Montevallo, Alabama

{{short description|City in Alabama, United States}} {{Redirect|Montevallo}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Montevallo, Alabama |settlement_type = City |motto = |image_skyline = Montevallo, Alabama.JPG |imagesize = |image_caption = Montevallo in 2012 |image_flag = Flag of Montevallo, Alabama.png |image_seal = Seal of Montevallo, Alabama.png |image_blank_emblem = Logo of Montevallo, Alabama.png |blank_emblem_type = Logo |image_map = File:Shelby County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Montevallo Highlighted 0150312.svg |map_caption = Location of Montevallo in Shelby County, Alabama. |mapsize = 250px  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Alabama}} |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Shelby  |established_title = Settled |established_date = 1815 |established_title1 = Incorporated |established_date1 = 1848 |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name =  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref> |area_total_sq_mi = 13.09 |area_land_sq_mi = 12.81 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.28 |area_total_km2 = 33.90 |area_land_km2 = 33.17 |area_water_km2 = 0.73  |population_as_of = 2020 |population_total = 7229 |population_footnotes = |population_density_sq_mi = 564.50 |population_density_km2 = 217.96  |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = −6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = −5 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 430 |coordinates = {{coord|33|07|30|N|86|51|46|W|display=inline,title}} |coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>  |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 35115 |area_code = 205, 659 |area_code_type = Area code |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 01-50312 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2404287<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404287}}</ref> |website = {{Official website|http://www.cityofmontevallo.com/}} |footnotes = }}

'''Montevallo''' is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. A college town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal arts university with approximately 3,000 students. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city of Montevallo is 7,229.

==Geography== A plaque on Reynolds Cemetery Road, just off Alabama State Route 25, in the eastern corner of the town, marks the geographic center of the state of Alabama. Middle Street, formerly known as Main Street, had its name changed in 1899 for this reason, upon the completion of a new state survey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/|title=Alabama Department of Archives and History|work=state.al.us}}</ref>

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|7.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|7.6|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (0.66%) is water.

==History== {{more citations needed section|date=September 2025}} The area where Montevallo is now was controlled by the Creek Indians. After being acquired in 1814, Jesse Wilson claimed a small hill on the northern bank of Wilson's Creek by the present Montevallo City Cemetery and created a homestead there, making it the oldest settlement in Shelby County. Wilson's friends and family followed afterwards and also settled in the area, and a settlement known as '''Wilson's Hill''' developed on the site. The settlement's location at almost the exact center of Alabama meant it was considered one of the potential sites for the University of Alabama. In an attempt to encourage the university to choose the site the settlement changed its name to Montevallo, which is Italian for ''the hill in the valley''.

Montevallo was used by local farmers as a market town where they could sell and package their produce. It was incorporated as a city in 1848. In 1853 a railway was built between Montevallo and Selma which allowed further economic growth to Montevallo and in 1856 a coal mine was created nearby leading to further growth.

During the American Civil War, Union troops under the command of James H. Wilson camped in Montevallo in the spring of 1865 and skirmished with Confederates near the railroad depot. After the war, commercial life and growth was dominated by the coal mine owned by Truman Aldrich who leased the mine and attempted to increase production in response to the growing iron industry in the region and the growing city of Birmingham. Starting in 1890, company owned worker housing was built in Montevallo to house miners.

