City of Birmingham
Flag Seal
Nickname: "The Magic City" or "Pittsburgh of the South"
Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°39′12″N 86°48′32″W / 33.65333, -86.80889
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Jefferson, Shelby
Incorporated	December 19, 1871
Government
- Type	Mayor - Council
- Mayor	Bernard Kincaid (Current) Larry Langford (Mayor-Elect)
Area
- City	151.9 sq mi (393.5 km²)
- Land	149.9 sq mi (388.3 km²)
- Water	2.0 sq mi (5.3 km²)
Elevation	614 ft (140 m)
Population (2006)
- City	229,424
- Density	1,510/sq mi (583.03/km²)
- Metro	1,100,019
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	205
FIPS code	01-07000
GNIS feature ID	0158174
Website: http://www.informationbirmingham.com/

Birmingham (pronounced /ˈbɝmɪŋhæm/) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alabama and is the county seat of Jefferson County. The population of the city is 242,820 as of the 2000 census, but has declined to 229,424 according to the 2006 estimate.^[1] The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, as of the 2006 census estimates, has a population of 1,100,019. It is also the largest city in the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area, colloquially known as Greater Birmingham, which contains roughly one quarter of the population in Alabama. Download high resolution version (1200x494, 271 KB)Panorama of Birmingham, Alabama from Red Mountain (2002) Photograph by John Morse, November 2002. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Birmingham,_Alabama. ... § Drawing of the Flag of Birmingham, Alabama The HI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) ΏρǢ$72. ... Image File history File links Seal_of_Birmingham. ... EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Location in the state of Alabama Formed December 13, 1819 Seat Birmingham Area  - Total  - Water 2,911 km² (1,124 mi²) 29 km² (11 mi²) 1. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... This article is about the U.S. State. ... List of 67 counties in the U.S. state of Alabama: Autauga County Baldwin County Barbour County Bibb County Blount County Bullock County Butler County Calhoun County Chambers County Cherokee County Chilton County Choctaw County Clarke County Clay County Cleburne County Coffee County Colbert County Conecuh County Coosa County Covington... Location in the state of Alabama Formed December 13, 1819 Seat Birmingham Area  - Total  - Water 2,911 km² (1,124 mi²) 29 km² (11 mi²) 1. ... Shelby County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama and is named in honor of Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Bernard Kincaid (born June 5, 1945) is the Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama USA, elected in 1999. ... Former mayor of Fairfield, Alabama. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Area code 205 is a telephone numbering plan code covering central and western Alabama including the cities of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article is about the U.S. State. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Location in the state of Alabama Formed December 13, 1819 Seat Birmingham Area  - Total  - Water 2,911 km² (1,124 mi²) 29 km² (11 mi²) 1. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby counties in middle central Alabama. ... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... Cullman is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States and is considered a part of Greater Birmingham. ... The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. ... Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area The Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area sometimes known as Greater Birmingham, is made up of 8 counties in Central Alabama. ...

Birmingham was founded in 1871, just after the U.S. Civil War, as an industrial enterprise. It was named after Birmingham, the major industrial city of England. Through the middle of the 20th century, Birmingham was the primary industrial center of the Southern United States. The astonishing pace of Birmingham's growth through the turn of the century earned it the nicknames "The Magic City" and "The Pittsburgh of the South". Much like Pittsburgh in the north, Birmingham's major industries centered around iron and steel production. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... A large number of places in the U.S were named after places in England as a result of English settlers and explorers. ... This article is about the British city. ... Historic Southern United States. ... Pittsburgh redirects here. ...

Over the course of the 20th century, the city's economy diversified. Though the manufacturing industry maintains a strong presence in Birmingham, other industries such as banking, insurance, medicine, publishing, and biotechnology have risen in stature. Birmingham has been recognized as the top city for income growth in the United States with nearly a one-hundred percent increase in per capita income since 1990.^[2] Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

Today, Birmingham ranks as one of the most important business centers in the Southeastern United States and is also one of the largest banking centers in the U.S. In addition, the Birmingham area serves as headquarters to one Fortune 500 company: Regions Financial. Five Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in Birmingham. In recent years Birmingham has been named by various groups as one of the best U.S. cities in which to live and raise a family.^{[3] [4]} The US Southeast is the eastern portion of the Southern United States, but the Census Bureau does not provide a standard definition of a Southeast region of the United States, and organizations that need to subdivide the US are free to define a Southeast region to fit their needs. ... The Fortune 500 is a ranking of the top 500 United States corporations as measured by gross revenue. ... Regions Financial Corporation NYSE: RF is a publicly held company based in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Fortune 1000 is a reference to a list maintained by the American business magazine Fortune. ...

