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 Red Mountain, now the site of Avondale Park. There was once a small skirmish near the spring when Confederates fired on Union soldiers watering their horses. The wife of Jefferson County sheriff Abner Killough was struck in the breast by a stray shot while sitting on her porch. Her wound is believed to have been the only blood spilled in the county during the war.
The park was the largest in Birmingham until Ruffner Mountain Park was dedicated. It was known for the spring-fed grotto pool, an extensive rose garden, athletic fields, a secluded pavilion called "The Villa", and a large amphitheater that hosted a spectacular pageant in celebration of Birmingham's 50th anniversary in 1931. The park was also one-time home of the Birmingham Zoo, which at the time consisted mainly of non-exotic species with the exception of "Miss Fancy", an erstwhile circuselephant purchased by the Birmingham Advertising Club as a promotional novelty and then donated to the city.
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]
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 Galleryedit
Avondale Park
Avondale Park
Avondale Park
Avondale Park
Child laborers at Avondale Mills
Avondale Mill School
Avondale Mill Village
Thomas School, Avondale (Birmingham)
Avondale Historic District Homes
Harmony Street Baptist Church, Avondale (Birmingham)
Avondale material at the Birmingham Public Library's Digital Archives
December 07, 2023
avondale, birmingham, avondale, company, town, built, around, avondale, mills, east, birmingham, alabama, jefferson, county, town, incorporated, march, 1887, city, annexed, into, birmingham, 1910, divided, into, three, separate, neighborhoods, north, avondale,. 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 AvondaleBirmingham NeighborhoodAvondale MillsAvondaleCoordinates 33 31 26 43 N 86 46 40 96 W 33 5240083 N 86 7780444 W 33 5240083 86 7780444CountryUnited StatesStateAlabamaCityBirminghamElevation643 ft 196 m Time zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP Codes35222Area codes205 659The first residents of the area were clustered around King s Spring on the slopes of Red Mountain now the site of Avondale Park There was once a small skirmish near the spring when Confederates fired on Union soldiers watering their horses The wife of Jefferson County sheriff Abner Killough was struck in the breast by a stray shot while sitting on her porch Her wound is believed to have been the only blood spilled in the county during the war The park was the largest in Birmingham until Ruffner Mountain Park was dedicated It was known for the spring fed grotto pool an extensive rose garden athletic fields a secluded pavilion called The Villa and a large amphitheater that hosted a spectacular pageant in celebration of Birmingham s 50th anniversary in 1931 The park was also one time home of the Birmingham Zoo which at the time consisted mainly of non exotic species with the exception of Miss Fancy an erstwhile circus elephant purchased by the Birmingham Advertising Club as a promotional novelty and then donated to the city 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 Contents 1 Demographics 2 Photo Gallery 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 References 5 External linksDemographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 18901 642 19003 06086 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 edit nbsp Avondale Park nbsp Avondale Park nbsp Avondale Park nbsp Avondale Park nbsp Child laborers at Avondale Mills nbsp Avondale Mill School nbsp Avondale Mill Village nbsp Thomas School Avondale Birmingham nbsp Avondale Historic District Homes nbsp Harmony Street Baptist Church Avondale Birmingham See also editBirmingham Alabama Avondale MillsReferences editNotes edit References edit 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 http www2 census gov prod2 decennial documents 33405927v1ch10 pdf bare URL PDF External links editAvondale material at the Birmingham Public Library s Digital Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avondale Birmingham amp oldid 1151243456, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
