Irondale is a city in Jefferson County,

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

. It is a suburb of

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...

, northeast of Homewood and Mountain Brook. At the 2020 census, the population was 13,497. Irondale is the location of the Irondale Cafe. Author

Fannie Flagg Fannie Flagg (born Patricia Neal; September 21, 1944) is an American actress, comedian and author. She is best known as a semi-regular panelist on the 1973–1982 versions of the game show ''Match Game'' and for the 1987 novel '' Fried Green Tom ...

used this for her fictional setting in her novel ''

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe ''Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe'' is a 1987 novel by American author Fannie Flagg. Set in Alabama, it weaves together the past and the present through the blossoming friendship between Evelyn Couch, a middle-aged housewife, and N ...

'' (1987). The city is the site of Catholic radio/television broadcaster

Eternal Word Television Network The Eternal Word Television Network, more commonly known by its initials EWTN, is an American basic cable television network which presents around-the-clock Catholic-themed programming. It is not only the largest Catholic television network in ...

, or (EWTN). The city's annual Whistle-Stop Festival attracts thousands to its eclectic mix of art, food and music.

History

On October 5, 1887, the people of Irondale petitioned for incorporation. The town incorporated as Irondale (after Irondale Furnace) on October 19, 1887, following a vote on October 17, 1887. The 1916 Irondale earthquake, magnitude 5.1, caused some damage in the area, and was felt in neighboring states. In 1981,

Mother Angelica Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation (born Rita Antoinette Rizzo; April 20, 1923 – March 27, 2016), also known as Mother Angelica, was an American Roman Catholic nun of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. She was best known for the ...

founded the

, after starting operations in a garage. On August 25, 2020, Irondale voters elected James D. Stewart, Jr. as the first black mayor in the city's history.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and 0.11% is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, there were 13,497 people, 5,161 households, and 3,022 families residing in the city.

2010 census

According to the 2010 census results, the population of the area was approximately 12,349 people. From 2000 to 2010, Irondale's population growth percentage was 25.8% (or from 9,813 people to 12,349 people). 23.1% of the Irondale city residents were under 18 years of age. Census 2010 race data for Irondale city include the racial breakdown percentages of 56.33% white, 35.38% black, 1.43% Asian and 7.78% Hispanic. Also, there were 5,495 housing units in Irondale city, 92.5% of which were occupied housing units.

Education

Irondale is served by Jefferson County Board of Education and is home to

Shades Valley High School Shades Valley High School (SVHS) is a four-year public secondary school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Irondale. The school was established in 1948 near Homewood and moved to its present location in 1996. SVHS is the largest of 14 high sch ...

, Grantswood Community School, Irondale Community School, Irondale Middle School, Shades Valley Theatre Academy, Jefferson Christian Academy, and the

Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (JCIB) is a public International Baccalaureate school located on the campus of Shades Valley High School in Irondale, Alabama. The school enrolls 372 students in grades 9- 12 and is a part of ...

Notable people

, author of best-selling 1987 novel, '' Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe''; it was adapted as the 1991 film, ''Fried Green Tomatoes''. *

Marion Hobby Marion Hobby (born November 7, 1966 in Irondale, Alabama) is an American football coach who is the defensive line coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Playing career Hobby played college football at the Univ ...

, defensive line coach for the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The club's home ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the majo ...

Gallery

File:Irondale, AL Municipal Complex.JPG, Irondale Municipal Complex File:Irondale, AL Public Library.JPG, Irondale Public Library File:EWTN studio.jpg, The studio of the

(EWTN).

References

External links

City of IrondaleIrondale Public LibraryIrondale Chamber of CommerceIrondale Code of Ordinances
Cities in Alabama Cities in Jefferson County, Alabama Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama {{Alabama-stub