Homewood was named after Homewood Plantation, which was developed beginning in 1822 by brothers Joseph and William Pace. The city was chartered on December 19, 1888.

Prior to the Civil War, an earlier settlement called Hollywood had developed 10 miles (16 km) to the west of present-day downtown Homewood. After the war started, the area’s rich soil was depleted for use by the Union military forces, and it became necessary to find another source of income. A new orientation began after the war ended, with the shift of focus from agriculture to mercantile interests.

Homewood is located at 33°23′5″N 86°39′3″W (33.3852998, -86.6511073).

Things to do in Homewood:

There are many local highlights and things to do in Homewood. For example, downtown Homewood has a number of restaurants to choose from. Other options include visiting the Vulcan statue, which was donated by the city’s sister city, Birmingham, England. The statue is a representation of the Roman god Vulcan, who was worshipped as the protector of blacksmiths.

The Homewood Museum has an exhibition on Jefferson County’s role during the Civil War, including the story of the 24th Regiment Alabama Infantry, Company H. The 28-minute film “A Legacy Remembered” tells this story through the memories of seven elderly men.

Homewood also features several outstanding parks, including Homewood Park located behind City Hall on Oxmoor Road. The park includes grassy areas for picnics and games, a gazebo, a playground, and restrooms. Other parks in the city include Brookwood Park, Brookwood Valley Greenway Trail, O’Connor Park, Century Park, and Brookwood Village Greenway.

Homewood is home to Cahaba Brewing Company, which claims itself as Alabama’s first microbrewery. There are many other bars and restaurants in Homewood that serve locally crafted beer and other alcoholic beverages.

The city is also home to a shopping center called Colonial Brookwood Village. The center takes up nearly an entire city block and includes restaurants, clothing stores, office space, and high-end retailers such as Williams-Sonoma and L’Occitane en Provence.

Homewood is home to a number of education, medical care facilities, and other businesses. For example, Homewood houses the main branch of the Jefferson County Library System. It also has a number of medical offices as well as branches of major banks including Regions Bank and Wells Fargo. In addition to those organizations, Homewood is also the location of Vulcan Materials Company’s Southeast aggregate mining division.

A number of annual events take place in Homewood, including the Art Stroll on the first Friday evening of every month, where local businesses hold open houses with various exhibits by area artists. The Art Stroll is supported by the Homewood Arts Alliance. The Alliance also sponsors Art on the Rocks, a monthly social gathering held at venues within downtown Homewood.

The city is also home to the annual Do Dah Day Parade and Pet Parade, which takes place each May. The parade raises money for a local animal shelter called PAWS. In addition to those events, there are a number of community festivals throughout the year.

Homewood is a great place to live and a great place to visit!