Homewood, Alabama: The Complete Guide
3 Reasons to Move to Homewood, Alabama
Homewood, Alabama is a suburb of Birmingham known for being one of the most wonderful places to live in the Greater Birmingham Area. Here are a few reasons:
1. Flipability Factor
If you drive through Homewood, Alabama, it completely retains its old-school unique charm which we as Homewood residents love. When you think Homewood, you do not think of cookie-cutter neighborhoods. You may see many areas of new homes going up where older homes were, interiors of homes being gutted and redone (such as mine was by Twin Construction back in 2013), as well as brand new homes/condos/townhomes being built. Homewood not only offers older historic homes with charm but also incorporates all the smart housing trends of newer remodels, as well as brand-new homes.
2. Edgewood & Hollywood
Two favorite areas of Homewood are Edgewood and Hollywood. Edgewood consists mostly of single-family homes and has incredible walkability, especially down Broadway, where anytime day or evening, you will see families walking with strollers, any type of “doodle” you can think of, as well as young children as they walk with their parents after school from Edgewood Elementary or Homewood Middle School to the local shops of Downtown Edgewood to pick up prescriptions, get some barbecue or a scoop of ice cream, or shop antiques and boutiques. This is a wonderful, family-friendly neighborhood for all ages of residents to enjoy.
While Edgewood borders Edgewood Elementary as well as Downtown Edgewood, Hollywood on the other hand, is in the Shades Cahaba Elementary School district and has its own walkability to Downtown Homewood complete with the Piggly Wiggly, Homewood City Hall, and Soho Square with its many restaurants. This area is also known for its many Spanish tile houses on Hollywood Boulevard and Bonita Drive.
3. West Homewood
West Homewood is itself its own entity—a hot commodity, as it has gained popularity as well as culture over the past five years. Investors and homebuyers alike have changed this charming area into one of the most desirable places in Homewood. One of the most wonderful things about West Homewood is the West Homewood Farmer’s Market that occurs every Tuesday night in the summer months. In addition to that, many restaurants, such as Pizzeria GM, ASH, and iCantina have made Oxmoor Road a foodie destination. West Homewood also has Patriot Park as well as the West Homewood Rec Center. Cute houses, a tight-knit walkable community, food, entertainment, and fun make up West Homewood.
LIVING IN HOMEWOOD, ALABAMA
As a long-time resident of Homewood, I can tell you from personal experience that it is a great place to live. Driving through Homewood you get to experience historic homes, beautifully landscaped lots, starter homes, large mansions, high-rise condos & townhome communities, all with mature landscaping and gorgeous scenery. At any given time, there are kids playing, joggers, families walking, neighbors looking out for each other and visiting in the streets, as well as parks and rec centers to play or work out in. Homewood, Alabama also houses Samford University, which is a private college nestled off Lakeshore Drive, so there is also a vibe of young collegiate minds. Homewood also offers several bustling shopping areas with amazing restaurants such as Downtown Homewood, SoHo Square, Downtown Edgewood, and West Homewood.
HOMEWOOD'S LOCATION & SHOPPING
Homewood, Alabama feels like it is at the center of everything. We have fabulous eateries with many famous restaurants like Demitri’s BBQ, Gian Marcos, as well as several local coffee shops like Domistique, O’Henry’s, and Bitty & Beau’s. We also have tremendous clothing boutiques, antique stores, as well as your mainstream stores such as Lowe’s, Walmart, Target, Publix, and many more. Homewood is located just off Interstate 65, which is the lifeline to all things Birmingham and beyond. Going down Lakeshore Parkway and hitting I-65, you are just a hop, skip, and a jump from many areas within Greater Birmingham.
HOMEWOOD WEATHER
The weather in Homewood, Alabama is mostly mild year around with a cold snap of a few months, usually at the appropriate time around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Throughout the year, we typically experience temperatures ranging from 35°F to 90°F. It tends not to dip below 21°F or soar above 96°F. Because of our location just up from the Gulf of Mexico, Homewood is often quite warm and humid and welcomes the rainy season, which begins mid-October through some of December. Homewood residents welcome that rainy season, as it feeds the grass, trees, and flowers of the beautiful city of Homewood, Alabama.
HOMEWOOD POPULATION
Currently, census estimates put Homewood, Alabama’s population at 25,524. The official count from the last US Census in 2020 had it at 26,323.
WHERE IS HOMEWOOD, ALABAMA?
Homewood is an upscale suburb located in the “Over the Mountain” areas just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Nestled on the other side of Red Mountain, Homewood, Alabama borders Vestavia, Mountain Brook, and Hoover, Alabama. Homewood sits at coordinates 33° 28’6” N 86° 48’29” W. Homewood, Alabama covers about 8.3 square miles with all of its land located on top of deposits of iron, coal, and limestone. Shades Creek, part of the Cahaba River, also flows through Homewood.
HOMEWOOD MAP
HOMEWOOD HISTORY
Although the first residents settled in what would eventually become Homewood, Alabama back in the 1800s, it wasn’t until 1926 that attorney Charles Rice called on Rosedale, Edgewood, and Grove Park to merge and begin what is now called Homewood, Alabama. Over the years, many smaller cities annexed into Homewood. Did you know that there used to be an Electric Railway within Homewood, as well as a man-made lake in 1915, hence the name Lakeshore Drive which runs through the heart of Homewood, Alabama?
At one time, Homewood, Alabama created its own school system, and in December 1972, Homewood High School opened.
A phrase we hear regularly is attributed to Clyde Nelson who developed Hollywood Boulevard. The catchphrase “Out of the Smoke Zone, Into the Ozone,” eventually became “Over the Mountain” where more affluent Birmingham residents could escape the steel mill fallout by making their homesteads “over” Red Mountain.
A glamorous design trend that was closely associated with Hollywood, California, started by architect George P. Turner, played a significant role in bringing the fashionable Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style to the area.Over the last century, the city of Homewood has developed into the beautiful community that you see today.
PARKS IN HOMEWOOD
Here is a list of Homewood, Alabama parks and recreation facilities:
- Patriot Park
- Homewood Central Park
- West Homewood Park
- Woodland Park
- Overton Park
- Spring Park
- Homewood Soccer Park
HOMEWOOD NEWS & EVENTS
One of best ways to see all about current events and happenings in the Homewood, Alabama area is through our local newspaper The Homewood Star.
HOMEWOOD SCHOOLS
The Homewood Schools consists of five schools: 3 elementary and 1 middle school, all feeding into Homewood’s one and only high school:
COLLEGES AND PRIVATE SCOOLS:
- Samford University
- John Carroll High School
