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A−History
History · Montevallo

Montevallo dates to 1815, and 6 of its places are on the National Register

More historic than 78% of U.S. towns · #18 of 187 in Alabama. What drives it

Most of Montevallo was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1991. 6 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 89 buildings between them. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1910 on, and the census since 1880.

1815founded
6on the National Register
7%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
7famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Montevallo’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Montevallo began

When was Montevallo founded?

1815

Montevallo dates its founding to 1815 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 402 in 18802020 census: 7,229211 years

How historic is Montevallo?

A−

More historic than 78% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1823.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Montevallo’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Montevallo is more historic than 78% of U.S. towns, #18 of 187 in Alabama. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.

A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Montevallo’s overall grade.
Founding era1815, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 19407.1% of homes (±3.0) · typical AL town 3.2% · U.S. 8.4%C+National Register6 listings, 93 historic buildings, 123 per 10,000 residents · typical AL town 2.7 · U.S. 2.4A
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 78%
NewerOlder
Alabama towns of 2,500+ (187)Ahead of 91%

Alabama towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Alabama town has 2.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Montevallo’s 123 sits above most of its state (85% of Alabama towns have fewer) while its 93 historic buildings outnumber those of 89% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.0 points). Two sources give 1815.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Montevallo’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.A historic districtThe University of Montevallo Historic District takes in 48 historic buildings.On the map since 19103 editions of the USGS map, 1910 to 1980. Watch Montevallo change.Landmarks on the Register6 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Montevallo’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Montevallo’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewEXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTHEAST - Main…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the National Register

6 listings protect 93 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

places listed
6
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
93
each building in a district counts
first listed
1972
King House
King HouseAlabama Girls' Industrial SchoolUniversity of Montevallo Historic DistrictMcKibbon HouseDowntown Montevallo Historic DistrictFarrington Hall, built 1908
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Federal2
Greek Revival2
Eclectic Classicism1
Georgian Revival1
Classical Revival1
Bungalow/Craftsman1
King HouseFederal
Alabama Girls' Industrial SchoolEclectic Classicism
University of Montevallo Historic DistrictClassical Revival
McKibbon HouseQueen Anne
Downtown Montevallo Historic DistrictDistrict
Farrington HallBuilt 1908

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

On the map

Montevallo on the map, 1910 to 1980

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Montevallo. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Montevallo on the 1910 USGS mapMontevallo on the 1975 USGS mapMontevallo on the 1980 USGS map1910Montevallo sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Montevallo.

The story

How Montevallo came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Montevallo.

Read it all →

The area where Montevallo is now was controlled by the Creek Indians. After being acquired in 1814, Jesse Wilson claimed a small hill on the northern bank of Wilson's Creek by the present Montevallo City Cemetery and created a homestead there, making it the oldest settlement in Shelby County. Wilson's friends and family followed afterwards and also settled in the area, and a settlement known as Wilson's Hill developed on the site. The settlement's location at almost the exact center of Alabama meant it was considered one of the potential sites for the University of Alabama. In an attempt to encourage the university to choose the site the settlement changed its name to Montevallo, which is Italian for the hill in the valley.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Montevallo, 1815 to 1963

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1815
    FoundingMontevallo is established
  3. 1823Post officeThe Wilson Hill post office opens
  4. 1826Post officeThe Wilson Hill post office closes
  5. 1826Post officeThe Montevallo post office opens
  6. 1837Born hereAndrew Jackson Caldwell is born here
  7. 1887Born hereJack Nabors is born here
  8. 20th century
  9. 1908BuiltFarrington Hall is built
  10. 1910On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  11. 1933In the archiveEXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTHEAST - Main Street (Commercial Streetscapes)
  12. 1937Born hereClifford DuBose is born here
  13. 1950In the archivePerry Hall
  14. 1963Born hereRobert M. Lightfoot, Jr. is born here
By decade

Montevallo, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1930s to the 1950s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1930s–1950s2 items
EXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTHEAST - Main Street (Commercial Streetscapes)1933EXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTHEAST - Main Street (Comme…Perry Hall1950Perry Hall
1960s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today16 recent
The American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaThe American Village, Monetvallo, Alabama2010The American Village, Monetvallo, AlabamaMardi Gras King Cake2008Mardi Gras King CakeHighland Street tree removal2008Highland Street tree removalHighland Street tree removal2008Highland Street tree removalThe View to the North2007The View to the NorthLooking South2007Looking SouthAmerican Village in2007American Village in
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

EXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTHEAST - Main Street (Commercial Streetscapes)
Retake this viewEXTERIOR VIEW, LOOKING NORTHEAST - Main Street (Commercial Streetscapes), 1933

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Montevallo’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Montevallo, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,000188019001920194019601980200020207,229

Grew from 402 people in 1880 to 7,229 in 2020, more than tenfold.

14 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Montevallo’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

7 famous people were born in Montevallo

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr.American space agency executive · b. 1963
Andrew Jackson CaldwellAmerican politician · b. 1837
C
Clifford DuBoseAmerican baseball player · b. 1937
J
Jack NaborsAmerican baseball player · b. 1887
J
Jim HayesMajor League Baseball pitcher · b. 1913
Korey CunninghamAmerican football offensive tackle · b. 1995
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Montevallo’s post office has been open since 1826. Another post office, Wilson Hill, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Wilson Hill
1823–1826
Montevallo
1826–today
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
AlmontMoores Crossroads
Gone or out of use
Montevallo Post Officepost officeMontevallo Public Schoolschool
6cemeteries and burying grounds inside Montevallo
Alabama NationalKingMontevalloMoores CrossroadsSalemWildwood

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

WiltonIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Montevallo’s history

What year was Montevallo founded?

In 1815, according to Wikidata. Montevallo’s post office opened in 1823, and the census of 1880 counted 402 people here.

How does Montevallo rank for history?

Montevallo is more historic than 78% of U.S. towns, #18 of 187 in Alabama. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Montevallo?

6 listings: 3 buildings, among them the King House (listed 1972, the first), and 3 historic districts, the Alabama Girls' Industrial School, the University of Montevallo Historic District and the Downtown Montevallo Historic District, with 89 contributing buildings. 93 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Montevallo?

7% of Montevallo’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.0 points), against a typical 3.2% for an Alabama town; the median home was built in 1991.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (18), the National Register of Historic Places (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.