History

Panorama of Birmingham, Alabama c.1916

Birmingham was founded on June 1, 1871 by real estate promoters who sold lots near the planned crossing of the Alabama & Chattanooga and South & North railroads. The first business at that crossroads was the trading post and country store Yeilding's, run by the still prominent Yeilding family. The site of the railroad crossing was notable for the nearby deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone - the three principal raw materials used in making steel. Birmingham is the only place worldwide where significant amounts of all three minerals can be found in such close proximity. From the start the new city was planned as a great center of industry. The founders borrowed the name of Birmingham, England's principal industrial city, to advertise that point. Birmingham got off to a slow start: the city was impeded by an outbreak of cholera and a Wall Street crash in 1873. But soon afterward began to grow. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 190 pixelsFull resolution (3520 × 836 pixel, file size: 376 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Birmingham, Alabama c. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 190 pixelsFull resolution (3520 × 836 pixel, file size: 376 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Birmingham, Alabama c. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... This heap of iron ore pellets will be used in steel production. ... Coal Example chemical structure of coal Coal (pronounced ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... This article is about the British city. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Cholera (or Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is an extreme diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ... Elaborate marble facade of NYSE as seen from the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets For other uses, see Wall Street (disambiguation). ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The turn of the century brought the substantial growth that gave Birmingham the nickname "The Magic City" as the downtown area developed from a low-rise commercial and residential district into a busy grid of neoclassical mid-rise and high-rise buildings and busy streetcar lines. Between 1902 and 1912 four large office buildings were constructed at the intersection of 20th Street, the central north-south spine of the city, and 1st Avenue North, which connected the warehouses and industrial facilities stretching along the east-west railroad corridor. This impressive group of early skyscrapers was nicknamed "The Heaviest Corner on Earth". The Heaviest Corner on Earth is a promotional name given to the corner of 20th Street and 1st Avenue North in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, in the early 20th century. ...

The Great Depression hit Birmingham especially hard as sources of capital that were fueling the city's growth rapidly dried up at the same time that farm laborers, driven off the land, made their way to the city in search of work. New Deal programs made important contributions to the city's infrastructure and artistic legacy, including such key improvements as Vulcan's tower and Oak Mountain State Park. For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... The Vulcan statue The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world and the symbol of Birmingham, Alabama. ... Oak Mountain State Park is Alabamas largest state park at nearly 10,000 acres (40 km²). It is located in Pelham, Alabama and is convenient (via a short drive on I-65) to Birmingham, Alabamas largest city. ...

16th Street Baptist Church

The wartime demand for steel and the post-war building boom gave Birmingham a rapid return to prosperity. Manufacturing diversified beyond the production of raw materials and several major cultural institutions, such as the Birmingham Museum of Art, were able to expand their scope. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 526 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1052 pixel, file size: 604 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, photographed September 2005 using a Canon Powershot S410 digital camera. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 526 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1052 pixel, file size: 604 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, photographed September 2005 using a Canon Powershot S410 digital camera. ... The Birmingham Museum of Art is a large public art museum, located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. ...

