Calera

Few cities in central Alabama have a history as closely tied to nineteenth-century railroad expansion as Calera. The city grew around a stop on the South and North Alabama Railroad, a route between Montgomery and Decatur that helped shape its commercial core. Calera’s name derives from the Spanish word for a lime kiln, recalling the limestone long important in this part of Shelby County. South of Birmingham, it stands in the rolling terrain of the Cahaba River valley, on the outer edge of the Appalachian region. The Heart of Shelby Railroad Museum preserves this rail connection in a historic depot setting. Browse additional webcams from central Alabama to extend your view of Shelby County.

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