Located in Shelby County in the heart of central Alabama, Helena is a thriving suburban community in the Birmingham area. Originally incorporated in 1877 thanks to the coal and iron industry, Helena is a rapidly growing city with a population of just over 20,900 and a display of well planned, progressive development.
The Helena Historic District features many architecturally notable dwellings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Numerous parks are provided within Helena featuring open green spaces, playground equipment, a fishing pond and a baseball field complex often used for tournaments and recreational leagues. The Helena Sports Complex opened in 2003 and includes a community center and spaces for baseball, softball, cheerleading, basketball and soccer. The most popular parks in Helena include Joe Tucker Park and Cahaba Lily Park. The Old Town Helena Amphitheater, along the banks of Buck Creek, features a stage and grass seating area where numerous productions are staged. The Cahaba River and its tributary, Buck Creek, run through the community. Because Buck Creek is dammed upstream of Alabama Highway 261 in the Old Town area, it forms Lake Davidson, providing many recreational activities for both citizens and visitors. Fishing, wading and canoeing are popular uses of both waterways. The city hosts several popular community festivals, including the annual Buck Creek Festival, which has been held since 2001 on the second weekend of May and features a rubber duck race with 2,000-plus participants.