homes in the town.

Rebuilding Helena After the War

After the Civil War ended, people started rebuilding Helena. They began to use the coal and iron ore again. The railroads were fixed, and new factories called coke ovens were built in 1870. The rolling mill was rebuilt in 1873. Rufus Cobb, who later became governor, helped with this. Much of the old Hillsboro area became part of the growing Helena. The town was officially surveyed in 1873 and became a city in 1877.

By 1880, Helena had:

• Six stores
• One drugstore
• Two hotels
• Several boarding houses

The rolling mill was bigger and more modern. More businesses had opened. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company also added a rail yard.

Helena During the Great Depression

Helena first became a city in 1877. But it had to become a city again in 1917 because of errors in the first paperwork. Charles Hind was elected mayor that same year. After World War I, many industries started to slow down. The rolling mill closed in 1923, and many mines shut down too. When the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, times were very tough. Many people left Helena to find work somewhere else.

The 1933 Tornado

Damage of the tornado

Early in the morning on May 5, 1933, a huge tornado hit Helena. It went right through the middle of the town. Twelve people died, and 75 people were hurt. Many homes were completely destroyed, and train cars were flipped over. The damage cost about $100,000 to $150,000 at that time.

Helena's Growth in Modern Times

Helena stayed a small town for a long time. But in the late 1900s, people from Birmingham started moving to the suburbs. Helena began to grow a lot. Many new homes and businesses were built. This led to improvements in city services. By the early 2000s, Helena's population grew quickly. This caused some challenges in providing enough services. But people liked Helena because of its good location and high quality of life.

The 2021 Tornado

Another tornado hit Helena on March 25, 2021. It caused damage to homes and knocked down trees. The tornado became even stronger northeast of town.

Exploring Helena's Geography

Buck Creek flows over the dam at Helena, Alabama, during the autumn low-water flow.

Helena is located at 33°16′47″N 86°51′22″W / 33.27972°N 86.85611°W / 33.27972; -86.85611.

The city covers about 17.1 square miles (44.3 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The Cahaba River and its smaller stream, Buck Creek, flow through Helena. Buck Creek has a dam in the Old Town area, forming Lake Davidson. This lake was used for fun activities and to power water wheels long ago. Today, people enjoy fishing, wading, and canoeing in both waterways.

Helena is at the bottom of the Appalachian Mountains. These mountains slowly become flat as they reach the Gulf of Mexico coast. The area has rolling hills, many small streams, and lots of mixed woodlands.

Downtown Birmingham is about 20 miles (32 km) north of Helena. You can get there using Alabama Route 261, then US-31 or I-65.

Helena's Climate: What's the Weather Like?

Helena's weather is typical for the Deep South. Summers are long, hot, and humid. Winters are short and usually mild. In summer, temperatures often reach the upper 90s and low 100s Fahrenheit. In winter, temperatures usually drop to the 20s Fahrenheit. It rarely snows, only a few times every ten years. Thunderstorms happen often in the summer.

Helena has two main times for severe weather: early spring (March–April) and late fall (November). Tornadoes are common during both these times. Sometimes, hurricanes from the Gulf Coast can reach Helena. They bring strong winds like a tropical storm.

Who Lives in Helena? (Demographics)

Helena's Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 20,914 people living in Helena. There were 6,718 households and 5,119 families.

• About 72.43% of people were White.
• About 16.17% were Black or African American.
• About 1.56% were Asian.
• About 4.86% were Hispanic or Latino.

Helena's Economy: How People Make a Living

Helena's economy has many different types of jobs. People work in professional jobs, service jobs, and manufacturing. Many Helena residents travel to other towns in the Birmingham area for work. No single company is the biggest employer in Helena. Recent growth has mainly been in service industries. These industries support the growing population.

Some well-known local businesses include:

• The Vulcan Materials Company quarry, which digs up materials for building.
• The Plantation Pipeline depot, which stores oil and gas.

There is also an industrial park with many different types of factories.

Arts and Culture in Helena

Helena hosts many arts and crafts fairs and music shows throughout the year. The Helena Old Town Live Summer Concert Series brings many people to Amphitheater Park. They come to enjoy great music. Helena residents can also easily visit cultural places in the bigger Birmingham area. These include the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, McWane Center, and the Vulcan statue and park.

In 2005, Helena became famous as the hometown of singer Bo Bice. He was a finalist on the TV show American Idol. The Magnolia Springs Manor in Helena was also featured in the movie Borat in 2006.

Fun Annual Events in Helena

Helena has many traditional small-town events each year:

• Easter Egg Hunt
• Buck Creek Festival
• 4th of July picnic, concert, and fireworks
• Fall Carnival
• Spring Fling
• Christmas Parade

Places to Visit in Helena

Some interesting places to visit in Helena include:

• The Cahaba River
• Old Town Amphitheater
• The Old Town district, which has a jail and a railroad freight depot from the 1800s. It also has old shops.

