Calera, AL real estate & property management

Living in Calera

Calera for buyers, sellers, renters and rental owners

Calera is a railroad and limestone town in southern Shelby County. It was incorporated in 1887, and its population grew from 11,620 in 2010 to 16,494 in 2020 (Census). The city sits on I-65 and US-31, and its limits reach south into Chilton County.

The name comes from the Spanish word for "quarry," after the area's limestone deposits, and the town grew where rail lines met. The City of Calera calls itself the "Heart of the Heart of Dixie" for its central location between Birmingham and Montgomery. That rail history is still on display at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum downtown.

For buyers and sellers, the first questions in Calera are which I-65 exit a home uses (228, 231 or 234), whether it is inside city limits, and whether the parcel is in Shelby or Chilton County, because county and city lines affect taxes, services and the school district. A Calera (35040) mailing address does not by itself answer those questions, so we check the parcel.

Neighborhoods & areas

Calera neighborhoods and subdivisions

Calera's housing runs from older homes on the grid streets around downtown and US-31 to newer subdivisions on both sides of I-65. Names you will often see on Calera listings include Waterford, Timberline, Camden Cove and Savannah Pointe.

Subdivision names come from MLS and plat records, and the list below is only a starting point. Ask us about any one you see on a listing, including whether it has an HOA and whether it is inside city limits.

• Waterford communities

  Waterford, Waterford Highlands and Waterford Cove are subdivision names you will see on Calera listings. Source

• Timberline

  A subdivision name on Calera listings. The city lists Timberline Golf Club among its attractions. Source

• Camden Cove & Savannah Pointe

  Two more established subdivision names on Calera listings. Source

• Downtown Calera

  Older homes and commercial blocks around the railroad, inside the city's historic district (projects there are reviewed by the Historical District Plan Review Board). Source

• More names to ask about

  Emerald Ridge, Hampton Square, Kensington Place, Waterstone and Rossburg, among others. We confirm the HOA and plat for each one. Source

TODO (Srianil): confirm this list and add the Calera subdivisions where you have sold or managed homes.

Schools

Which schools serve Calera homes?

Calera does not have its own school district. Its public schools are part of Shelby County Schools: Calera Elementary (K–2), Calera Intermediate (3–5), Calera Middle (6–8) and Calera High (9–12), according to the NCES school directory.

Calera Elementary is at 855 10th Street, Calera Intermediate at 8454 Highway 31 South, Calera High at 100 Calera Eagle Drive, and Calera Middle on Highway 22 (it has a Montevallo mailing address). Because Calera's city limits extend into Chilton County, and some Calera mailing addresses are outside city limits, confirm the district and zone for each address with the school system before you buy, list or lease.

School zones can change. Always confirm the zone for a specific address with the school district.

Places & things to do

Parks, shopping and landmarks in Calera

Calera's best-known attraction is the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, with excursion trains downtown. The city also runs four parks, two disc golf courses and an April Strawberry Festival, and downtown hosts events through Calera Main Street.

• Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

  The official railroad museum of the State of Alabama, at 1919 9th Street, with antique locomotives and railcars, exhibits and excursion train rides. The 2026 operating season runs March 1 to December 20. Source

• Downtown Calera & Calera Main Street

  First Fridays and seasonal events in the Calera Courtyard (1120 17th Avenue), organized by Calera Main Street. Source

• Strawberry Festival

  The city's spring festival with a car show, vendors, performers and a Kid Zone. In 2026 it was held April 25 at the Calera Track and Field Complex, 800 Eagle Way. Source

• Oliver Park & Eagle Sports Complex

  Oliver Park (58 acres, 9758 Highway 25) has ball fields, basketball courts, a nature trail and a walking track; the Eagle Sports Complex covers 65 acres of football, baseball, softball and soccer fields. Source

• George W. Roy Recreational Park & Akridge Arboretum Park

  George Roy Park (28 acres, 2465 2nd Avenue) has a lit walking trail, playgrounds, pavilions and a disc golf course. Akridge Arboretum Park is a one-acre nature park around the historic Presbyterian church at 1965 14th Street. Source

• Calera Library

  The city library at 9700 Highway 25. Source

Commute & access

Getting around from Calera

Calera is an I-65 city, with exits 228, 231 and 234, and US-31 runs north through it toward Alabaster and Pelham. From central Calera, downtown Birmingham is about 33 miles, roughly 39 minutes with no traffic; Hoover City Hall is about 24 miles.

Highway 25 and Highway 22 are the main local routes (Oliver Park and the library are on Highway 25, and Calera Middle on Highway 22). The Census puts Calera's mean travel time to work at 33.0 minutes (2020–2024). Our Pelham office is about 14 miles north on I-65.

* Approximate drive estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), checked October 24, 2026, with no traffic. Rush-hour trips take longer; use the map link for a live estimate. Mean commute: Census QuickFacts.

Our work in Calera

AKS Realty Group in Calera

Sources

1. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Calera city, Alabama: 2010 and 2020 Census population; 2020–2024 ACS home value, gross rent, owner-occupied rate, commute
2. City of Calera: View City History: "Heart of the Heart of Dixie", railroads, location
3. City of Calera: Visit City Attractions: railroad museum, First Fridays, disc golf, Strawberry Festival, Timberline Golf Club
4. City of Calera: Strawberry Festival: 2026 date and location
5. City of Calera: Disc Golf: courses at Oliver Park and George Roy Park
6. City of Calera: Library
7. Calera Parks & Recreation: Parks: park acreage, addresses and amenities
8. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum: address, official state railroad museum, 2026 season
9. Calera Main Street: Events: Calera Courtyard events
10. Calera Main Street: History & Preservation: historic district
11. Shelby County Schools
12. NCES school directory: Calera schools: 2025–2026 addresses and grade spans
13. Mega Agents: Calera neighborhoods: subdivision names (secondary source)
14. Wikipedia: Calera, Alabama: incorporation year, name origin, Shelby and Chilton counties, I-65 exits (secondary source)
15. OpenStreetMap / OSRM routing: drive distance and time estimates

Facts checked October 2026. Places, schools and roads change; tell us if something here is out of date.