Irondale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, and lies northeast of Homewood and Mountain Brook. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 13,497.
The city is the site of Catholic radio/television broadcaster Eternal Word Television Network, 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. In 1891, Golden Rule Bar-B-Q, the oldest restaurant in Alabama, was founded in Irondale.
The 1916 Irondale earthquake, magnitude 5.1, caused some damage in the area, and was felt in neighboring states.
In 1981, Mother Angelica founded the Eternal Word Television Network, 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 city has a total area of , of which is land and 0.11% is water.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Irondale city, Alabama – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|6,889
|6,670
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,183
|70.20%
|54.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53.22%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|2,464
|4,357
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,032
|25.11%
|35.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |29.87%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|13
|26
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16
|0.13%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|91
|177
|style='background: #ffffe6; |211
|0.93%
|1.43%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.56%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|2
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.02%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|6
|15
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28
|0.06%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|85
|142
|style='background: #ffffe6; |458
|0.87%
|1.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.39%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|263
|961
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,565
|2.68%
|7.78%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.60%
|-
|Total
|9,813
|12,349
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13,497
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Irondale had a population of 13,497 and 3,022 families. The median age was 39.3 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.0 males age 18 and over.
There were 5,874 households in Irondale, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.9% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 7,633 || 56.6%
|-
| Black or African American || 4,064 || 30.1%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 42 || 0.3%
|-
| Asian || 217 || 1.6%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 4 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 729 || 5.4%
|-
| Two or more races || 808 || 6.0%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,565 || 11.6%
|}
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, Grantswood Community School, Irondale Community School, Irondale Middle School, Shades Valley Theatre Academy, Jefferson Christian Academy, and the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School.
Notable people
- Fannie Flagg, author of best-selling 1987 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, used Irondale as the location of the Irondale Cafe
- Marion Hobby, former NFL defensive line coach
Gallery
<gallery widths=175px class="center">
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 Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
</gallery>
References
External links
- City of Irondale
- Irondale Public Library
- Irondale Chamber of Commerce
- Irondale Code of Ordinances