The City Time Forgot: Ensley Alabama Pop 7283 Suburb of Birmingham

I attended Ensley High from '72 - '75 and it was still thriving. It now looks almost post apocalyptic!

Time may have forgotten it but crime hasnt

I’m 72, back in the day Ensley was the only place we shopped. Lots of stores and restaurants. Sad to see it now. We live about 7 miles west of there.

In the 1970's this was a hustling and bustling town,. When US Steel closed, well you saw what happened.

This was an interesting video, EA. While I do very much like your usual commentary and observations, this was nice because it really put me in the mindset of being in the driver’s seat alone while I wandered around exploring. When I was more mobile and less disabled, I would do this same thing in the old towns of Michigan. It made me wistful for those days of being free and independent. I wouldn't mind seeing more like this occasionally. Sure, I could turn the volume down on one of the other “town wanderings” but I’d miss the commentary. This was great, especially with headphones on. Almost hypnotic. Thank you, sir.

EA, thank you for the tour of Ensley, and thanks to your followers for their input about Ensley and area.

Really good buddy of mine worked that area as a policeman way back in the day. He loves history almost as much as you and I. He has some old yearbooks from ensly. He showed me one from the mid twenties. The cheerleaders were scary looking. Kinda looked like jesters. Their fight song was just as terrifying

No talking! We love to listen to you talking. Missed hearing your little stories and commentary. Thanks for all your videos.

I grew up in Ensley. My daddy worked at US Steel. Right at the viaduct. It had 2 great restaurants Ensley Grille, & Catfish Cabin. When US Steel shut down that was the beginning of the end.

That is so sad.....I live in Sale City Georgia and I pray it stays lively till long after I'm gone. We are so small we have one curb store one restaurant and no stop lights. I love it!

At one time Ensley had the largest Italian population in the state. Part of the area was called Little Italy. When the Ensley Iron Works and iron ore mining in the region shut down, that was the demise of Ensley. Ensley lived and died by the iron industry. I think Ideal Furniture is about the only bigger business left in the old part of Ensley.

Howdy Partners. My distant relatives founded Ensley, Alabama. Looks like a nice town to me.

Sad how these little cities disappear over time. I see it happening here out west a lot

These streets bring back memories of childhood. There are many development projects already moving. There's Ensley Social, a entertainment and condo area, Ramsay Mccormick Building was demolished and being rebuilt as a government office complex, Oak Hill housing development is being built and Ensley High School is turning into a housing and business complex. Alot of $$$$ is being poured into the area!

Super Cool

I read in an article about Birmingham that the Ensley area is gentrifying, so I came to watch this video. Sure doesn’t look like anything is happening here.

Awesome drive threw ,and around that sad looking town,roads are somewhat maintained. But wow!!!!that was a strange house!with the red stones scattered threw out the building.

I like when you say something about the towns

Definitely wouldn't take that trip at night. In the 70s my grandfather had a Texaco station and the Arco station on Avenue E in Ensley I live about four or five miles from there now

They have some nice artwork on the walls there. Sure beats the tagging you usually see.