Vestavia Hills, Alabama
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Vestavia Hills is a city located in Jefferson County, Alabama, a suburb of the city of Birmingham.
Vestavia Hills is named for the 20 acre (hectare) estate of former Birmingham mayor George Ward which was situated on the crest of Shades Mountain on what is now the northern edge of the city. Ward's mansion at the Vestavia estate became a landmark in the area as soon as it was completed in 1925. The two and a half story house was patterned after the circular Temple of Vesta in Rome with dark pink sandstone walls encircled by twenty massive white Doric columns surmounted by a carved entablature. The extensive gardens, populated by statuary and peacocks, featured a smaller domed gazebo, which was patterned after the Temple of Sibyl in Tivoli.
After Ward's death the house, something of a tourist stop near the highway between Birmingham and Mongomery, was used as a tea-room and reception hall before being donated to Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. The church met in the temple structure for several years before demolishing it in 1971 to make way for a larger, less pagan-inspired, building. The gazebo was relocated by the garden club to a prominent outcropping closer to the highway to serve as a landmark gateway into the community.
The development of Vestavia Hills as a residential suburb began in 1946 when developer Charles Byrd planned a subdivision for approximately 1000 persons on the gently sloping southern flank of Shades Mountain. It was incorporated as a separate city on November 8, 1950 and has since grown, by rapid development and annexation, into a thriving small city. As of the 2000 census, the population of the Vestavia Hills is 24,476.
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Geography
ALMap-doton-VestaviaHills.PNG
Location of Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Vestavia Hills is located at 33°25'59" North, 86°46'44" West (33.433057, -86.778894)Template:GR.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.9 km² (14.6 mi²). 37.9 km² (14.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 24,476 people, 9,841 households, and 6,878 families residing in the city. The population density is 645.9/km² (1,672.7/mi²). There are 10,523 housing units at an average density of 277.7/km² (719.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 94.46% White, 1.85% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 1.36% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,841 households out of which 34.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% are married couples living together, 7.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% are non-families. 26.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 3.03.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $70,623, and the median income for a family is $89,746. Males have a median income of $72,837 versus $37,083 for females. The per capita income for the city is $40,392. 3.1% of the population and 2.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.6% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
The high quality of the school system in Vestavia Hills has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and other sources. It comprises four elementary schools, one middle school, one alternative school and one high school with a total enrollment of some 4500 students. Vestavia Hills High School is known for the success of its math and debate teams, which have each won several national competitions.
See Also
References
External links
- City of Vestavia Hills website (http://www.vestaviahills.org/)
- VestaviaHills.net (http://www.vestaviahills.net/)