Woodlawn (Birmingham) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woodlawn
|
|
|---|---|
Woodlawn High School
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| City | Birmingham |
| Elevation | 640 ft (200 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
35212
|
| Area code(s) | 205, 659 |
Woodlawn is a lively community located in the northeast part of Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It's a place with a rich history and a strong community spirit.
Contents
A Look Back: Woodlawn's Story
Early Settlers and the Wood Family
Woodlawn started way back in 1815. It was settled by farming families who moved into the area. This happened after the land was opened up by the Treaty of Fort Jackson. The community got its name from the Wood family. Obadiah Wood and his son Edmond Wood came from Greenville, South Carolina. They chose a good spot in Jones Valley with plenty of water, right along the old Georgia Road. This road went deep into what was then called the Mississippi Territory.
Edmond Wood received a large piece of land, about 1,200 acres (5 square kilometers), from his father. He built his family home there. In 1832, a small group of houses called Rockville formed on this property. It was a tiny settlement near the road.
Growth and New Names
Big changes came in 1870 when the first railway arrived in the valley. Because of the train, the settlement was renamed Wood Station and began to grow. By the end of that decade, a private school called "Woodlawn Academy" was started. It educated the children of the community's 89 residents. In 1884, the Georgia Pacific Railway began offering train service to the fast-growing city of Birmingham, which was about 4 miles to the west.
Becoming a City
In 1891, the State of Alabama officially recognized Woodlawn as a city. The citizens chose the name "City of Woodlawn" to honor the Wood family, who were still very involved in local life. By 1895, Woodlawn had its first City Hall and a jail. By the year 1900, the population had grown to 2,500 people. A bigger City Hall was built around that time, along with new schools, churches, a fire station, and a library. The impressive Woodlawn High School, built in a Gothic style, opened its doors in 1922.
Joining Birmingham and Facing Challenges
In 1910, the City of Woodlawn became part of Birmingham. However, it kept a strong community spirit. The Wood family even turned their estate into a public park, now called "Willow Wood Park," which included a spring-fed swimming pool. People often talked about the great local pride in Woodlawn. One newspaper in 1950 called it "a really great section of Birmingham...A section typical of the fine things in life."
Sadly, this strong pride couldn't stop some tough times from arriving. After the social changes of the 1960s and economic problems of the 1970s, parts of the community started to decline. Old houses needed repairs, and many people moved away. There was also a big problem with joblessness and poverty. By the early 1980s, it was clear that these issues needed to be fixed, and some efforts were made to improve the area.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,506 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,848 | 89.1% | |
Woodlawn was counted as an official town in the U.S. Censuses of 1890 and 1900. It officially became part of the City of Birmingham in 1910.
Woodlawn Today: Community and Progress
Community Involvement
Within the city of Birmingham, Woodlawn is one of 23 "Communities." These communities take part in a special "Community Participation Program." This program helps local people get involved in politics and community development. The neighborhoods that make up the greater Woodlawn community are East Avondale, Oak Ridge Park, South Woodlawn, and the Woodlawn neighborhood itself.
Plans for the Future
In recent years, Woodlawn residents have worked with the City and Region 2020 to create a master plan. This plan is part of Birmingham's bigger "Comprehensive Master Plan." An early project to put these goals into action in the central part of Woodlawn, north of 1st Avenue, has had some success. Several old houses were improved, and a lively community garden was started.
The main business area of Woodlawn and Woodlawn High School are very important to the community. They are still working to fully recover and grow.
New Life in the Business District
Recently, a lot of attention has focused on Woodlawn's business district. Groups like REV Birmingham and the Woodlawn Foundation are leading efforts to bring new life to businesses and homes. This has made Woodlawn a popular new neighborhood in Birmingham. Some fancy new shops have opened here. You can also see three new public murals that add to the area's artistic feel.
Woodlawn is also home to one of only two Hackerspaces in Alabama. A hackerspace is a place where people who love technology, science, and art can meet, work on projects, and share ideas. This one is called Red Mountain Makers. The other hackerspace is Makers Local 256 in Huntsville.
Famous People from Woodlawn
Woodlawn has been home to some well-known individuals:
- Bobby Bowden was a talented quarterback at Woodlawn High School. He later became a famous football coach at Howard (now Samford) University and Florida State University.
- Tony Nathan was a running back for the Miami Dolphins. He also went to Woodlawn High School and played football for Paul "Bear" Bryant at the University of Alabama.
- Lili Gentle is an actress who was married to Richard D. Zanuck from 1958 to 1968.
- Paul Hemphill was an author, known for his book "Leaving Birmingham."
