Helena () is a city in Jefferson and Shelby counties in the state of Alabama. Helena is considered a suburb of Birmingham and part of the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area. As of 2025, the population estimate is 23,388.
Helena initially incorporated in 1877, but reincorporated in 1917 after errors were discovered in the initial incorporation papers. Due to this, the U.S. Census Bureau did not record Helena's population separately until 1920.
History
Early settlers The area was long the territory of the historic Muscogee people, known by English colonists as the Creek Indians. While Scots-Irish and English traders had interaction with them, and there was some armed conflict in the early 19th century, most European-American settlers did not come to this area until 1849. This was after the United States had conducted Indian Removal of the Creek and other Southeastern tribes in the 1830s, to lands west of the Mississippi River.
The first European-American settlers to Helena, which they initially named Cove, were veterans of the final campaigns of the War of 1812. Members of Andrew Jackson's army were attracted to the quiet, peaceful valleys and streams after the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. By 1856, the Cove post office opened. Shortly thereafter, the settlers changed the name of the town to Hillsboro.
Civil War The onset of the American Civil War brought the need for the South to increase its manufacturing production and develop new industries, in service of the Confederate States of America. Coal and iron ore mines were dug throughout this area and the construction of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad provided new transportation connections. Helena became an important industrial center for the wartime efforts. Around 1864 a rolling mill was built on Buck Creek, near the rail lines to process the iron from Selma.
Peter Boyle, an engineer for the railroad working on a new line, met and courted Helen Lee. He would name the rail station that supported the rolling mill after her. Eventually the town was named Helena after the train station.
Wilson's Raid As the final battles of the Civil War were being fought, Union forces amassed a force for a cavalry raid to attack the South's war fighting capability, as Sherman's march had done the previous year. Led by James Harrison Wilson, this force passed through the town of Helena on March 30, 1865, where they destroyed much of the newly developed industry and residential buildings.
Reconstruction Within a few years of the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the reconstruction era, industrialists were again developing the area coal and iron ore resources. The railroads were rebuilt and coke ovens were established by the Eureka Company in 1870. The rolling mill was rebuilt in 1873, with support spurred by Rufus Cobb, later elected as a two-term governor.Robert David Ward, "Rufus W. Cobb, 1878-1882" in Alabama Governors, edited by Samuel L. Webb and Margaret E. Armbrester (The University of Alabama Press, 2001), pp. 106-109. Much of what was Hillsboro had been absorbed by the expanding Helena area. The town was surveyed by Joseph Squire in 1873 and incorporated in 1877.
By 1880, Helena contained six mercantile stores, one drugstore, two hotels, and several boarding houses… The rolling mill had been expanded and modernized and the number of merchants had increased.Ken Penhale and Martin Everse, Images of America: Helena Alabama (Arcadia Publishing, 1998), 7-8.A rail yard was added by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company.
Depression era Helena was first incorporated in 1877 but had to reincorporated in 1917 after the initial incorporation paperwork was found to contain errors. Charles Hind was elected mayor the same year. Much of the industry began to decline as the economy contracted in the years after World War I. The rolling mill was closed in 1923 and many mine closures followed. As the Great Depression set in during the 1930s, the town fell on hard times. Many residents left to find work elsewhere.
1933 Tornado
Around 3 AM on May 5, 1933, residents were awoken to a massive tornado that ripped through the heart of Helena. A total of twelve persons were killed; 75 people were reported as injured. Many of the original houses were completely destroyed and railroad cars were overturned. The property damage was estimated to be in the range of $100,000 to $150,000 (not adjusted).Shelby County Reporter, "12 Dead, 75 Injured, Property Damage Heavy," May 11, 1933, Volume 90, Number 30
Modern expansion Helena remained a small town in the largely rural county until suburban growth from Birmingham reached the city in the late 20th century. Numerous residential and commercial developments have taken place, spurring improvements to city facilities and services. By the early 21st century, Helena had large population gains, with related growing pains in trying to provide services, as a result of its convenient location and high quality of life.History , City of Helena website
2021 tornado Another tornado struck the town on March 25, 2021, causing EF1 damage to several homes and downing trees throughout several neighborhoods. The tornado eventually reached low-end EF3 strength northeast of town.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.12%) is covered by water. The Cahaba River and its tributary Buck Creek run through Helena. Buck Creek is dammed upstream of Alabama State Route 261 in the Old Town area to form Lake Davidson. It was used both for recreation and to generate water wheel power at the turn of the 20th century. Fishing, wading, and canoeing are popular uses of both waterways.
