The city's annual Whistle-Stop Festival attracts thousands to its eclectic mix of art, food and music.

[4] The 1916 Irondale earthquake, magnitude 5.1, caused some damage in the area, and was felt in neighboring states.

In 1981, Mother Angelica founded the Eternal Word Television Network, after starting operations in a garage.

On August 25, 2020, Irondale voters elected James D. Stewart, Jr. as the first black mayor in the city's history.

Census 2010 race data for Irondale city include the racial breakdown percentages of 56.33% white, 35.38% black, 1.43% Asian and 7.78% Hispanic.