In the 1950s and '60s Birmingham received national and international attention as a center of the civil rights struggle for African-Americans. The city was given the derisive nickname Bombingham because of a string of racially motivated bombings that took place during this time. A watershed in the civil rights movement occurred in 1963 when Martin Luther King, Jr., imprisoned for having taken part in a nonviolent protest, wrote the now famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, a defining treatise in his cause against segregation. Birmingham is also known for a bombing which occurred later that year, in which four black girls were killed by a bomb planted at the 16th Street Baptist Church. The event would inspire the African-American poet Dudley Randall's opus, The Ballad of Birmingham, as well as jazz musician John Coltrane's song, "Alabama." The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... The civil rights movement in the United States has been a long, primarily nonviolent struggle to bring full civil rights and equality under the law to all citizens of United States. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Martin Luther King redirects here. ... Martin Luther King Jr The Letter from Birmingham Jail or Letter from Birmingham City Jail, commonly but incorrectly rendered Letter from a Birmingham Jail, was an open letter on April 16, 1963 written by Martin Luther King, Jr. ... The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing was a racially motivated terrorist incident at 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama, in the United States. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... Dudley Randall (1914 - 2000) was an African-American poet and poetry publisher from Detroit, Michigan. ... The Ballad of Birmingham is a poem written by African-American poet Dudley Randall (1914-2000). ... Coltrane redirects here. ...

Central Business District Skyline

In the 1970s urban renewal efforts focused around the development of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which developed into a major medical and research center. In 1971 Birmingham celebrated its centennial with a round of public works improvements, including the upgrading of Vulcan Park. Birmingham's banking institutions enjoyed considerable growth as well and new skyscrapers started to appear in the city center for the first time since the 1920s. These projects helped the city's economy to diversify, but did not prevent the exodus of many of the city's residents to independent suburbs. In 1979 Birmingham elected Dr. Richard Arrington Jr. as its first African-American mayor. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 2. ... The University of Alabama at Birmingham (also known as UAB) is a public, coeducational university located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The university is part of the three-member University of Alabama System, which includes the University of Alabamas main campus located in Tuscaloosa (UA) and the University of Alabama... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... The Vulcan statue The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world and the symbol of Birmingham, Alabama. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Richard Arrington Jr. ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ...

The population inside Birmingham's city limits has fallen over the past few decades. From 340,887 in 1960, the population was down to 242,820 in 2000, a loss of about 29 percent. However, the growth of Birmingham's suburbs over that same period has kept the metropolitan population growing.

Today, Birmingham has begun to experience a bit of a rebirth. Currently there are around a billion dollars being invested in reconstructing the downtown area into a 24-hour mixed-use district. The market for downtown lofts and condominiums has mushroomed while restaurant, retail and cultural options are beginning to sprout up. In 2006 the visitors bureau selected "the diverse city" as a new tag line for the city.^[5]

Geography and climate

Geography

Birmingham is located at 33°31′29″N, 86°48′46″W (33.524755, -86.812740)^GR1.

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge

Birmingham occupies Jones Valley, flanked by long parallel mountain ridges (the tailing ends of the Appalachian foothills) running from north-east to south-west. The valley is drained by small creeks (Village Creek, Valley Creek) which flow into the Black Warrior River. More importantly, the valley was bisected by the principal railroad corridor, along which most of the early manufacturing operations began. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1215x1800, 680 KB) Summary Source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1215x1800, 680 KB) Summary Source: http://www. ... The Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge is a 3,414 acre National Wildlife Refuge located in central Alabama, along the Cahaba River downstream from Birmingham, Alabama. ... The Appalachian Mountains are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ... The Black Warrior River at Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2004 The Black Warrior River is a tributary of the Tombigbee River, approximately 178 mi (286 km) long, in west central Alabama in the United States. ...

Red Mountain lies immediately south of downtown. Many of Birmingham's television and radio broadcast towers are lined up along this prominent ridge. The "Over the Mountain" area, including Shades Valley, Shades Mountain and beyond, was largely shielded from the industrial smoke and rough streets of the industrial city. This is the setting for Birmingham's more affluent suburbs of Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and Hoover. South of Shades Valley is the Cahaba River basin, one of the most diverse river ecosystems in America. Red Mountain is the place where Gary is always the Man. ... Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Jefferson Mayor Terry Oden (R) Area    - City 31. ... Vestavia Hills is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, a suburb of the city of Birmingham. ... Homewood is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. ... Hoover is a city in Jefferson and Shelby counties in middle central Alabama. ... The Cahaba River is the longest free-flowing river in Alabama and is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the United States. ...

