Mountain Brook was originally developed in 1929 by local developer Robert Jemison as an extensive residential subdivision, and was incorporated on May 24, 1942. 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" knowns as 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 often referred to as "The Tiny Kingdom" due to its reputation as an enclave for the area's elite and the disparity of wealth between it and Birmingham where nearly a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, according to Census data.
Mountain Brook is the hometown of actors Wayne Rogers, Kate Jackson and Courteney Cox as well as former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr. Mountain Brook was also home to Natalee Holloway, a 2005 high school graduate who disappeared on a school trip in Aruba in a well-publicized missing persons case.
As of the census of 2003, there were 20,640 people, 7,954 households, and 5,974 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,684 people per square mile (649.9/km²). There were 8,268 housing units at an average density of 675.8/sq mi (260.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.64% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.22% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.The top five ethnic groups in Mountain Brook are. · English - 28%[1] · German - 10% · Irish - 8% · Scottish - 7% · Scots-Irish - 6%
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 (2000 Census).
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.
According to 2000 Census figures, the median income for a household in the city was $100,483, and the median income for a family was $156,647 (these figures had risen to $126,586 and $157,159 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). 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.
Based on the latest data available, Mountain Brook is now one of the nation's 10 most prosperous communities, according to a University of Montevallo professor who has studied new Census Bureau figures. Stephen Higley, a professor of urban geography, maintains a Web site charting the nation's most affluent neighborhoods. Using recent numbers from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Higley says he has determined that Mountain Brook is America's ninth wealthiest community.That's based on his examination of average household income for communities with at least 20,000 residents. Household income averaged $210,089 in Mountain Brook, according to data compiled from 2005 to 2007.
The home ownership rate (owner-occupied housing units to total units) is 87.2%.