Hoover, Alabama

Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby counties in north central Alabama, United States. The largest suburb near Birmingham, the city had a population of 85,768 as of the 2019 US Census estimate.[6] Hoover is part of the Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area and is also included in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area. Hoover's territory is along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Hoover, Alabama
City
Riverchase Galleria
Location of Hoover in Jefferson County and Shelby County, Alabama.
Hoover, Alabama
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°23′11″N 86°48′18″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesJefferson, Shelby
Settled1850s[1]
Incorporated (city)April 28, 1967
Government
 • MayorFrank V. Brocato (R)
Area
 • City49.42 sq mi (127.99 km2)
 • Land48.46 sq mi (125.50 km2)
 • Water0.96 sq mi (2.49 km2)
Elevation577 ft (166 m)
Population
 • City81,619
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
85,768
 • RankUS: 397th
AL: 6th
 • Density1,769.98/sq mi (683.40/km2)
 • Metro
1,151,801 (US: 49th)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
35216, 35226, 35236, 35242, 35244
Area code(s)205 & 659
FIPS code01-35896
GNIS feature ID0120346
Websitehooveralabama.gov

Hoover is home to the Riverchase Galleria, one of the largest shopping centers in the Southeast and one of the largest mixed-use centers in the U.S. It includes retail, hotel and office space. The Birmingham Barons Minor League Baseball team, which traces its history to 1885, played its home games at the 10,800-seat Hoover Metropolitan Stadium until 2013, when it moved to Birmingham.

History
Hoover Public Library, 2007

This suburban area near the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains had been known as the Green Valley community since the 1930s; it was mostly a bedroom or residential community into the late 1970s and early 1980s. The City of Hoover was incorporated in 1967, named for William H. Hoover (1890 - 1979), a local insurance company owner.[7]

On September 8, 1980, the city annexed the Riverchase business and residential community,[8] gaining large office buildings, employers, and workers to increase the city's tax base. When Interstate I-459 was opened, a major interchange with Interstate I-65 was constructed within the borders of Hoover, improving access.

In 1986 the Riverchase Galleria multi-use complex opened; it has significantly increased the tax revenue for the city. It has also attracted new residents and businesses to the area. The city has grown extremely fast, aided by its annexations of territory as well as new developments. The city has expanded its facilities, and now operates a Municipal Center, Library, and Public Safety Center. The city expects to continue to increase in population, which has risen significantly since 2008. It numbered 81,619 as of the 2010 Census.

Geography

Hoover is located at 33°23′11″N 86°48′18″W.[9]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.65 square miles (113.1 km2), of which 43.13 square miles (111.7 km2) is land and 0.51 square miles (1.3 km2) (1.17%) is water.

Many major highways pass through the city limits, including I-65, I-459, and U.S. Route 31. Via I-65 or US-31, downtown Birmingham is 11 mi (18 km) north, and Montgomery is 82 mi (132 km) south. Via I-459, Atlanta, GA is 152 mi (245 km) east, and Tuscaloosa is 53 mi (85 km) west.

Government
Mayor Frank Brocato

The municipal government has operated under the Mayor-Council form of government since incorporation. The Mayor and City Council are elected on a non-partisan basis to concurrent four-year terms of office, which begin on October 1 of election year. Policy-making and legislative authority is vested in the City Council, which consists of seven "at-large" elected members (prior to 2004, the council consisted of five at-large members.) (Candidates for at-large elections must gain a majority of voters; such a system has been found in other cities in Alabama to limit the ability of minority voters to elect candidates of their choice.)

The city council is responsible for considering local resolutions and ordinances, adopting an annual budget, and appointing members to local boards and committees. The Mayor is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the city's policies and ordinances.

Current Mayor
Frank Brocato
Current City Council Membership
Council PlaceRepresentativePosition
1Curt PoseyCouncilor
2Gene SmithCouncil President
3John LydaCouncilor
4Mike ShawCouncilor
5Derrick MurphyCouncilor
6Casey MiddlebrooksCouncilor
7John GreeneCouncil President Pro-Tem

Economy

The Riverchase Galleria shopping-hotel-office complex generates tax revenues for the city; it is also the location of numerous retail, hotel, and office workers. The Riverchase Office Park, and other office parks and buildings throughout Hoover, house many large corporations. Major shopping centers in the city include Riverchase Galleria on US 31, Patton Creek on SR 150, and Village at Lee Branch on US 280. The Central Business District is intersected by US 31, SR 150, and US 280. I-65 and I-459 intersect in the city.