Sand Mountain, a smaller ridge, flanks the city to the north and divides Jones Valley from much more rugged land to the north. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad (now CSX Transportation) enters the valley through Boyles Gap, a prominent gap in the long low ridge. Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business. ... CSX redirects here. ...

Ruffner Mountain, located due east of the heart of the city, is home to Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, one of the largest urban nature reserves in the United States. Ruffner Mountain is a 1,011-acre nature preserve located in the eastern portions of Birmingham, Alabama, near the neighboring suburb of Irondale. ...

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 393.5 km² (151.9 mi²). 388.3 km² (149.9 mi²) of it is land and 5.3 km² (2.0 mi²) of it (1.34%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Climate

Birmingham has a Humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot summers, mild to chilly winters, and abundant rainfall. January sees average daily high temperatures of 53.0 °F (11.7 °C) and lows of 31.8 °F (−0.1 °C). In July the average daily high is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C) and the low is 69.7 °F (20.9°C). The average annual temperature in Birmingham is 62 °F (17 °C). Snowfall averages only 0.5 inches (1 cm) but during the Great Blizzard of 1993, the city received over a foot (30CM) of snow. The average yearly rainfall in Birmingham is about 52 inches (1330 mm), with March being the wettest month and October the driest. The humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. ... The 1993 North American storm complex, also known as the 93 Superstorm or the [Great] Blizzard of 1993, was a large cyclonic storm that occurred on March 12- 14, 1993 on the East Coast of North America. ...

The spring and fall months are pleasant but variable, but cold fronts frequently bring strong to severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes to the region. The fall season features less rainfall and fewer storms, as well as lower humidity than the spring, but it is also a secondary severe weather season. Birmingham is located on the heart of a tornado alley known as the Dixie Alley due to the frequency of tornadoes in Central Alabama. The Greater Birmingham area was hit by two F5 tornadoes - in 1977 and 1998 occurring on its western (1998) and northern suburbs (1977). In late summer and fall months, Birmingham experiences occasional tropical storms and hurricanes due to its proximity to the Central Gulf Coast. This article is about the weather phenomenon. ... An outline of Significant Tornado Alley in the United States, where the highest percentage of violent tornadoes occur Tornado Alley is a colloquial term most often used in reference to the area of the United States in which tornadoes are most frequent. ... Greater Birmingham is an informal term referring to a portion of the West Midlands metropolitan county. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ...

Government

Birmingham has a strong-mayor variant mayor-council form of government, led by a mayor and a nine-member city council. The current system replaced the previous city commission government in 1962 (primarily as a way to remove Commissioner of Public Safety Eugene "Bull" Connor from power). Mayor-Council government is one of two variations of government most commonly used in modern representative municipal governments in the United States. ... City Commission government is a form of municipal government that was once common in the United States, but has fallen out of favor, most cities formerly governed by Commission having switched to the Council-Manager form. ... Theophilus Eugene Bull Connor (July 11, 1897, Selma, Alabama – March 10, 1973) was a Democratic police official in the Southern U.S. state of Alabama during the American Civil Rights Movement, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and a staunch advocate of racial segregation. ...

By Alabama law, an issue before a city council must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote (Act No. 452, Ala. Acts 1955, as supplemented by Act No. 294, Ala. Acts 1965.). Executive powers are held entirely by the mayor's office. The current mayor of Birmingham is Bernard Kincaid, who was voted into office in 1999. Kincaid was defeated for re-election on October 9, 2007 by Larry Langford, who will take office in November. Bernard Kincaid (born June 5, 1945) is the Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama USA, elected in 1999. ... Former mayor of Fairfield, Alabama. ...

See also: List of Mayors of Birmingham, Alabama

In 1974 Birmingham established a structured network of neighborhood associations and community advisory committees to insure public participation in governmental issues that affect neighborhoods. Neighborhood associations are routinely consulted on matters related to zoning changes, liquor licenses, economic development, policing and other city services. Neighborhoods are also granted discretionary funds from the city's budget to use for capital improvements. Each neighborhood's officers meet with their peers to form Community Advisory Committees which are granted broader powers over city departments. The presidents of these committees, in turn, form the Citizen's Advisory Board, which meets regularly with the mayor, council, and department heads. Birmingham is divided into a total of 23 communities, and again into a total of 99 individual neighborhoods with individual neighborhood associations. This is a list of mayors of Birmingham, Alabama. ...