thumb|Main Hall, Montevallo In the early 1890s, residents of Montevallo entered the city in a competition to be selected for the site of the Alabama Girl's Industrial School (later the University of Montevallo) a technical college for white women, raising funds to purchase land and antebellum buildings for the college they won and the college was founded in Montevallo in 1896. Commerce and economic growth increased in Montevallo after the establishment of the college, which was renamed Alabama College in 1919, started admitting men in 1956 and started admitting African Americans in 1968 and became the modern liberal arts University of Montevallo. The university became the main source of commerce in Montevallo and money generated by it was used by the municipal government to build schools. The university also allowed the community some stability during the Great Depression. It quickly took over the coal mine as the major employer in Montevallo, the coal mine closing in 1946.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3267|title=Montevallo|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Alabama}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://montevallo.homestead.com/historicalcommission.html|title=The Official Website of Montevallo, Alabama – Historical Commission|work=homestead.com}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1880 = 402 | 1890 = 572 | 1910 = 923 | 1920 = 850 | 1930 = 1245 | 1940 = 1490 | 1950 = 2150 | 1960 = 2755 | 1970 = 3719 | 1980 = 3965 | 1990 = 4239 | 2000 = 4825 | 2010 = 6323 | 2020 = 7229 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 7872 | estref = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2025/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2025-POP-01.xlsxOrigin= |title=2025 City and town population estimates: Alabama|website=U.S. Census Bureau |date=May 14, 2026 |access-date=May 22, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> 2013 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Montevallo city, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Montevallo city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0150312&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Montevallo city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0150312&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Montevallo city, Alabama|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0150312&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |3,438 |4,254 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,393 |71.25% |67.28% |style='background: #ffffe6; |60.77% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |1,249 |1,547 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,638 |25.89% |24.47% |style='background: #ffffe6; |22.66% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |18 |18 |style='background: #ffffe6; |24 |0.37% |0.28% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33% |- |Asian alone (NH) |19 |39 |style='background: #ffffe6; |52 |0.39% |0.62% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.72% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |0 |1 |style='background: #ffffe6; |13 |0.00% |0.02% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18% |- |Other race alone (NH) |2 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |29 |0.04% |0.09% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |23 |95 |style='background: #ffffe6; |310 |0.48% |1.50% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.29% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |76 |363 |style='background: #ffffe6; |770 |1.58% |5.74% |style='background: #ffffe6; |10.65% |- |'''Total''' |'''4,825''' |'''6,323''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''7,229 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, there were 7,229 people, 2,574 households, and 1,234 families residing in the city.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A50312&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 27, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A50312&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 27, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The median age was 27.9 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 79.7 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

80.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 20.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A50312&in=state%3A01|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 27, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

Of all households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 38.9% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 2,837 housing units, of which 9.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name="2010 census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 8, 2015|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 6,323 people, 2,346 households, and 1,325 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|832.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,654 housing units at an average density of {{convert|349.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 70.2% White, 24.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,346 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 17.7% under the age of 18, 29.1% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,417, and the median income for a family was $75,500. Males had a median income of $53,125 versus $31,361 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,741. About 11.8% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,825 people, 1,711 households, and 946 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|638.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,897 housing units at an average density of {{convert|251.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.54% White, 25.89% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,711 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.4% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 18.3% under the age of 18, 36.0% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 14.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,541, and the median income for a family was $40,164. Males had a median income of $36,222 versus $23,705 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,468. About 14.5% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 21.5% of those age 65 or over. ==Places of interest== {{more citations needed section|date=September 2025}}

===Shoal Creek Park=== Shoal Creek Park is a historical 167-acre estate that provides a series of walking and biking trails, in addition to a Pavilion, Antebellum style house, known as Perry Hall, and parking lot, located on Highway 119 in Montevallo surrounding Shoal Creek.

Perry Hall was constructed in 1834 on an 800-acre farm owned by the Perry family. The ownership of the house and land were later transferred to the Mahler family in 1946, and later donated to the city of Montevallo in 2013 by Ms. Elizabeth “Betty” Mahler.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shoal Creek Park |url=https://www.shoalcreekparkfoundation.com/park-history.html#/ |website=Shoal Creek Park Foundation |access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>

===Orr Park=== thumb|upright|Tim Tingle Tree Carvings in Orr Park Orr Park, located in Montevallo along Shoal Creek offers residents and visitors a natural recreational environment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orr Park |url=http://www.shelbycountytourism.org/Facilities.aspx?Page=detail&RID=102 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201180641/http://www.shelbycountytourism.org/Facilities.aspx?Page=detail&RID=102 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |publisher=Shelby County Tourism}}</ref> Orr Park offers two playgrounds, six baseball/softball fields, a walking trail, a football field and a practice field.