Largest taxpayers

Hoover 2015 annual financial report, ranking by largest sales and use taxpayers:[10]

  • Costco
  • Wal-Mart
  • Sam's Club
  • Belk
  • Target
  • Regions Bank
  • Publix
  • Home Depot
  • Best Buy
  • Macy's

Largest employers
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (company headquarters) - 3,000
  • Hoover Board of Education - 1,773
  • Regions Financial (operations center) - 1,765
  • AT&T Inc. (data center) - 1,143
  • City of Hoover - 745
  • Walmart (two supercenters and two Neighborhood Market stores) - 650
  • T-Mobile 500
  • BE&K - 302

Public safety
The falls at Moss Rock Preserve

Hoover Fire Department is a full-time career department operating from ten fire stations throughout the city. The city has one battalion. There are eight engine companies, two quints, one ladder trucks, three ALS rescue/ambulances, and two battalion chief cars. All engine companies are staffed with a minimum of three, with at least two being firefighter/paramedics. All engines are classified ALS (Advanced Life Support). The department also operates one heavy rescue truck, and one hazmat unit. Hoover Fire Department holds a Class 1 ISO rating. In 2016, the department responded to over 10,000 calls.

Hoover's first chief of police was Oscar Davis. In 2006, the police force of the city of Hoover purchased 104 Chevrolet police Tahoes to support sustainability. The Hoover Police Department now has the largest law enforcement fleet in the nation to run on E85, a fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.[11] President George W. Bush visited the city in September 2006 to see the fleet and fueling facility.

Hoover operates its own enhanced 911 emergency call center, which has 24 operator positions, 2 communication supervisors, 1 department manager and is staffed 24/7.

Hoover provides traffic, severe weather, disaster information, and details on special events on low-power AM radio (1610 kHz).[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1970688—
198018,9962,661.0%
199039,788109.5%
200062,74257.7%
201081,61930.1%
Est. 201985,768[5]5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
2018 Estimate[4]

At the 2000 census, there were 62,742 people in 25,191 households, including 17,406 families, in the city. The population density was 1,454.6 people per square mile (561.7/km2). There were 27,150 housing units at an average density of 629.4 per square mile (243.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.66% White, 6.77% Black, 0.16% Native American, 2.89% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 3.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 25,191 households 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.9% of households were one person and 6.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

According to a 2007 estimate, The median household income was $75,365, and the median family income was $89,513. Males had a median income of $55,660 versus $34,836 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,361. About 2.1% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 84,126 people in 32,478 households, including 22,476 families, in the city. The population density was 1,870.3 people per square mile (722.3/km2). There were 35,474 housing units at an average density of 812.9 per square mile (313.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.1% White, 14.8% Black, 0.2% Native American, 5.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 6.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 32,478 households 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.8% of households were one person and 7.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median household income was $72,960 and the median family income was $94,066. Males had a median income of $65,023 versus $44,525 for females. The per capita income for the city was $39,141. About 3.4% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Hoover is served by two interstate highways, 65 and 459, with a major interchange near the center of the city. Major arterial roads include U.S. Route 31 as a north–south route through the middle of the city, U.S. Route 280 in the eastern portion of the city, Route 150 as an east–west road connecting the city center to the western side, and Valleydale Road connecting Route 31 and Route 280. Hoover is also served by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority.

Communities
  • Acton
  • Altadena
  • Bluff Park
  • Caldwell Mill
  • Chace Lake
  • Country Club Highlands
  • Deer Valley
  • Georgetown
  • Green Valley
  • Greystone
  • Inverness
  • Lake Crest
  • Lake Cyrus
  • Patton Chapel
  • Pinewood
  • Riverchase
  • Rocky Ridge
  • Ross Bridge
  • Russet Woods
  • Shades Mountain
  • Shoal Creek
  • Southlake
  • The Preserve
  • Trace Crossings

Parks
  • Aldridge Gardens
  • Bluff Park Community Center and Playground
  • Blue Ridge Park[14]
  • Georgetown Park
  • Howard Lake Park
  • Inverness Park
  • Loch Haven Park
  • Moss Rock Preserve
  • Ross Park
  • Russet Woods Park
  • Star Lake Park
  • Veterans Park
  • Wildflower Park

Education

Primary and secondary schools
Main article: Hoover City Schools
Hoover High School