The Kenneth R. Penhale Museum opened in October 2011 in the Old Town district.

Sports and Recreation in Helena

Outdoor sports are very popular in Helena. Football is the most popular sport for players and fans. Golf, basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer are also popular. Many kids play in city-sponsored sports leagues or school sports. Some also play sports at the nearby Pelham YMCA.

The bigger Birmingham area has many minor-league sports teams. Helena is part of this area. Local sports stadiums include the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Regions Field, Legion Field, and the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. College sports are very popular in Helena, just like in the rest of Alabama. Fans in Helena often support teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, UAB Blazers, and Samford Bulldogs. Many people who live in Helena went to these schools.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Helena has many parks provided by the city and Shelby County. These parks have:

• Open green spaces
• Playgrounds
• A fishing pond
• Baseball fields used for games and tournaments

The Helena Sports Complex opened in 2003. It has a community center and places for baseball, softball, cheerleading, basketball, and soccer. The most popular parks are Joe Tucker Park and Cahaba Lily Park.

The Old Town Helena Amphitheater is next to Buck Creek. It has a stage and a grassy area for seating. Many events happen here, like free movies in the summer and the 4th of July celebration. The Cahaba River and Buck Creek flow through Helena. Buck Creek is dammed to form Lake Davidson. People enjoy fishing, wading, and canoeing in these waterways.

Education in Helena

Public schools in Helena are part of the Shelby County School System. They teach students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The schools include:

• Helena Elementary School
• Helena Intermediate School
• Helena Middle School
• Helena High School

A new high school was built to hold more students. It opened in the fall of 2014.

Media and News in Helena

Helena is part of the Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston media market. This means it gets TV and radio stations from these areas.

• Local TV stations: WBRC Fox 6, WBIQ APT (PBS) 10, WVTM (NBC) 13, WTTO CW 21, ABC 33/40, WIAT CBS 42, WPXH ION 44, and WABM MyNetworkTV 68.
• Radio: All Birmingham radio stations, including 100.5 WJQX, an ESPN Radio station licensed to Helena.
• Newspapers: The Birmingham News is Helena's main daily newspaper. It has a special section for Shelby County called the Shelby News. The Shelby County Reporter is a weekly newspaper that covers Helena.
• Magazine: The Helena - The Magazine is published every month by the City of Helena. It's mailed to all residents. It has news, local stories, and columns from doctors and city officials.

Helena's Infrastructure: How the City Works

Transportation: Getting Around Helena

Alabama 261 bridge across Buck Creek in Helena.

Helena is close to two major highways.

• I-459 is about 9 miles north. It connects to other big highways like I-20 and I-59.
• I-65 is about 3 miles east of Old Town Helena.

AL-261 goes through the center of Helena. It connects Helena to Pelham, a nearby city. From there, it becomes Valleydale Road and goes to US-280, connecting Helena to eastern Hoover.

CSX Transportation provides train service on two lines. One goes between Birmingham and Montgomery. The other goes between Birmingham and Atlanta, Georgia.

For air travel:

• Small planes can use the Bessemer Airport (EKY), about 8 miles north.
• Larger commercial flights are available at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), about 25 miles northeast.
• You can catch an Amtrak train called the Crescent in Birmingham, about 19 miles north.

Utilities: City Services

• Electricity: Provided by Alabama Power Company.
• Water, sewage, and garbage: Handled by the city of Helena.
• Cable TV and internet: Provided by several different companies.

Healthcare: Staying Healthy

Many doctors and medical experts work in Helena. They help with things like counseling, dentistry, and general health. Helena also benefits from being close to Birmingham's large medical community. Birmingham has several big hospitals and medical schools from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The closest hospital to Helena is Baptist Shelby in Alabaster.

Famous People From Helena

• Bo Bice: He was the runner-up on American Idol in 2005.
• Liz Cochran: She was Miss Alabama in 2009.
• Vonetta Flowers: An Olympic Gold Medal winner in bobsledding.
• Rebecca Luker: An actor and singer who performed in many musicals.
• Leigh Hulsey: A member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
• Richard Fitts: A pitcher for the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
• Brent Hinds: A guitarist and singer for the band Mastodon.

Images for kids

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  Street banner announcing Money naming Helena the number-one place to live in Alabama in 2007.

• 

  Helena Fire Department Engine 63. This 1980s engine won several awards for appearance and is currently in service as a reserve unit.

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  The City of Helena Welcome Center is housed in a Louisville & Nashville Railroad caboose in Old Town next to the CSX S&NA Subdivision tracks.

See also

In Spanish: Helena (Alabama) para niños