Mountain Brook, Alabama

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Mountain Brook, Alabama
City
The "Old Mill" on Shades Creek
The "Old Mill" on Shades Creek
Official seal of Mountain Brook, Alabama
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Find Peace. Find Mountain Brook."
Location of Mountain Brook in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Location of Mountain Brook in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 33°29′13″N 86°44′26″W / 33.48694°N 86.74056°W / 33.48694; -86.74056
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyJefferson
IncorporatedMarch 24, 1942
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • MayorStewart Welch, III
Area
 • Total12.84 sq mi (33.3 km2)
 • Land12.82 sq mi (33.2 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
768 ft (234 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,413
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
20,297
 • Density1,600/sq mi (610/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
35213, 35223, 35243
Area code(s)205 & 659
FIPS code01-51696
GNIS feature ID0123503
Websitehttp://www.mtnbrook.org/
Mtn. Brook City Schools @ www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us. — 4 Primary schools, 1 Jr. High School, 1 Sr. High School

Mountain Brook is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, and a suburb of Birmingham. Its population at the 2010 census was 20,413.[3] It is one of the state's most affluent places.[4]

History[edit]

The city was originally developed in 1929 by real-estate businessman Robert Jemison, Jr., as an extensive residential subdivision along the ridges known as Red Mountain and Shades Mountain.[5] It was incorporated on May 24, 1942.[6] The plans, by Boston-based landscape architect Warren H. Manning, called for estate-sized lots along winding scenic roads and denser commercial development centering on three picturesque "villages": English Village, Mountain Brook Village and Crestline Village. Most of Mountain Brook's development preserved the existing trees: 92.03% is under tree cover, one of the highest ratios in the nation.[7] Residential sections such as Cherokee Bend, Brookwood Forest, Overton, and Crestline have houses in a forest setting, with a recreational network of bridle paths. This has protected the area from urban encroachment.[6]

Mountain Brook is the location of the first office park in the U.S., built in 1955.[8] It featured the then novel concepts of ample free parking and low-profile office buildings surrounded by waterspouts and landscaped grounds.

A new city hall, including a fire and police station, was completed in 2013.[9]

Geography[edit]

The city is located at 33°29′13″N 86°44′26″W / 33.48694°N 86.74056°W / 33.48694; -86.74056 (33.486972, −86.740465).[10]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it has a total area of 12.2 square miles (32 km2), all land.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19508,359—
196012,68051.7%
197019,50953.9%
198019,7181.1%
199019,8100.5%
200020,6044.0%
201020,413−0.9%
Est. 201920,297[2]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
2018 Estimate[12]

As of the census of 2010, there were 20,413 people, 7,731 households, and 5,864 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,673.2 people per square mile (643.9/km²). There were 8,266 housing units at an average density of 675.8 per square mile (260.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. 1.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,731 households out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 22.0% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.

The population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household was $130,721, and the median income for a family was $164,750. Males had a median income of $124,224 versus $54,420 for females. The per capita income for the city was $76,763. 1.8% of families and 3.7% of individuals were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of individuals under 18 and 2.5% of those 65 and over.

According to a list compiled in 2008 by Stephen Higley, it is the ninth wealthiest community in the United States.[13] It is often referred to as "The Tiny Kingdom" due to its high concentration of the region's business and professional leaders,[14] and the disparity of wealth between it and Birmingham where according to census data nearly a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line.

Government[edit]

Old City Hall, photographed in 2006

Mountain Brook has a city council/mayor/city manager system of government.

The city council, consisting of five members elected at large, considers most issues and appoints the police chief and fire chief.

The mayor is Stewart Welch, III, first elected in 2016.[15]

The city manager is Sam Gaston, appointed by the council and mayor in January 2008.[16]

The Tree Commission and the Planning Commission consider specific issues and usually refer them to the council.

