Henagar is a small town with access to green spaces and Huntsville
Henagar is a small town on top of the world, or at least northeast Alabama. The community sits on Sand Mountain, a sandstone plateau, and the DeKalb County region offers views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The community has a few renowned restaurants and plenty of green spaces where residents enjoy the fresh air. “It’s a quiet life here,” says Joli Palmer, an assistant librarian at the Henagar Public Library who has lived in the area for around 30 years. “It’s family-oriented, and the mountains are pretty. But you’re still close enough to bigger areas like Huntsville to commute there.”
New Traditional and brick ranch-style homes for below-median prices
Amongst Henagar’s country backdrop, homebuyers can find New Traditional homes, brick ranch-style houses, farm homes and cottages. Properties often sit far apart, especially toward the region's edges. Yards are mostly grass but may feature tall trees. The median sale price is around $275,000, well below the national median. Depending on the street, drivers can pass by open fields, farmland, and dense woods. Rural roads are often narrow and can lack lane lines. The car-dependent community has few sidewalks, even along major thoroughfares like Alabama State Route 40.
Mexican and barbecue restaurants, a buffet, and clothing boutiques
Most of the city’s restaurants sit along Broad Street, east of Alabama State Route 40. Limon’s Mexican Restaurant offers both authentic and Tex-Mex entrees, and Palmer says it draws customers from across the county. Bama Boys BBQ uses traditional flavors when cooking ribs, chicken and brisket. There are several fast-food eateries and chains like Jack’s Family Restaurant on the stretch. Just north of the area is Howard’s Restaurant, which serves buffet-style food. The city has Stop to Save Supermarket, Dollar General and Family Dollar locations. The Shop on 40, which sells casual men’s clothing, is one of a few boutiques in the community.
Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes at Sylvania High
Most area students are served by DeKalb County Schools, which holds an A-minus Niche grade. Students from prekindergarten to eighth grade can attend Henagar Junior High School, which has a B-minus score. Sylvania High School offers Advanced Placement and dual enrollment classes. It earns an A-minus.
A few students near the region’s western border are zoned for Jackson County Schools, which receives a B-plus rating. Pisgah High School has an individual A-minus.
Henagar City Park is for sports, and a nearby lake gives water access
Henagar City Park revolves around sports: baseball fields and basketball, volleyball and tennis courts are available. There is also a playground, and pavilions are available to rent. The City Pool hosts swimmers from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. An individual day pass is $3, and family season passes are also available, starting at $125. The Henagar Log Cabin Disc Golf Course has 18 par-3 holes. To the south, DeKalb County Lake provides space for boating and fishing, with anglers able to catch largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Ridgeview Drive-In Theatre shows the latest blockbusters.
The Sand Mountain Potato Festival is an annual highlight
The Sand Mountain Potato Festival is the community’s biggest event. Held on the Fourth of July, the celebration mixes food, games and music with a car show, a tractor show and a parade. The Henagar Farmers Market is held each Monday during the growing season and on select days in October for the fall harvest. Palmer says the Henagar Public Library offers computer access and hosts book clubs, art classes and other programming.
Major highways are close, and tornado season is active
Alabama state routes 40 and 75 cut through the city. Interstate 59 is a few miles southeast. Huntsville is around 60 miles west, as is Huntsville International Airport. Stone Mountain communities historically have had the coolest climate in Alabama. Palmer says tornadoes can impact the area, usually between March and May. “It’s not like Texas’ tornado season, but it’s active,” Palmer says. “There’s a community storm shelter in town, and houses have started to be built with personal ones.”