Hoover is served by Hoover City Schools. It has ten elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools, Spain Park High School and Hoover High School. Reflecting the socioeconomic profile of parents of the students, both schools have ranked high for excellent academics, being rated close to the top five-hundred schools in the country. During the 2005–2006 school year, some 2,451 students enrolled in Hoover High School,[15] 1,400 in Spain Park High School,[16] with a total of 11,433 students in the Hoover City School system.[17] Spain Park received the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2008.[18]

Berry Middle School, which served as the city's first high school before the present Hoover High was constructed, was closed after the 2005–2006 academic year. Students were moved to a new Berry Middle School constructed near the site of Spain Park High School. A poll of residents in 2007 favored selling the school, possibly to the independent Shades Mountain Christian School.[19] Simmons Middle School and Bumpus Middle School are the city's other middle schools.

Given the population expansion, the city built Riverchase Elementary to relieve overcrowding of some schools. The student population bubble is advancing in the system, and in the 2011–2012 academic year, Bumpus Middle School and its students were relocated to the former freshman center of Hoover High School. The former Bumpus site became Brock's Gap Intermediate School in 2011. The former Berry site became the current Bumpus Middle School in 2011. Brock's Gap served 5th and 6th graders until 2018 when Hoover Rezoning went into effect. They now serve 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Bumpus Middle School served only 7th and 8th graders until 2018 because of Hoover Rezoning. They now serve 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Colleges and universities

The Shelby-Hoover campus of the Jefferson State Community College is in Shelby County, is in Hoover, near Spain Park High School.[20][21] Faulkner University has a campus on Valleydale Road; The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) in downtown Birmingham is only 8–10 miles away, and features the premier medical school of Alabama.

Miscellaneous education

The Birmingham Supplementary School Inc. (BSS, バーミングハム日本語補習校 Bāminguhamu Nihongo Hoshūkō), a part-time Japanese school, holds its classes at the Shelby-Hoover campus. Its office is at the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC facility in unincorporated Talladega County, near Lincoln. The school opened on September 1, 2001.[22]

Media

Hoover has one television station, WBMA, branded as ABC 33/40, with its studio within the Hoover city limits. The metro area has TV broadcasting stations that serve the Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa Designated Market Area (DMA), as defined by Nielsen Media Research. Charter Communications, Bright House Networks, and AT&T U-verse provide cable television service to specific communities in Hoover. DirecTV and Dish Network provide direct broadcast satellite television, including both local and national channels.

No radio stations operate from Hoover, although residents are served by numerous stations from the Birmingham market. (WERC-FM is licensed to Hoover but its studio is located in Birmingham.)

Three newspapers serve Hoover: The Birmingham News, a tri-weekly newspaper; the Over the Mountain Journal weekly newspapers; and the Hoover Sun, published monthly.

Points of interest
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References
  1. Vadie Honea. "A History of Hoover". City of Hoover, AL. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  3. Jonathan Stott. "33.3864°N 86.8047°W". EarthTools. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
  4. "U.S. Census website". Bureau of Census. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. Thornton, J. Mills (2002). Dividing Lines: Municipal Politics and the Struggle for Civil Rights in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-8173-1170-4.
  8. "A History of Hoover". Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "Hoover Alabama Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)". City of Hoover. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  11. Kent, Dawn. (February 23, 2006) "Hoover's ethanol SUVs catch researchers' eye" Archived October 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Birmingham News.
  12. "City of Hoover website". Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2006.
  13. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  14. Facebook page of trail
  15. "Hoover High School". schooldigger.com. 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  16. "Spain Park High School". schooldigger.com. 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  17. "Hoover City Schools website". Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2006.
  18. "No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program - 2008 Schools", U.S. Department of Education
  19. "Joint offer made for Berry site". The Birmingham News. 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  20. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Hoover city, AL." (Archive). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 11, 2014.
  21. "Shelby-Hoover Campus." Jefferson State Community College. Retrieved on May 11, 2014. Use the Google Maps function to see the buildings and where they are in relation to the city limits.
  22. "About Birmingham Supplementary School" (Archive). Birmingham Supplementary School. Retrieved on May 11, 2014. "Mailing Address 1800 Honda Drive Lincoln, AL 35096 c/o Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC" and "Facility Jefferson State Community College, Shelby Campus 4600 Valleydale Road Birmingham, AL 35242 " Japanese page: "学校の概要" (Archive).
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