Helena sits at the foothills of the very southern extent of the Appalachian Mountains as they descend into the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain. The area is largely rolling hills with numerous small streams, and undeveloped areas are primarily mixed woodlands.
Downtown Birmingham is 20 mi (32 km) north via Alabama Route 261 to US-31 or I-65.
Climate The climate of Helena is typical of the Deep South, with long, hot, humid summers and short, relatively mild winters. Summer high temperatures are commonly in the upper 90s and low 100s F; winter lows are usually in the 20s F. Measurable snowfall is rare, occurring only a few times a decade. Thunderstorms are frequent occurrences during the summer.http://www.weather.gov/climate/local_data.php?wfo=bmx National Weather Service Forecast Office Birmingham, Alabama; Unique Local Climate Data The Helena area experiences two severe weather peaks, early spring (March–April) and late fall (November), with tornadoes being frequent hazards during both peaks. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/tornadoes/index.php National Weather Service Forecast Office Birmingham, Alabama; Alabama Tornado Occurrences Hurricanes coming ashore on the northern Gulf coast occasionally reach Helena with tropical storm-force winds.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Helena city, Alabama – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)3,6149,54013,54715,14992.24%92.66%80.67%72.43%Black or African American alone (NH)2635132,1933,3826.71%4.98%13.06%16.17%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)132031410.33%0.19%0.18%0.20%Asian alone (NH)16672453270.41%0.65%1.46%1.56%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census2412x0.02%0.02%0.06%Other race alone (NH)0320720.00%0.03%0.12%0.34%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1990 Census48193915x0.47%1.15%4.38%Hispanic or Latino (any race)121035601,0160.31%1.00%3.33%4.86%Total3,91810,29616,79320,914 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 20,914 people, 7,281 households, and 5,119 families residing in the city. The median age was 37.6 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.3 males age 18 and over.
89.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 11.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 7,281 households in Helena, of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 65.0% were married-couple households, 10.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 7,447 housing units, of which 2.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.
2010 census As of the census of 2010, 16,793 people, 3,828 households, and 3,043 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 3,983 housing units averaged 233.3 per square mile (90.1/km). The racial makeup of the city was 82.5% White, 13.1% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 1.1% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races; 3.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 3,828 households, 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were not families; 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city, the population was distributed as 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 42.7% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $62,908, and for a family was $66,250. Males had a median income of $45,291 versus $32,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,323. About 1.4% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Economy The local economy is broadly diversified among professional, service, and manufacturing jobs. Many of the residents of Helena commute to work in other communities within the greater Birmingham area. No employer is dominant in the city, and recent economic growth has mainly come in the service industries to support the increased population. Well-known local industries include the Vulcan Materials Company construction aggregate quarry and the Plantation Pipeline depot and tank farm. A developed industrial park includes a wide variety of manufacturers.
Arts and culture Helena holds numerous arts and crafts fairs, and musical performances throughout the year in public spaces. Helena Old Town Live Summer Concert Series bring thousands into Amphitheater Park to hear great music.Helena's residents also have easy access to cultural attractions in the greater Birmingham area, such as the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Museum of Art, McWane Center, and Vulcan statue and park.
During 2005, Helena gained nationwide notice as the hometown of singer Bo Bice, who was a finalist on the popular Fox program American Idol. Magnolia Springs Manor was the host of Sacha Baron Cohen’s character Borat in his famous 2006 hit film.
Annual cultural events Major annual community events largely reflect traditional small-town American life. They include an Easter Egg Hunt,Helena City News; City of Helena, Alabama, March 2008 edition Buck Creek Festival, Buck Creek Festival 4th of July picnic, concert and fireworks; Fall Carnival, Spring Fling, and Christmas Parade.
Museums and other points of interest