Southside (Birmingham) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Southside
View of Birmingham looking north from the crest of Red Mountain, with Southside (including UAB and Ramsay High School) in the immediate foreground.
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	35205
Area code(s)	205, 659

Southside is a historic neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama. It sits on the hilly slopes of Red Mountain, just south of downtown Birmingham. This area stretches from Railroad Park up to the top of Red Mountain. It is also located between Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 31. Southside is a busy place with many homes. It is also home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). UAB and its hospitals are a very large employer in the state.

Exploring Southside's Unique Vibe

Southside is known for being a very diverse and welcoming neighborhood in Birmingham. The area called Five Points South is especially popular. It has many fun places for nightlife and entertainment. Because UAB attracts people from all over the world, Southside has many different cultures. It is also considered a very friendly place for everyone. Many people here ride bicycles to get around. It is also one of the easiest neighborhoods to walk in the city.

Southside has many local businesses. Many residents work in healthcare, research, and banking. These jobs are important to Birmingham's economy. You can also find law firms in Five Points South. For outdoor fun, there are places like George Ward Park and Railroad Park. The Vulcan Trail and Magic City Rotary Trail offer great views. The Vulcan statue, a symbol of Birmingham, stands on top of Red Mountain. You can see it from most parts of the neighborhood. Other cool places to visit include Good People Brewery and Dreamland Bar-B-Que. There is also the Frank Fleming Storyteller Fountain. The Alys Stephens Center and Regions Field baseball stadium are also here.

A Look at Southside's Past

Much of Southside was built in the 1890s. John Phelan and Robert Jemison Sr. helped develop it. They wanted it to be a nice streetcar suburb for families. It was similar to the Inman Park neighborhood in Atlanta. Having UAB and the special school Ramsay High School nearby helped the community stay strong. This was especially true in the late 1900s. Southside still has some of the lowest crime rates in the city.

As one of Birmingham's oldest neighborhoods, many people want to live here now. They like the historic homes. New apartments and condos are also being built. The neighborhood has seven historic areas. These areas have many different styles of houses built between 1890 and 1920. You can see Prairie, Craftsman, Neoclassical, and Victorian styles. Some homes are also Queen Anne and Colonial Revival. The sidewalks, tree-lined streets, and alleys were used as a model. They helped design the new community of Mt. Laurel. Southside residents have three neighborhood groups. These groups meet every month.

Community Services in Southside

Libraries for Learning

• Southside Public Library
• UAB Sterne Library
• UAB Lister Hill Biomedical Library (this one has limited access)

Getting Around Southside

• UAB Blazer Express: All Lines
• Dart Express Bus: Blue line (from Five Points South to Downtown Business District on 20th St), Green Line (from Lakeview district to UAB on University Blvd)
• Birmingham City Bus System: line 14 goes throughout the area. Lines 48 and 8 go west. Lines 17 and 12 go east. Lines 39, 42, 31, 72, and 51c go south.

Schools in the Area

• Located in the neighborhood: Glen Iris Elementary, Epic Alternative Elementary, Ramsay Magnet High School, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Also serves areas for: Avondale Elementary, Arrington Middle School, Putnam Middle School, Carver High School

Police and Safety

• UAB Police Department (near Phelan Park)
• Birmingham Police Department South Precinct Headquarters (in Five Points South)

Fire and Rescue Stations

• Station #2 Southside
• Station # 3 Highland
• Station # 7 Greensprings

Images for kids

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  Apartments in Five Points South

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  A street in Five Points South

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  Robert Jemison Sr. House

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  A historic home on 11th Avenue South

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  The Agee House, a historic landmark

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  A larger home in the neighborhood