Rosalie Pribbenow Baxter

About Vestavia Hills

A residential suburb developed along the ridge of Shades Mountain, Vestavia Hills is proud of its community spirit, top-performing schools, and thriving economy. Vestavia Hills was named after Vestavia, the Roman-inspired estate of George Ward, a former Birmingham mayor who built a unique, circular mansion surrounded by 20 majestic columns. The estate included Sibyl Temple, a columned gazebo that is now a much-loved landmark sitting at the northern edge of town on the crest of Shades Mountain. Its image appears on the city's official seal with the motto "Unity, Prosperity, and Family."

Community

True to its motto, a family-oriented atmosphere characterizes Vestavia Hills. Much of the housing is single-family homes and most of the residents are families, many with school-aged children.

Schools and Education

Vestavia Hills is well known for the quality of its schools and the district-wide emphasis on excellence in education. Vestavia Hillshas five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Vestavia Hills High School is a federally-recognized Blue Ribbon School with math and debate teams winning national tournaments year after year.

Recreation and Culture

Known for providing extraordinary open spaces and venues for community events, Vestavia Hills is home to the Library in the Forest, the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) library in Alabama. Parks, playgrounds, a nature trail through a canyon, a civic center, and a robust parks and recreation program add to quality of life and provide plenty of opportunities for residents to exercise minds and bodies. The city offers supports a wide range of youth athletic programs, including baseball, softball, wrestling, lacrosse, cheerleading, tennis, and swimming.

Economics and Infrastructure

As a suburb of Birmingham, most of the economy of Vestavia Hills is based around a commuter lifestyle. The community makes consistent improvements to its commercial areas, with $40 million worth of new construction planned for 2016. Vestavia Hills School and the many parks and recreational programs are a huge source of local employment. Construction and healthcare companies in Birmingham such as the American Cast Iron Pipe Company.