Orr Park contains a local attraction dubbed "Tinglewood". In the early 1990s, local artist Tim Tingle, a coal miner by trade, took it upon himself to transform storm-damaged cedar trees into works of art. The carvings feature gnomes, a dragon, and a fish eating a snake, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orr Park |url=https://www.cityofmontevallo.com/288/Orr-Park |access-date=January 25, 2019 |website=cityofmontevallo.com |department=Parks and Recreation}}</ref>

===American Village=== The American Village is a classroom and American history and civics education center. The American Village serves the Nation as an educational institution whose mission is to strengthen and renew the foundations of American liberty and self-government by engaging and inspiring citizens and leaders, with a special emphasis on programs for young people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Village Citizenship Trust |url=http://www.americanvillage.org/site/PageServer |access-date=April 16, 2021 |website=americanvillage.org}}</ref>

==Notable people== *Slade Blackwell, member of the Alabama Senate *Andrew Jackson Caldwell, U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1883 to 1887 *James Hardy, surgeon who performed the first successful human lung transplant. *Jim Hayes, former Major League Baseball player for the Washington Senators *[[David Howard Thornton (actor) ]] *Polly Holliday, actress in TV series such as ''Alice'' and movies. *Frank Ragan King, Commander in the US Navy who was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal *Burwell Boykin Lewis, former politician and president of the University of Alabama from 1880 to 1885 *Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr., 11th director of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center *Piano "C" Red, (1933–2013), Chicago blues and boogie-woogie singer and composer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rockandrollparadise.com/piano-c-red-62013/|title=Piano C Red drove a taxi by day and played blues piano at night|date=October 10, 2016|website=Rockandrollparadise.com|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> *Eugene Sledge, United States Marine, university professor, and author

==Sister city== {{flagicon|Japan}} Echizen Town, Fukui, Japan (since 2008) -- the friendly relationship between Echizen Town and Montevallo began in 1995 with a common interest in pottery. Echizen Town is well known for its unusual pottery and the University of Montevallo excels in teaching and creating the art.<ref name="Montevallo Sister City Commission" >{{Citation | title = Montevallo Sister City Commission | publisher = Montevallo Sister City Commission | url= http://montevalloscc.com | access-date = February 25, 2012 }}</ref> Echizen Town is also well known in Japan for its high quality crab, rice, and daffodils. Many people often confuse Echizen Town with Echizen City, a larger city to the south of Echizen Town, known for its production of knives and paper.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==Gallery== <gallery class="center"> File:Montevallo, Alabama City Hall.JPG|Montevallo City Hall File:Montevallo, Alabama Post Office (35115).JPG|Montevallo Post Office (ZIP code: 35115) File:Montevallo, Alabama Parnell Memorial Library.JPG|Parnell Memorial Library File:King House University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL.JPG|Built in the Federal style in 1823, the King House is the oldest building on the campus of the University of Montevallo. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 14, 1972. File:McKibbon House Montevallo, Alabama.JPG|Built in 1900, the McKibbon House is a historic Victorian home located in Montevallo. The home is now used as a bed and breakfast. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 2001. File:Montevallo, Alabama Shoal Creek at Orr Park.JPG|Shoal Creek at Orr Park in Montevallo. File:Montevallo, Alabama Tim Tingle Tree Carvings in Orr Park 1.JPG|Tim Tingle's carving of a man's face in the trees at Orr Park. </gallery>

==References== <references />

==External links== {{Commons category|Montevallo, Alabama}} * [http://www.cityofmontevallo.com/ City of Montevallo]: Official City Website * [http://www.parnellmemoriallibraryfoundation.org/ Parnell Memorial Library Foundation]:Parnell Memorial Library Foundation

Category:Montevallo, Alabama Category:Cities in Alabama Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1815 Category:Cities in Shelby County, Alabama Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama Category:1815 establishments in the United States