"If I fall in love with you, how can I know whether I love you for yourself or for the strawberries?" -- From The Americanization of Emily, written by Hartselle resident William Bradford Hume
In 1870, Hartselle, Alabama, was born from the simultaneous appearance of the North and South Alabama Railways. Named for one of the owners of the railway, Hartselle opened its first post office in 1873. Although most of the original buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1916, the Hartselle Downtown Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, more than 14,000 residents call Hartselle their home. Are you next?
Getting set to move into Hartselle? Awesome! There are just a couple of things you'll need to take care of first
"If I fall in love with you, how can I know whether I love you for yourself or for the strawberries?" -- From The Americanization of Emily, written by Hartselle resident William Bradford Hume
In 1870, Hartselle, Alabama, was born from the simultaneous appearance of the North and South Alabama Railways. Named for one of the owners of the railway, Hartselle opened its first post office in 1873. Although most of the original buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1916, the Hartselle Downtown Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, more than 14,000 residents call Hartselle their home. Are you next?
Moving to Hartselle
Getting set to move into Hartselle? Awesome! There are just a couple of things you'll need to take care of first. Contact the City of Hartselle to find out when to put out your trash and what to bring to the landfill. The City also provides curbside recycling services, so don't forget to sign on for that.
Hartselle Utilities can hook up your water, gas, and electrical services. It also controls the sewer systems, so don't forget to have a little chat about that luxury.
As far as local transportation goes, you need to rely on yourself. Not only will you need your own car -- or better yet, a truck -- to get around town and out of town; you need a vehicle to take any large garbage items out to the landfill. Yep -- that's why a pickup truck might do the trick.
Neighborhoods in Hartselle
There are five basic neighborhoods in Hartselle: the City Center, Georgia, Tanner Heights, Ausley Bend and Danville. City Center, Georgia and Tanner Heights are the most heavily populated, while Danville is mostly comprised of rural, outlying homes and farmland. With all the choices, you should have no trouble finding places to live in Hartselle.
City Center: On the crossroads of Highways 31 and 36. Home values here are lower than about 80% of homes throughout the rest of the United States, so it's a great place to buy or look for rental properties. This part of town has large and small houses, as well as apartment complexes. Looking for a studio for rent? This is the neighborhood for you. Hartselle Fine Arts Center and Family Lanes are nearby.
Ausley Bend: Just to the west of the City Center, is a little more expensive and more spread out than the City Center. Here you'll find large homes, three-bedroom houses from the 1960's and 1970's, and a few more high-rise apartments. Rental costs are still cheaper in Ausley Bend than in most the U.S., so don't worry yourself about the monthly budget.
Tanner Heights: This area is to the southwest of City Center, is crossed by Highway 30 and Highway 65. Hartselle Airport is located here, as well as higher-value rental houses and a few all-utilities-paid apartments.
Georgia: A large northeastern neighborhood of Hartselle, is the most expensive community in town. Part of the reason for higher home values in this part of town is that it lies partly on the Point Mallard Park, adjacent to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and Wheeler Lake. Among the four- and five-bedroom houses in this part of town, you will also find a few smaller houses and mobile homes. Rental prices don't match the home values in Georgia -- which is to say they are totally affordable.
Danville: A large neighborhood in which there aren't really a lot of residents -- just a lot of green space. If you want to live in "the middle of nowhere," Danville is a pretty safe bet. Choose from mobile homes and small- and medium-size houses generally built between 1970 and 1999.
Life in Hartselle
There are lots of great grocery stores to choose from in Hartselle, no matter what kind of food you want to stockpile in the fridge, freezer and cupboards. From Bud Weaver Grocery to Absolute Nutrition and Abundant Health Herbs, you can find some great dinner staples within city limits. There's even a peach farm!
As for shopping -- there's an abundance of auto parts shops and farm supply stores. If those don't exactly get you excited for shopping, don't worry -- Walmart, the Tanner Heights Plaza Shopping Center and the Crestwood Shopping Center ought to do the trick.
Standards of "haute cuisine" may not be quite up to par in Hartselle, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to whet your appetite. Try out Pig Stand, Asian Buffet, Cracker Barrel, or The Freight House Restaurant for a change from home cooking.
This town has the best of both worlds -- the solitude and natural landscape of rural life and the services, shopping, and amenities of urban life. Enjoy your time in Hartselle!
