Montevallo, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montevallo, Alabama
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City
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Montevallo in 2012
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Location of Montevallo in Shelby County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Alabama | ||||
| County | Shelby | ||||
| Settled | 1815 | ||||
| Incorporated | 1848 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 13.09 sq mi (33.90 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 12.81 sq mi (33.17 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.28 sq mi (0.73 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 433 ft (132 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,229 | ||||
| • Density | 564.50/sq mi (217.96/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||||
| ZIP code |
35115
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| Area code | 205, 659 | ||||
| FIPS code | 01-50312 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404287 | ||||
Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. It's known as a college town because it's home to the University of Montevallo. This is a public university that focuses on liberal arts education. In 2020, about 7,229 people lived in Montevallo.
Contents
Where is Montevallo Located?
Montevallo is in Alabama, and it's special because it marks the geographic center of the state! You can find a plaque on Reynolds Cemetery Road that shows this exact spot. The city covers about 13 square miles (33.9 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
A Brief History of Montevallo
Early Settlement and Name Change
The land where Montevallo now stands was once controlled by the Creek Indians. In 1814, a man named Jesse Wilson started a home on a small hill. This became the oldest settlement in Shelby County. More friends and family joined him, and the area was called Wilson's Hill.
Because it was almost exactly in the center of Alabama, Wilson's Hill was considered a possible location for the University of Alabama. To encourage the university to choose their spot, the settlers changed the name to Montevallo. This name is Italian for "the hill in the valley."
Growth and the Civil War
Montevallo became a market town where local farmers could sell their crops. It officially became a city in 1848. A railway built in 1853 connected Montevallo to Selma, which helped the city's economy grow. A coal mine opened nearby in 1856, bringing even more growth.
During the American Civil War, in 1865, Union troops camped in Montevallo. They had a small fight with Confederate soldiers near the train station. After the war, the coal mine became very important. It helped supply coal to the growing iron industry in the region, especially in the city of Birmingham.
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The University's Impact
In the early 1890s, Montevallo competed to become the site of the Alabama Girl's Industrial School. This was a technical college for white women. Montevallo won the competition by raising money to buy land and old buildings for the college. The school opened in Montevallo in 1896.
The college, later renamed Alabama College, helped Montevallo's economy grow a lot. It started accepting men in 1956 and African Americans in 1968. It then became the University of Montevallo. The university quickly became the main employer in Montevallo, taking over from the coal mine, which closed in 1946. The university also helped the community stay strong during the Great Depression.
Who Lives in Montevallo?
Montevallo has grown steadily over the years. In 1880, there were only 402 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 7,229 people.
Population Details
According to the 2010 census, there were 6,323 people living in Montevallo. About 70% of the people were White, and 24.6% were Black or African American. About 5.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The city has a mix of ages. About 17.7% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 27 years old, which means half the people were younger than 27 and half were older.
Fun Places to Visit in Montevallo
Parnell Memorial Library
The Parnell Memorial Library is more than just a place for books! It started small in 1958. After a fire destroyed the library in 1978, it moved a few times. In 2007, a brand new building opened.
This new library is also a community cultural center. It has an art gallery and a theater. The theater is used by the Montevallo Main Street Players, a local theater group. It's also used by schools and other groups for plays and musical performances.
Shoal Creek Park
Shoal Creek Park is a large, historic area covering 167 acres. It has trails for walking and biking. You can also find Perry Hall, an old house built in 1834. The park was donated to the city in 2013.
Orr Park
Orr Park is another great place for outdoor fun. It's located along Shoal Creek. The park has two playgrounds, six baseball/softball fields, a walking trail, and a football field.
One of the coolest things at Orr Park is "Tinglewood." In the early 1990s, a local artist named Tim Tingle carved storm-damaged cedar trees into amazing works of art. You can see gnomes, a dragon, and other fun creatures carved into the trees!
American Village
The American Village is a special place that teaches people about American history and civics. It's like a living classroom! Its goal is to help young people learn about American liberty and self-government.
Famous People from Montevallo
Montevallo has been home to several notable people:
- Polly Holliday: An actress known for TV shows like Alice and movies like Mrs. Doubtfire.
- James Hardy: A surgeon who performed the first successful human lung transplant.
- Eugene Bondurant Sledge: A Marine and author who wrote about his experiences in World War II.
- Korey Cunningham: An NFL player who played for teams like the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots.
Montevallo's Sister City
Montevallo has a special friendship with Echizen Town in Japan. This relationship started in 1995 because both places have an interest in pottery. Echizen Town is famous for its unique pottery, and the University of Montevallo is excellent at teaching pottery art. Echizen Town is also known for its high-quality crab, rice, and daffodils.
Images for kids
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Montevallo City Hall
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Montevallo Post Office (ZIP code: 35115)
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Built in 1823, the King House is the oldest building on the campus of the University of Montevallo.
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Built in 1900, the McKibbon House is a historic Victorian home. It is now a bed and breakfast.
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Shoal Creek at Orr Park in Montevallo.
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Tim Tingle's carving of a man's face in the trees at Orr Park.
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See also
In Spanish: Montevallo (Alabama) para niños
