Where Homewood Is

Homewood is located in southeastern Jefferson County and is part of the Birmingham metropolitan area. It sits on the side of Red Mountain, due south of the city center of Birmingham. The city covers 8.31 square miles, and Shades Creek, part of the Cahaba River system, runs through it.

History and Historic Districts

Hollywood was developed as a subdivision starting in 1926 and incorporated as a town in January 1927. It was annexed into Homewood in 1929. Its developer, Clyde Nelson, promoted it with the slogan “Out of the Smoke Zone, Into the Ozone.” The Hollywood Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and covers 815 acres. Oak Grove was annexed into Homewood in 1955. The Rosedale District was the site of a racially motivated bombing in September 1963.

Schools

Homewood is served by Homewood City Schools: Shades Cahaba Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, Hall-Kent Elementary, Homewood Middle School and Homewood High School. Always confirm current zoning and enrollment directly with the school district before you buy.

Government and Getting Around

Voters approved a move from a mayor-council form of government to a council-manager government in September 2024, effective November 2025. The mayor is directly elected and presides over a council of four members elected from four wards. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority runs Max Transit bus service in the city.

Population

Homewood had 26,414 residents in the 2020 census. Wikipedia lists estimates of 27,864 for 2022 and 28,118 for 2025.

Explore Homewood Homes

Browse current homes for sale in Homewood, AL, or read about living in Mountain Brook and living in Vestavia Hills.

Source: Facts in this guide come from the Wikipedia article “Homewood, Alabama” (retrieved October 2026). Verify details with the City of Homewood and Homewood City Schools before making decisions.