Education[edit]

Main article: Mountain Brook School System

The Mountain Brook School System is consistently rated one of the best in the state.[17] It includes the following six schools, all of which except Mountain Brook Elementary have been awarded the Blue Ribbon:[citation needed]

  • Brookwood Forest Elementary
  • Cherokee Bend Elementary
  • Crestline Elementary
  • Mountain Brook Elementary
  • Mountain Brook Junior High
  • Mountain Brook High School

Notable people[edit]

Cultural references[edit]

In South and West: From a Notebook, Joan Didion writes, "It is said that the dead center of Birmingham society is the southeast corner of the locker room at the Mountain Brook country club." She adds, "it is hard to make the connection between this Birmingham and that of Bull Connor."[29]

During his 1970 gubernatorial campaign, George Wallace derisively referred to Mountain Brook as "where the rich folks live in the suburbs up across the mountain from Birmingham."[30]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  4. ^ Hansen, Feff; Archibald, John (2002-05-24). "Special Report: Census says Alabamians' incomes up 12 percent". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on 2016-01-04.
  5. ^ "Archives: Robert Jemison, Jr". Birmingham Public Library.
  6. ^ a b Barefield, Marilyn Davis (1989). A History of Mountain Brook, Alabama & Incidentally of Shades Valley. Southern University Press. ISBN 0-87651-990-7.
  7. ^ "Success Story - "Hiring First City Arborist" - City of Mountain Brook" (PDF). Alabama's Urban & Community Forestry Program. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  8. ^ Rodriguez, Ana (2012-09-19). "Historical marker in Mountain Brook planned to recognize nation's first office park". The Birmingham News (blog). Archived from the original on 2015-07-08.
  9. ^ Rodriguez, Ana (2013-04-10). "First look inside Mountain Brook's new $15.3 million municipal complex". The Birmingham News.
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  12. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  13. ^ Crowe, Joe B. (2008-12-30). "Mountain Brook one of wealthiest communities in U.S." The Birmingham News (blog).
  14. ^ Eskew, Glenn T. (1997). "Businessmen's Reform". But for Birmingham: The Local and National Movements in the Civil Rights Struggle. The University of North Carolina Press. p. 183. ISBN 0-8078-4667-8.
  15. ^ "Mayor – City of Mountain Brook". www.mtnbrook.org. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  16. ^ "Sam Gaston – City of Mountain Brook". www.mtnbrook.org. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  17. ^ "Best High Schools in Alabama". US News and World Report. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  18. ^ Watkins, Mia (2014-06-16). "Happy belated birthday, Courteney Cox: hometown girl, actress turns 50". The Birmingham News.
  19. ^ Harvey, Alec (2011-10-16). "Birmingham's Tribble Reese has his pick as the star of 'Sweet Home Alabama 2'". The Birmingham News (blog).
  20. ^ "USATODAY.com - Search continues in Aruba for missing teen". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  21. ^ "Emory". Emory. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  22. ^ "Former Auburn linebacker Gregg Carr took the path less traveled to the Hall of Fame". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  23. ^ "Birmingham's Alan Hunter looks back at his MTV years for 'VJ' book (photos, video)". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  24. ^ "Queen of the World Wide Web: Birmingham's Barret Swatek stars in new Internet sitcom". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  25. ^ "Mountain Brook students enjoy Writers' Festival". villagelivingonline.com. 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  26. ^ a b "Inside Sara Evans and Jay Barker's Mountain Brook home, life in Birmingham". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  27. ^ "Things to know about Alabama's new U.S. senator, Doug Jones". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  28. ^ "Prelude to the primaries — U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in Aug. 15 election - Lagniappe Mobile". Lagniappe Mobile. 2017-08-09. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  29. ^ Didion, Joan (2017). South and West: From a Notebook. London, U.K.: 4th Estate. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-00-825717-0.
  30. ^ Robertson, Campbell; Martin, Jonathan (December 9, 2017). "Alabama, Despite History of Unruly Politics, Has 'Never Seen Anything Like This'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2017.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 33°29′13″N 86°44′26″W / 33.486972°N 86.740465°W / 33.486972; -86.740465

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