The first residents of the area were clustered around "King's Spring" on the slopes of Red Mountain, now the site of Avondale Park.

The wife of Jefferson County sheriff Abner Killough was struck in the breast by a stray shot while sitting on her porch.

It was known for the spring-fed grotto pool, an extensive rose garden, athletic fields, a secluded pavilion called "The Villa", and a large amphitheater that hosted a spectacular pageant in celebration of Birmingham's 50th anniversary in 1931.

By the early seventies Avondale Park had developed a reputation as a drug-dealing area and the vicinity entered a long period of decline.

[2] The neighborhood is notable for its religious diversity, including Baha'i, Buddhist, and Quaker centers along with the regionally predominant Baptist and Methodist churches.