City Profiles

Vestavia Hills

INCORPORATED 1950

POPULATION: 34,413

Vestavia Hills is a suburban community with four sections: Vestavia, Cahaba Heights, Liberty Park and Patchwork Farms. The city has its own public school system with one high school, two middle schools and five elementary schools. In years past, “Home of the Dogwood Trail” was the city slogan, and the dogwood is still the city flower. In 2014, City leadership espoused the new “A Life Above” motto to describe the quality of life and values of the community. The new official logo includes a flag that bears the inscription “Unity, Prosperity, Family.” vhal.org

Birmingham

INCORPORATED 1871

POPULATION: 209,403

Nestled at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at the cross-section of two major railroads, the city was once the primary industrial center of the southern United States. At the height of the nation’s manufacturing age, the city grew so fast in population, it was called the “Magic City.” Today, Birmingham has transformed itself into a medical research, banking and servicebased economy, with a vibrant downtown, a burgeoning loft community, a world-class culinary scene and more green space per capita than any other city in the nation. Birmingham also boasts 99 historic neighborhoods and is often referred to as the cradle of the American Civil Rights Movement. birminghamal.gov/

Leeds

INCORPORATED 1887

POPULATION: 12,348

Leeds is a tri-county municipality, straddling the borders of Jefferson, Shelby and St. Clair counties. It’s convenient to I-20 and I-59, as well as the Birmingham International Airport, but maintains enough distance to be isolated from the traffic and the issues that tend to come along with living in “the city.” It was one of only 17 cities in the state to be named an Alabama Community of Excellence and also was recently named third in the state for future wealth growth by the Birmingham Business Journal and came in fifth on movein.org for places young professionals want to live. leedsalabama.org