Our Community

The City of Irondale, Alabama is perfectly located as a hometown of 10,000 people and over 500 businesses, yet offers easy access to surrounding municipalities.  We are small time America involved in city government with big city benefits close at hand.  We believe in business friendly government with an eye toward the future. 

The book (later a film) Fried Green Tomatoes, by Irondale native Fannie Flagg, is based around the town and the landmark Irondale Cafe, known as The Whistle-Stop Cafe in the book & film. The city's annual Whistle-Stop Festival attracts thousands to its eclectic mix of art, food and music.

Irondale is also the location of Catholic radio/television broadcaster EWTN. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) is an American Cable Television network which presents Catholic-themed programming. It was founded by Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation (born Rita Antoinette Rizzo) in 1980 on the grounds of the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery.

Irondale was incorporated on October 19, 1887. The city derived its name from a furnace located nearby. Though the furnace was known as the Cahaba Iron Works, local folks referred it as Irondale. The area's first post office was established on June 3, 1872, but was discontinued on December 3, 1875. It was reestablished on January 16, 1883, as Brevard and was renamed Irondale on February 28, 1887.