Vestavia Hills, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vestavia Hills, Alabama
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Entrance to Vestavia Hills from Highway 31
|
|||
|
|||
Location of Vestavia Hills in Jefferson County and Shelby County, Alabama
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Alabama | ||
| Counties | Jefferson, Shelby | ||
| Incorporated | November 8, 1950 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 20.27 sq mi (52.49 km2) | ||
| • Land | 20.03 sq mi (51.87 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 39,102 | ||
| • Estimate
(2022)
|
38,292 | ||
| • Density | 1,913/sq mi (738.5/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
35216, 35226, 35242, 35266
|
||
| Area code(s) | 205 and 659 | ||
| FIPS code | 01-78552 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2405646 | ||
Vestavia Hills, often called Vestavia, is a city in Alabama. It's located in Jefferson and Shelby counties. This city is a suburb of Birmingham. It includes areas like Vestavia, Liberty Park, and Cahaba Heights. In 2020, about 39,102 people lived there. Vestavia Hills was the third largest city in Jefferson County in 2020. It is also the thirteenth largest city in all of Alabama.
Contents
History of Vestavia Hills
Vestavia Hills gets its name from a large estate. This estate belonged to George B. Ward, a former mayor of Birmingham. His estate was about 20 acres and sat on Shades Mountain. This is now the northern part of the city.
Ward's mansion was finished in 1925. It quickly became a famous landmark. The house looked like the circular Temple of Vesta in Rome. It had dark pink sandstone walls and 20 large white columns. The gardens were huge and had statues and peacocks. There was also a smaller, round gazebo. This gazebo looked like the Temple of Sibyl in Tivoli.
After Mayor Ward passed away, the mansion was used as a tearoom. It was also a place for events. Later, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church bought it. The church used the building for several years. In 1971, part of the building was taken down to make space for a bigger church. A central part of the original mansion still stands today. The local garden club moved the small gazebo to a spot near the highway. It now serves as a special landmark for the community.
Vestavia Hills started to grow as a neighborhood in 1946. A developer named Charles Byrd planned a community for about 1,000 people. This area was on the southern side of Shades Mountain. Vestavia Hills officially became a city on November 8, 1950. Since then, it has grown a lot. It is now a busy city with over 39,000 people.
Geography and Location
Vestavia Hills is located at 33°25′59″N 86°46′44″W / 33.43306°N 86.77889°W.
The city is located along U.S. Route 31. This road goes north and south through the city. It leads 7 miles (11 km) north to downtown Birmingham. It also goes 4 miles (6 km) southwest to Hoover.
The city covers about 20.27 square miles (52.49 km2). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.24 square miles (0.63 km2), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 4,029 | — | |
| 1970 | 12,250 | 204.0% | |
| 1980 | 15,722 | 28.3% | |
| 1990 | 19,749 | 25.6% | |
| 2000 | 24,476 | 23.9% | |
| 2010 | 34,033 | 39.0% | |
| 2020 | 39,102 | 14.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 38,292 | 12.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
|||
Vestavia Hills Population in 2020
In 2020, Vestavia Hills had 39,102 people living there. There were 15,187 households and 10,545 families. The city had about 1,959 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Vestavia Hills are White. There are also many Asian and Black or African American residents. About 3.22% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 83.32% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4.64% |
| Asian | 5.62% |
| Other/Mixed | 3.08% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.22% |
Vestavia Hills Population in 2010
In 2010, the city had 34,033 people. The average household had 2.47 people. The average family had 3.03 people. Most homes (76.8%) were owned by the people living in them. The median household income was $87,154. This means half of the households earned more and half earned less.
About 25.3% of the population was under 18 years old. About 15.3% were 65 years or older. The average age was 41 years. More than half of the population (52.4%) was female.
Education in Vestavia Hills
The schools in Vestavia Hills are known for being very good. The school system has five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. There is also one alternative school. About 6,000 students attend these schools.
Vestavia Hills High School is famous for its math and debate teams. These teams have won many national competitions. The school's band and baseball teams have also received a lot of awards. In 2008/2009, the boys' basketball team won the Alabama state championship. The wrestling team has won 15 state championships. This is a record in Alabama. In 2008, Liberty Park Middle School opened as the system's eighth school.
Parks and Recreation
Vestavia Hills has many open spaces for families. People can enjoy the outdoors, play sports, and attend community events. The city offers many club sports for young people. These include baseball, softball, basketball, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, football, cheerleading, tennis, and swimming. These clubs use the city's parks and facilities.
- Wald Park: This is one of the biggest parks in Vestavia. It has the Vestavia Hills Swimming Pool, the Civic Center, and the Senior's Lodge. It also has five baseball fields, a walking track, a playground, and a skatepark. The park is open every day from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash.
- Byrd Park: This is a smaller park next to Vestavia Hills Elementary East. It has a walking path, a picnic area, and a playground.
- McCallum Park: This park has pavilions, restrooms, and a walking track. It has a large open field for picnics and events. It opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at sunset. Pets are welcome on a leash.
- Liberty Park Sports Complex: This complex is in Liberty Park. It has nine softball fields, one football field, and four soccer fields. It is home to the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club. The fields open at daybreak and close at 9:30 p.m., unless there are events. Pets are welcome.
- Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex: This is an extension of the Liberty Park Sports Complex. It has turf fields for football, lacrosse, and soccer. It also has restrooms, concessions, and bleachers. There are plans to add an amphitheater, a water area, a dog park, and walking trails.
- Cahaba Heights Athletic Fields: These fields are behind Vestavia Hills Elementary, Cahaba Heights. They have three youth baseball fields and one multipurpose field.
Transportation
Bus service in Vestavia Hills is provided by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. This service is called Max Transit.
Notable People
Many well-known people have lived in Vestavia Hills, including:
- Spencer Bachus – a former U.S. Representative.
- Pat DuPré – a former professional tennis player.
- Eli Gold – a sportscaster.
- Chris Hammond – a Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Josh Hancock – a Major League Baseball pitcher and World Series Champion.
- Smylie Kaufman – a PGA Tour golfer.
- Hudson Meek – an actor.
- Rebecca Moore – a former Miss Alabama USA.
- Michael Papajohn – an actor and stuntman.
- George B. Ward – a former mayor of Birmingham.
- Abby Champion – a model.
Images for kids
-
Entrance to Vestavia Hills from Highway 31
-
Flag of Vestavia Hills
-
Logo of Vestavia Hills
-
Location of Vestavia Hills in Jefferson and Shelby Counties
See also
In Spanish: Vestavia Hills para niños
