About Montevallo
Discover the history, culture, and community of Montevallo — a charming college town in the heart of Alabama.
Montevallo is a small city with an outsized spirit — a college town, a historic community, and a gathering place for artists, educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and families who have chosen to build their lives in one of Alabama's most distinctive and welcoming places.
The Hill in the Valley
The name Montevallo is Italian for "the hill in the valley" — a fitting description for a town set among the rolling hills where Alabama's Appalachian foothills give way to the coastal plain.
The name was adopted by early settlers of Wilson's Hill in hopes of attracting the University of Alabama to locate here. The university went elsewhere, but the name stuck — and Montevallo got its own university eventually.
A plaque on Reynolds Cemetery Road, about a mile north of the city, marks the geographic center of the state of Alabama. Montevallo is the nearest incorporated city to that central point — literally the heart of the state.
Location
Shelby County, Alabama
30 miles south of Birmingham via I-65
33.1007° N, 86.8639° W
Geographic Center of Alabama
A Timeline of Montevallo
First Settlement
Jesse Wilson claims land and establishes the first homestead at what becomes known as Wilson's Hill.
Incorporation
The settlement is incorporated as the city of Montevallo, taking the Italian name meaning "the hill in the valley."
The Railroad Arrives
A railway is completed between Montevallo and Selma, connecting the town to wider markets and spurring growth.
Coal Mining Begins
Coal is discovered nearby and a mine is established, launching an industry that will shape the community for nearly a century.
University Founded
The Alabama Girls' Industrial School is established — the institution that will grow into today's University of Montevallo.
Mining Era Ends
The coal mine closes. The university becomes the primary economic driver of the community.
University of Montevallo
After admitting men (1956) and integrating (1968), the institution is renamed the University of Montevallo.
National Register
Downtown Montevallo is added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing over 30 historic buildings.
Main Street Alabama
Montevallo joins Main Street Alabama, furthering its commitment to downtown revitalization.
The University of Montevallo
The most transformative chapter in Montevallo's history is the founding of what became the University of Montevallo — Alabama's only public liberal arts university.
With approximately 3,000 students, the campus sits directly adjacent to downtown, and the boundary between town and gown is refreshingly permeable. University events, faculty, students, and community members share the same streets, restaurants, parks, and civic life.
The university's most famous tradition is College Night, one of the oldest continuous homecoming celebrations in the United States, dating to 1919. Named a Library of Congress Local Legacy and featured twice on Jeopardy!, this week-long Gold-versus-Purple competition features original student-produced musical shows and performances.
What Montevallo is Known For
Tinglewood Tree Carvings
Over 50 hand-carved tree sculptures by artist Tim Tingle, recognized across the country and internationally.
The American Village
A 188-acre living history campus with replicas of Independence Hall, the Oval Office, and more.
Vibrant Arts Scene
Galleries, the ArtWalk, Main Street Players theater, and a creative community supported by the university.
Outdoor Recreation
167 acres of trails at Shoal Creek Park, the Ebenezer Swamp preserve, and waterfalls nearby.
Notable Montevallians
Polly Holliday
Actress best known as Flo on the TV series Alice
Dr. James Hardy
Surgeon who performed the first successful human lung transplant
Robert M. Lightfoot Jr.
11th director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Eugene Sledge
Marine, professor, and author of the acclaimed WWII memoir With the Old Breed
Andrew J. Caldwell
U.S. Representative from Tennessee (1883–1887)
Piano "C" Red
Chicago blues musician (1933–2013)
Sister City: Echizen Town, Japan
Since 2008, Montevallo has maintained a sister city relationship with Echizen Town in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The connection began in 1995, rooted in a shared passion for pottery and ceramics — a creative thread linking two communities separated by an ocean but united by craft.
Come Visit
Whether you're arriving for a day trip, a weekend, or considering Montevallo as a place to call home — start exploring.