Montevallo: A College Town in the Heart of Shelby County
The University of Montevallo gives this small Shelby County city its identity. Founded in 1896, the university enrolls roughly 2,500 students on a campus that blends into the surrounding town of about 6,600 people. The school is one of only a handful of public liberal arts universities in the South, and its presence keeps Montevallo younger and more culturally active than most Alabama towns of similar size.
King House, the oldest building on campus, dates to 1823 and was part of an estate that predated the university. Reynolds Hall and Palmer Hall anchor the academic quad. College Night, a student-run theatrical competition that has been held annually since 1919, is one of the oldest traditions of its kind in the country and draws alumni back to campus each February.
Beyond the campus, Montevallo's economy is modest. American Village, a civic education campus located just outside town, replicates historic buildings like Independence Hall and a colonial church to teach students about American democracy. The site hosts tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year and provides jobs for area residents.
Shelby County's rapid growth over the past three decades has mostly concentrated along the Highway 280 corridor north of Montevallo. The town itself has grown at a slower pace, retaining a quieter, more rural character than the northern part of the county. Surrounding areas include former coal mining communities like Aldrich and Wilton, where abandoned mine shafts and coke ovens remain visible in the landscape.
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The University of Montevallo gives this small Shelby County city its identity. Founded in 1896, the university enrolls roughly 2,500 students on a campus that blends into the surrounding town of about 6,600 people. The school is one of only a handful of public liberal arts universities in the South, and its presence keeps Montevallo younger and more culturally active than most Alabama towns of similar size.
King House, the oldest building on campus, dates to 1823 and was part of an estate that predated the university. Reynolds Hall and Palmer Hall anchor the academic quad. College Night, a student-run theatrical competition that has been held annually since 1919, is one of the oldest traditions of its kind in the country and draws alumni back to campus each February.
Beyond the campus, Montevallo's economy is modest. American Village, a civic education campus located just outside town, replicates historic buildings like Independence Hall and a colonial church to teach students about American democracy. The site hosts tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year and provides jobs for area residents.
Shelby County's rapid growth over the past three decades has mostly concentrated along the Highway 280 corridor north of Montevallo. The town itself has grown at a slower pace, retaining a quieter, more rural character than the northern part of the county. Surrounding areas include former coal mining communities like Aldrich and Wilton, where abandoned mine shafts and coke ovens remain visible in the landscape.
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