Leeds is a tricounty municipality located in Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby counties in the U.S. state of Alabama; it is an eastern suburb of Birmingham.

Lying at the crossroads of ancient Native American paths in the center of Alabama, Leeds drew European settlers and their African-American slaves to a land of fertile growing seasons and rich sources of coal and mineral ore.

The early settlers built churches and schools with many remaining in Cedar Grove, Oak Ridge, Ohanafeefee, and Mt.

The settlement, dating to 1818 and incorporating on April 27, 1887[6] as "Leeds", has existed along the banks of the Little Cahaba River; beside an historic stagecoach route; and along two large railroads for the greater part of American history.

[7] James Hamilton, a Scottish-Irish American veteran of the War of 1812 and first sheriff of Shelby County, settled in Cedar Grove in 1816.

John Richard Ingram Pashal Stewart, a Cherokee English teacher and American veteran of the War of 1812, settled at Ohanafeefee Village around 1840.

At Oak Ridge in 1820 or 1821, European settlers formed Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the first CPC congregation in middle Alabama.

Pleasant Church, where a handful of freed slaves had founded Scott City; Hillard Holley, Ciscero Davis, Jeff Harris, and Bill Johnson started Leeds Negro/Primary School in 1921.

In 2023, Mayor Miller announced a new Downtown Leeds Revitalization Project with Alabama's Department of Transportation, ALDOT, which will develop new ADA compliant sidewalks and lighting throughout the city for the enjoyment of residents and tourists.

In this folk story, John Henry, the "steel-drivin' man", races and wins against a steam engine in the laying of railroad that penetrates the Oak Mountain Tunnel in Leeds.

Retired chemistry professor and folklorist John Garst, of the University of Georgia, has argued that the contest happened at the Coosa Mountain Tunnel or the Oak Mountain Tunnel of the Columbus and Western Railway (now part of Norfolk Southern Railway) in Leeds on September 20, 1887.

In November 2019, the Alabama Political Reporter announced that the Superfund site at Interstate Lead Co. in Leeds was at risk due to flood hazards associated with climate change.

In 2013, Leeds Elementary School gained attention for asking parents for permission to administer corporal punishment to their children.

The 2007 Leeds High School softball team won the 3A state championship after winning six straight games from the loser's bracket.

On September 30, 2023, Leeds High School's "Pride of the Greenwave" Marching Band participated in the Pinson Valley Pride of the Valley Marching Contest receiving Superior ratings for Drum Major, Drum Line, Color Guard, and Band.