Mountain Brook

City of Mountain Brook
Incorporated	1942
Population	20,413
Mayor	Terry Oden
School district	Mountain Brook Schools
Government	Mountain Brook City Council Mountain Brook Fire Department Mountain Brook Police Department
Web site	mtnbrook.org
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Mountain Brook (incorporated in 1942) is a city of 20,413 on 12.8 square miles in southern Jefferson County, south of Red Mountain. Mountain Brook is a particularly affluent suburb of Birmingham, ranked as the 17th wealthiest city in the United States in 2002.^1.

Mountain Brook was originally developed in 1929 by Robert Jemison as an extensive residential subdivision. The plans, by Boston-based landscape architect Warren H. Manning called for estate-sized lots along winding scenic roads and denser commercial development centering on three "villages", called "English Village", "Mountain Brook Village" and "Crestline Village". Nature preserves on the adjacent slopes protected the area from urban encroachment and bridle paths created a recreational network within the development.

Mountain Brook is the hometown of actors Wayne Rogers, Kate Jackson, and Courteney Cox. It was also home to Natalee Holloway, whose disappearance during a post-graduation trip to Aruba caused a national sensation.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 20,413 people residing in the city's 8,266 housing units. The population density was 1,593.6/mi² with housing units at an average density of 645.3/mi². The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White and 1.03% African-American. 0.97% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000, there were 7,998 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $100,483, and the median income for a family was $156,647. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $39,770 for females. The per capita income for the city was $59,085. 0% of the population is below the poverty line. The home ownership rate (owner-occupied housing units to total units) is 87.2%. The Jefferson County Board of Equalization evaluated 6,781 homes in Mountain Brook and determined that their average market value for 2007 was $615,147, a 3.7% increase since 2006.

In 2009 a survey of America's "wealth centers" conducted by American City Business Journals found that Mountain Brook was the 8th wealthiest city in the United States. The survey used a 10-part formula which included household income, median home value and educational attainment. (Cooper-2009)

Mountain Brook is Alabama's best educated city, proportionately, with 79.5% of adult residents (25 and older) holding an associate degree or higher, and 77.3% of adults possessing a baccalaureate degree or higher.

Government

Mountain Brook has a city council/mayor/city manager system of government. The city council consists of 5 members elected at large, and the council considers most issues and appoints the police chief, the fire chief, and the city manager (with the mayor). The mayor is elected every 4 years and as of 2008 is Terry Oden. Administrative business is handled by the city manager who is appointed by the mayor and city council. As of 2008 the city manager is Sam Gaston. The Tree Commission and the Planning Commission consider specific issues and usually refer them to the city council.

Mayors

• Charles Zukoski, 1942–1956
• David Hamilton, 1956–1959
• Samuel Burr, 1959–
• Lee McGriff, 1972–1980
• Terry Oden, 1996–present

Education

The city has its own school system, Mountain Brook Schools, which operates four elementary schools (Mountain Brook Elementary School, Cherokee Bend Elementary School, Brookwood Forest Elementary School, and Crestline Elementary School), one junior high school (Mountain Brook Junior High School), and one high school (Mountain Brook High School).

Notes

1. "Census says", 2002

References

• "Census says Alabamians' incomes up 12 percent" (May 24, 2002) Birmingham News
• Cooper, Lauren B. (April 24, 2009) "Study: Mountain Brook among the richest." Birmingham Business Journal
• "Mountain Brook, Alabama (June 17, 2010) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia - accessed June 24, 2010

External links

• Mountain Brook official website
• Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce website