Avondale (Birmingham)
Avondale | |
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CDT) | |
ZIP Codes | 35222 |
Area codes | 205, 659 |
Avondale was a company town built around the Avondale Mills east of Birmingham, Alabama in Jefferson County. The town was incorporated on March 18, 1887.[1] The city was annexed into Birmingham in 1910 and is now divided into three separate neighborhoods, North Avondale, East Avondale and South Avondale.
The first residents of the area were clustered around "King's Spring" on the slopes of
The park was the largest in Birmingham until
The spring emerged from a cave, now sealed off and proceeded to flow through the center of Spring Street (now 41st Street), the primary commercial center of Avondale.
By the early seventies Avondale Park had developed a reputation as a drug-dealing area and the vicinity entered a long period of decline. However, the park has since seen a rebirth. In 2011, the city of Birmingham undertook a $2.88 million restoration of the park. In 2013, The Forest Park South Avondale Business Association sponsored the installation of free WiFi throughout the park.
Beginning around 2011, the neighborhood redeveloped as a restaurant and entertainment destination featuring several breweries and concert venues. Avondale Park was a site for events in the 2022 World Games.[2]
The neighborhood is notable for its religious diversity, including Baha'i, Buddhist, and Quaker centers along with the regionally predominant Baptist and Methodist churches.[3]
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 1,642 | — | |
1900 | 3,060 | 86.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[4] |
Avondale was listed on the 1890 and 1900 U.S. Censuses as an incorporated town. It was annexed by the city of Birmingham in 1910 and did not appear separately on that census. In 1900, it had 1,585 males (51.8%) and 1,475 females (48.2%).[5]
Photo Gallery
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Avondale Park
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Avondale Park
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Avondale Park
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Avondale Park
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Child laborers at Avondale Mills
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Avondale Mill School
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Avondale Mill Village
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Thomas School, Avondale (Birmingham)
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Avondale Historic District Homes
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Harmony Street Baptist Church, Avondale (Birmingham)
See also
References
Notes
References
- "Battle of Avondale, 1865" (September 3, 1885) Weekly Iron Age (Birmingham, Alabama).
- ^ 1887 Pocket Business Directory and Guide to Birmingham, Ala. 1887. p. 15. Retrieved 27 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Birmingham World Games begin steamy day with speed skating at Powell Steam Plant". al. 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ Bains, David R. (2019-11-10). "Avondale's Religious Life". Magic City Religion. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- ^ "Population by sex" (PDF). census.gov. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
External links
- Avondale material at the Birmingham Public Library's Digital Archives