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Helena, AL


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Helena, Alabama

Introduction to Helena, Alabama

Helena, Alabama, in Shelby county, is 7 miles S of Hoover, Alabama (center to center) and 145 miles W of Atlanta, Georgia. The city is included in the Birmingham metropolitan area. As of the year 2000 census, 10,296 people lived in Helena.

Helena History

Helena was founded in 1845 as the town of Cove. It was renamed Hillsboro in 1856. In the same year, a rolling mill was established in the area to produce arms for the Confederacy. The city was originally served by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Later on, the city was renamed after Helen Lee Boyle, wife of the railroad engineer Peter Boyle. The city's first mayor was M.H. Williams. The City of Helena was reincorporated in 1917 because the papers of its first incorporation had errors.

Helena and nearby Attractions

  • Alabama Wildlife Center
  • Oak Mountain State Park
  • Fort Morgan Beach
  • Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
  • Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park
  • Tannehill Historical State Park

Things To Do In Helena

Helena offers easy access to Oak Mountain State Park. One can also visit the Iron and Steel Museum of Alabama, Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham Museum of Art, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington, and Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. You can also enjoy canoeing, fishing, and wading on Lake Davidson and Buck Creek. The city organizes several annaul recreational events such as the Buck Creek Festival.

Helena Transportation

Birmingham International Airport can be reached within several minutes.

Helena Higher Education

University of Montevallo and Samford University are the nearest universities.

High Points

Helena strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Alabama):

CategoryTrophy
Low Property Crime
(vs. Peers)		Top 1%trophyHelena Low Property Crime
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. State)		Top 1%trophyHelena People in Middle Class or Better
Low Violent Crime
(vs. Peers)		Top 2%trophyHelena Low Violent Crime
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 2%trophyHelena College Educated Adults
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)		Top 2%trophyHelena Well-Paid Single Women
Median Family Income
(vs. State)		Top 3%trophyHelena Median Family Income
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. State)		Top 4%trophyHelena Well-Paid Single Men
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. Peers)		Top 5%trophyHelena Low Rate of Poverty
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 12%Helena Affordability of Property Taxes
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. State)		Top 14%Helena Walking and Biking to Work

Comparative Profile of Helena, AL

Comparing Helena to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Alabama (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Children Under 5 Years Old1010
Well-Paid Single Women810
Well-Paid Single Men710
Female Share of the Population75
Male Share of the Population46
Racial Diversity44
Age of the Population21
Senior Citizens11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married1010
Average Household Size810

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Above Poverty1010
People in Middle Class or Better1010
College Educated Adults910
Median Family Income810

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Working at Home58
Walking and Biking to Work59
Short Commute Times22
Public Transportation Use13

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Housing Recently Built1010
Affordability of Property Taxes91
Affordability of Rents31
People Living Alone21
Seasonal and Vacation Housing11
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals11

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Property Crime1010
Low Violent Crime109

Detailed pages on related topics: Helena mortgage and property.

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All States > Alabama > Helena

Additional Details

Helena MortgageHelena Mortgage
Helena property, mortgage, and real estate.

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