Glencoe is the "City of Patriotism" and celebrates its numerous green spaces
Glencoe was designated the “City of Patriotism” by the Alabama legislature in 2003 and still carries the distinction with pride. Its city seal is designed around an American flag, and hundreds of flags are displayed along Highway 431 to coincide with various holidays, each flag carrying the name of a Glencoe resident who served in the military. Members of the community are proud of where they live, too. The city of more than 5,000 people has several parks and golf courses, and nearby Gadsden provides shopping opportunities. “It’s a neat town,” says Mark Cassidy, a Realtor and the owner of Impact Realty LLC. “Everybody knows everybody, but we’re growing. There are new homes being built. We still have some rural areas. It’s a mix.”
Colonial Revival-inspired homes and ranch-style houses surrounded by trees
The community has many Colonial Revival-inspired residences built in the 1990s and 2000s. They often come with garages. There are also ranch-style houses with carports available. Glencoe’s median home price is around $230,000, well below the national average. There are also large parcels of land for development, usually for between $10,000 and $40,000 per acre, though lots can be more expensive near the Coosa River. Most homes tend to be on the northern side of U.S. Highway 431, which splits the city in two. The area’s roads are surrounded by trees, and forests get thicker as you get farther from the city center. Sidewalks are rare throughout the region.
Restaurants off U.S. Route 431 and retail shopping in nearby Gadsden
Most of Glencoe’s restaurants sit off U.S. Route 431. Hungry Hut is known for its barbecue entrees. Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant serves authentic cuisine. Big Chief Drive-In grills up no-frills burgers and other American classics. The city has an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, two Dollar Generals and a Center of Hope Thrift Store. Residents can travel to the eastern section of nearby Gadsden for more grocery and retail shopping options like Aldi and Walmart Supercenter.
Etowah County Schools and the Prevention and Awareness for Total Health program
Students are served by Etowah County Schools. They can attend Glencoe Elementary, which has a B-plus Niche grade. Glencoe Middle School earns a B score. The school implements the Prevention and Awareness for Total Health program, or P.A.T.H., which encourages positive coping strategies and strengthens character. Glencoe High School gets a B-minus from Niche.
Find fun at youth sports facilities, golf courses and a local quarry
Wilson Park is the city’s athletics hub. It has basketball courts and tennis courts with lights, plus a sand volleyball court and youth baseball, softball and soccer fields. For non-athletes, it has a splash pad and a playground. Hollingsworth Park has enclosed batting cages, high school baseball and softball diamonds and a walking trail. Jeffers Springs is a natural spring where people can relax under a gazebo. The Links at Briarmeade Golf Club is a par-71 course, while the RTJ Golf Trail at Silver Lakes is 36 holes split into four courses: Backbreaker, Heartbreaker, Mindbreaker and the Short Course. Both clubs are open for public play. Dive Land Park, open mid-April through October, lets guests scuba dive and snorkel in a local quarry. A handful of churches are spread throughout the community, including Catalyst Community Church, which provides free meals for its congregation before an evening service each Sunday.
Two annual festivals with live music
The city holds a Celebration in the Park event each spring at Wilson Park, with food, live music and games available. Bash! In the Bend is a country music festival held along the Coosa River. “We used to get people from the radio,” Cassidy says. “Now we get people from TikTok.” Past artists include Academy of Country Music Award winner Ella Langley and ACM nominee Muscadine Bloodline.
Access to a major highway and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
U.S. Route 431 can take drivers into Gadsden, around 6 miles northwest. Birmingham is close to 70 miles away, and so is Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport. The area can feel the effects of hurricanes in the fall, but damage is usually mild.
