Hoover

History

This suburban area near the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains had been known as the Green Valley community since the 1930s; it was mostly a bedroom or residential community into the late 1970s and early 1980s. The City of Hoover was incorporated in 1967, named for William H. Hoover (1890–1979), a local insurance company owner. On September 8, 1980, the city annexed the Riverchase business and residential community, gaining large office buildings, employers, and workers to increase the city's tax base. When Interstate 459 was opened, a major interchange with Interstate 65 was constructed within the borders of Hoover, improving access. In 1986, the Riverchase Galleria multiuse complex opened; it has significantly increased the tax revenue for the city. It has also attracted new residents and businesses to the area. The city has grown extremely fast, aided by its annexations of territory and building new developments. The city has expanded its facilities and now operates a Municipal Center, Library, and Public Safety Center. The city expects to continue to increase in population, which has risen significantly since 2008. It numbered 92,606 as of the 2020 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is covered by water. Many major highways pass through the city limits, including I-65, I-459, and U.S. Route 31. Via I-65 or US-31, downtown Birmingham is north, and Montgomery is south. Via I-459, Atlanta, GA is east, and Tuscaloosa is west.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  16,903
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  12,845
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  12,267
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  11,910
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  11,535
• Eastern Towhee

  Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,256
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  11,041
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,903

Largest nearby schools

• Hoover High School
  High · Hoover · 2,841 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Vestavia Hills High School
  High · Vestavia Hills · 1,578 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Homewood High School
  High · Homewood · 1,330 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Pizitz Middle School
  Middle · Vestavia · 1,158 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• Mountain Brook Junior High School
  Middle · Mountain Brook · 982 students · 12:1 ratio
• Mountain Brook High School
  High · Mountain Brook · 967 students · 10.2:1 ratio
• Homewood Middle School
  Middle · Homewood · 926 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Edgewood Elementary School
  Elementary · Homewood · 888 students · 15.3:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2021-12-22
  10 km E of Maplesville, Alabama
• M 2.87 — 2020-06-25
  4 km NNW of Berry, Alabama
• M 2.7 — 2017-02-17
  22 km S of Oakman, Alabama
• M 2.6 — 2017-02-17
  16 km S of Oakman, Alabama
• M 2.5 — 2016-08-23
  20 km S of Oakman, Alabama
• M 2.8 — 2016-05-16
  8 km W of North Johns, Alabama