BIG QUESTION: Why is the Birmingham Metro sprawling southward? (Trussville: sales, construction)

[A&M Bulldawg]

Besides subdivisions, how has the growth from Birmingham affected Chilton County?

[jakabedy]

Originally Posted by KE111691

Besides subdivisions, how has the growth from Birmingham affected Chilton County?

I guess the same way the growth of any city affects any outlying county. What is the specific question?

I think the main effect would be the lengthened commute to Birmingham, if you are a Chilton resident who commutes to Birmingham. As subdivisions come in they will bring with them new people who are not "local." A friend who has taught for 20 years in Springville spoke of the growing pains there as the area grew. The locals vs. the newcomers with different lifestyles, expectations, etc. After a while all was good, but there were some growing pains.

[A&M Bulldawg]

I know Chilton County has got to be growing because of Calera. For years, Calera has been Alabama's fastest growing city. Part of Calera is in Chilton County. Because of this, Chilton County will explode despite its present growth.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by KE111691

I know Chilton County has got to be growing because of Calera. For years, Calera has been Alabama's fastest growing city. Part of Calera is in Chilton County. Because of this, Chilton County will explode despite its present growth.

Please provide a link with that information

[A&M Bulldawg]

Calera, Alabama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Calera passes Huntsville as fastest-growing city in Alabama - Birmingham Business Journal:

[censusdata]

I don't even live in Alabama and I can tell you why --> cities nearly always grow more on the more affluent side of town.

Where I live in KY our 2 largest cities extent way further out on the "good side" of town as compared to the "bad" side. There are 4 miles of city west of downtown Louisville and 15+ miles towards the east. In Lexington 3 miles north of downtown puts you in farmland while the city sprawls 7 miles south of downtown

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by jakabedy

My friends and I used to joke and say, in a cute accent "we just got a house in Calera, it's not that far, really!" And then we would laugh, laugh laugh. Calera, in our minds, might as well have been Montgomery.

Yeah, our friends bought a house in Helena, of all places, WAY out in the country, right off I-65 at the Oak Mountain exit. There was nothing out there, not even the park at that time. They were thrilled when Lloyd's moved out on 280. Site clearing had just begun at Galleria.

Originally Posted by KE111691

I know Chilton County has got to be growing because of Calera. For years, Calera has been Alabama's fastest growing city. Part of Calera is in Chilton County. Because of this, Chilton County will explode despite its present growth.

KE, you seem to be very young and know nothing BUT a booming economy and "explosive" growth. But the past 20 years of "explosive" growth is the exception, not the rule. It's over. Not forever, but for a very long time. But that's a topic for another thread, another forum.

[3am green coffee]

Originally Posted by Southlander

They were thrilled when Lloyd's moved out on 280.

Where was Lloyd's before it was on 280? I thought they were always on 280 but originally in a different building.

[A&M Bulldawg]

Because of the growth of Birmingham into Chilton County, think that I-65 needs to be widened from 8 lanes from Gardendale all the way to Montgomery.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by 3am green coffee

Where was Lloyd's before it was on 280? I thought they were always on 280 but originally in a different building.

Lloyd's is 71 years old. They used to be on, I think, U.S. 11, which was the main NE-SW route to Tuscaloosa and beyond, so lots of truck traffic. I believe it was originally a truck stop. Seems like it was on a hill...man, it's been a LONG time. Lloyd's built out on 280 when it was still 2 lanes, and we all wondered why they went WAY out there.