Talladega conjures images of checkered flags, sounds of roaring engines and the 2006 movie “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” but this Alabama city’s more than a destination for NASCAR fans. About 60 miles east of Birmingham and just west of the Talladega National Forest, Talladega’s home to Honda of Alabama and the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, both major employers for its almost 16,000 residents. Homes are found everywhere except the extreme western end of the city and locals gather in the central downtown to tour museums or catch a show; locally owned and chain restaurants sit along Battle Street and State Route 77 is lined with shopping centers. Efforts to recruit businesses and improve the city’s walkability are ongoing.
Enjoy the charming city of Talladega.
Listen to the engines roar at the Talladega Superspeedway.
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Playgrounds, playing fields and zip lines
Most of Talladega’s eight parks, all with playgrounds and walking tracks, sit in either the city center or at the northern end; recreation centers and playing fields are found in both the center and the southwest. Downtown, Talladega honors hall of fame NASCAR drivers at the 2-acre Davey Allison Memorial Park on Coffee Street, while just east of the city, the Talladega National Forest and Cheaha State Park offer hiking and biking trails, campgrounds and zip lines.
Play on the playground at Jemison Park in Talladega.
Enjoy learning about nascar history in Talladega.
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NASCAR races and Broadway shows
North of the city, Talladega’s Pit Stop Park, GrandStand RV Park and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame host annual festivals and race-week events. Every April and October, NASCAR Series races are held at the Talladega Superspeedway, drawing people from all over the country. Museums showcase art and race history downtown between North and South Streets, and the Historic Ritz Theatre on Court Square features Broadway shows, concerts, local theatrical performances and events like Mardi Gras galas.
Take a tour with friends at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega.
Catch a show at the historic Ritz Theater in Talladega.
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Thrift stores and coffee shops
Two shopping centers in the northern end of the city offer grocery and retail shops, and thrift stores line State Route 77, while clothing boutiques, dollar stores and pharmacies are found along Court Street and Court Square. In the city center, chain and locally owned restaurants and coffee shops are found on Battle Street.
Shop at one of the many department stores in Talladega.
Grab a fresh cup of coffee at Daily Grind in Talladega.
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Craftsman-style homes and new subdivisions
Up to five-bedroom midcentury modern Craftsman- and ranch-style homes built between the 1940s and ‘60s line most city streets; prices average $145,000 and usually sell within 68 days. In the city’s southern and western ends, prices start as low as $89,000, while in the northern and eastern ends, prices can reach as high as $519,000. New subdivisions with vacant lots of up to 50 acres start at $6,400. East of downtown, construction of “an inviting, family-oriented community with green spaces, walking trails and fishing ponds in Timber Ridge is ongoing,” says James Nash, CEO of Combined Construction Services who has invested in several properties in Talladega. “We’re excited to build 200 new homes in the area.”
Older craftsmen style homes are common in Talladega.
Enjoy the charming older houses that line the streets of Talladega.
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Student mental health program
Serving roughly 1,800 students, the Talladega City School District earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche. According to local news site abc3340, students at Talladega High School now have access to a new online mental health program, the first of its kind in the state. The school board plans to expand the same program to elementary and middle school students.
Talladega High School is a great place to learn.
Zora Ellis Junior High School takes academics seriously.
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Downtown revitalization and new construction
City Manager Seddrick Hill, Sr. and other city officials have partnered with Main Street Alabama to revitalize downtown. Soon forthcoming, a comprehensive five-year plan will outline strategies to recruit new businesses and industries; preserve the historical integrity of existing buildings while getting them up to code; and increase walkability for pedestrians. Hill also wants to provide training and job opportunities for students from Central Alabama Community College and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
In 2023, Talladega was awarded a Community Development Block Grant to begin demolishing over 30 abandoned homes to encourage new construction. From 2021 to the present, public works employees have been cleaning city streets and sidewalks, landscaping public areas and collecting trash, as well as hosting e-recycling events where residents drop off unwanted electronics.
Take a walk on the lawn at the Talladega Courthouse Square.
Take a walk and enjoy the charming downtown of Talladega.
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Crime, fires and bus services
According to Crime Grade, Talladega’s property crime rate is 90.20 incidents per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 19.55, while the violent crime rate is 6.17 incidents per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 3.8. The city’s Police Chief, Diane Thomas, is committed to lowering crime rates by hiring more officers and increasing their training; she also encourages the community to share information that could prevent crime or lead to arrests.
Alabama Forestry Commission statistics state than an average of 4,000 wildfires occur every year in Alabama, and Talladega’s threatened by forest fires spreading west from the Appalachian Mountains. The commission uses their website and social media pages to share prevention strategies and ways to report fires. City officials announce burn bans during periods of drought, and partner with Alabama natural resource managers to analyze soil moisture data and determine fire risks. Residents here aren’t required to purchase additional fire insurance.
State Routes 77 and 275 provide access to commercial and residential areas throughout Talladega, while Interstate 20 leads to downtown Birmingham and its eastern suburbs. Eastern Alabama’s Areawide Community Transportation System offers bus services in and outside of the city; Rally to Talladega Superspeedway buses take locals to races. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is 50 miles northwest, and Citizens Baptist Medical Center is 1 mile east.
I was first licensed as a real estate agent in 1988 while working a full-time job as Safety Supervisor for CBI Services in Birmingham AL. In 2000, I transferred my license to inactive status and further my occupational safety health career. In 2013 I retired as the Corporate Safety Director for Irondale Industrial Contractors in Irondale Al. After finishing my projects around the house and traveling, I began to get bored and my wife was more ready for me to get out of the house. In January 2018 I reactivated my Real Estate License with RE/MAX Hometown Properties in Pell City, AL, and have been proudly serving home buyers and sellers in the area since. Nothing is more gratifying to me than the feeling I get from helping people meet their real estate needs. You can count on me to always do what's in your best interest. I pride myself on being honest, trustworthy, and knowledgeable in the real estate market. I know how important it is to find your dream home or get the best offer for your property. Therefore I will make it my responsibility to help you achieve those goals.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
