Gardendale, Alabama

Gardendale, Alabama
Location in Jefferson County and the state of Alabama
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Jefferson
Area
• Total	17.9 sq mi (46.5 km2)
• Land	17.9 sq mi (46.5 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Population  (2000)
• Total	11,626
• Density	649.5/sq mi (250/km2)

Gardendale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, and a northern suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. As of the 2000 Census, the population of the city was 11,626. As of 2006, the Census Bureau estimates the city population of Gardendale to be 13,042.

History

A large farm settlement near the area today known as Gardendale was settled around 1825. Some years later, other settlers began to move into the community commonly known as Jugtown, a name given to the area based on the presence of a large jug and churn factory that operated in the area. Some years later, a school teacher would lead a campaign to change the name of the community. In 1906, the name Gardendale was selected and by 1955, the city of Gardendale was officially incorporated. Today, with more than 13,000 residents, the city of Gardendale has grown to include more than 400 businesses, 4 schools, and 24 churches.

Geography

Gardendale is located at 33°39′38″N 86°48′42″W (33.660492, -86.811648)Template:GR.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.5 km² (18.0 mi²), all land. However, with the recent annexation of several thousand acres from the community of Mt. Olive and other unincorporated areas, the city now has an estimated total area of around 64.8 km² (25.0 mi²). Gardendale is situated along one of the three major transportation corridors from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast (I-75, I-65, I-55). A tremendous volume of freight (via rail and truck) passes thru or near Gardendale. Gardendale is serviced by two major north-south highways..Interstate 65 (I-65) and US 31. A new interstate highway, Interstate 22 will run northwestward from I-65 near Gardendale towards Memphis, Tennessee. This freeway will be open from Cherry Avenue just west of Gardendale to Memphis by the end of 2007. Another future road project is the Northern Beltline which will run from I-59 near Argo westward across northern Jefferson county, crossing I-65 on the northern edge of Gardendale. This highway is currently designed by ALDOT as Alabama 959, but could be a future Interstate (259?). This route is some 15-20 years away from completion. Major east/west roads in Gardendale include Fieldstown Road which runs from US31 in Gardendale westward, Tarrant Road which runs from the city eastward, and Mt. Olive Road which runs northwestward from the city. Gardendale is located in an area that once yielded large amounts of coal. Gardendale is located at the southwestern end of one of the Appalachian ridgelines running from eastern Tennessee into northeast Alabama. Several old and closed coal mines exist in the area as well as lands that were once stripped mined and then replanted for forests. No major waterways are located in Gardendale but several streams feed into the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River that passes north and west of the city. Much of the land inside the city limits on the east and northeast sides of Gardendale is rocky and hilly with deep ravines. This portion of the city is sparsely populated and has limited access by road. The only major rail line passing near Gardendale is a north/south track passing on the eastern edge of the city from Boyles Yard near Tarrant paralleling New Castle Road northward towards Blount County. This rail line carries freight and is not a passenger line. The nearest passenger train service is by Amtrak at the Birmingham station 10 miles south of Gardendale. Commercial air travel is located at the nearby Birmingham International Airport.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 11,626 people, 4,733 households, and 3,474 families residing in the city. The population density was 250.1/km² (647.9/mi²). There were 4,959 housing units at an average density of 106.7/km² (276.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.19% White, 1.48% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,733 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,786, and the median income for a family was $56,929. Males had a median income of $36,714 versus $29,039 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,673. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Kenny Clemons (Mayor)

Current City Council Membership

Ward	Representative	Position
I	Peggy Tumlin	Councilor
II	Gary Morris	Councilor
III	Oscar Mann	Councilor
IV	William Flippo	Councilor
V	Wendell Phillips	Councilor

Public officials are elected for four year terms of office. The next election cycle for the mayor and council is in 2008. Get ready to vote the current non workers out and vote in some people who will do something for the city in a positive note. It is a very real possibility that for the first time in the city's history, the entire incumbent council and mayor could be voted out of office in the next election cycle.

The Myth Known as Caufield Square Promenade

Caufield Square Promenade was scheduled to be a mixed-use project developed by Palladium Properties LLC. The $50 million development was to include a 10-screen movie theater and bowling alley as well as residential, commercial, and office space. Located on Mt. Olive Road in Gardendale, Caufield Square was expected to draw in visitors from throughout northern metropolitan Birmingham as it would be home to the only movie theater in northern Jefferson County. Completion of at least portions of the development was expected around fall of 2006, however nothing will now occur before 2008. Some of the expected tenants have chosen to relocate into the Colonial Promenade shopping area in nearby Fultondale which is opening in October 2007. An access road connecting Mt Olive Road with Odum Road is being constructed across the property. The future of the Caufield development is very much in doubt.

Economic Development

Most new business development in the past ten years has been along Fieldstown Road (and Odum Road) on the west side of the city between I-65 and US 31. Additional development, but to a lesser extent, has occurred along Mt. Olive Road between US 31 and I-65. Several older more mature shopping and dining areas exist along US 31. Jefferson County recently built a satellite courthouse at the intersection of Tarrant Road and Main Street. This facility serves all of northern Jefferson County. The city government is viewed by some business developers as anti-business and therefore most significant new growth has been occurring in nearby Fultondale with possible new developments soon along the I-65 corridor north of Gardendale near the Morris-Kimberly-Warrior areas since significant population growth is occurring in SW Blount County and in extreme northern Jefferson County.

Media

Gardendale is located within the Birmingham television and radio market, the 39th largest market in the United States.

Print media available in Gardendale includes The Birmingham News and The North Jefferson News, a publication distributed twice a week throughout much of North Jefferson County.

External links

• City of Gardendale
• Gardendale Chamber of Commerce
• Gardendale-Martha Moore Public Library