See also: List of Birmingham neighborhoods

For purposes of community development and citizen participation, the City of Birminghams nine Council districts are divided into a total of 23 communities, and again into a total of 99 individual neighborhoods with their own neighborhood associations. ...

Economy

From Birmingham's early days onward, the steel industry has always played a crucial role in the local economy. Though the steel industry doesn't maintain the same level of prominence it once held in Birmingham, steel production and processing continue to play a key role in the economy. Several of the nation's largest steelmakers including U.S. Steel, McWane, and Nucor, all have a major presence in Birmingham. In recent years, local steel companies have announced around $100-million in expansions and new plants in and around Birmingham. The United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States and Central Europe. ... McWane, Inc. ... Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is one of the largest steel producers in the United States, and the largest of the mini-mill operators (those using electric arc furnaces to melt scrap steel, as opposed to companies using traditional blast furnace technology). ...

In the 1970s and 1980s, Birmingham's economy was transformed with investments in bio-technology and medical research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and its adjacent hospital. The UAB Hospital is a Level I trauma center providing health care and breakthrough medical research. UAB is now the area's largest employer and the largest in Alabama with a workforce of about 20,000. Health care services provider HealthSouth is also headquartered in the city. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (also known as UAB) is a public, coeducational university located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The university is part of the three-member University of Alabama System, which includes the University of Alabamas main campus located in Tuscaloosa (UA) and the University of Alabama... UAB Hospital, also known as University Hospital, is a Level I trauma center hospital located in Birmingham, Alabama. ... Level I trauma center provides the highest level of Surgical care to trauma patients. ... HealthSouth Corporation NYSE: HLS, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is one of the nations largest healthcare services provider. ...

Birmingham is also a leading banking center, serving as home to two major banks: Regions Financial Corporation and Compass Bancshares. SouthTrust, another large bank headquartered in Birmingham, was acquired by Wachovia in 2004, which still maintains major operations in the city as one of the regional headquarters of Wachovia. In November 2006, Regions Financial merged with AmSouth Bancorporation which was also headquartered in Birmingham, forming the 8th Largest U. S. Bank (by total assets). Nearly a dozen smaller banks are also headquartered in the Magic City such as Superior Bank and New South Federal Savings Bank. Regions Financial Corporation NYSE: RF is a publicly held company based in Birmingham, Alabama, with the corporate headquarters at the Regions Center. ... Compass Bancshares, Inc. ... SouthTrust Corporation was a banking company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. ... For Moravian settlements in North Carolina, see Wachovia, North Carolina. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For Moravian settlements in North Carolina, see Wachovia, North Carolina. ... AmSouth Bancorporation NYSE: ASO is a publicly held company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Amsouth Center. ... Superior Bank, the principal subsidiary of Superior Bancorp, is a southeastern community thrift with approximately $2. ...

Telecommunications provider AT&T, formerly BellSouth, has a major presence with several large offices in the metropolitan area. Major insurance providers, Protective Life and ProAssurance among others, both are headquartered in Birmingham and employ a large number of people in Greater Birmingham. This article is about the current AT&T. For the 1885-2005 company, see American Telephone & Telegraph. ... BellSouth Corporation was an American telecommunications holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia. ... Protective Life Corporation, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a Fortune 1000 holding company whose subsidiaries provide financial services through the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products. ...

The city is also a powerhouse of construction and engineering companies. It started with Rust Engineering International and has grown to many other construction and engineering companies such as BE&K, Brasfield & Gorrie(largest in the state), BL Harbert International, and Dunn Construction, all of which are among the top engineering and construction companies in the world.

Metropolitan Birmingham has consistently been rated as one of America's best places to work and earn a living based on the area's competitive salary rates and relatively low living expenses. One 2006 study published at Salary.com determined that Birmingham was 2nd in the nation for building personal net worth based on local salary rates, living expenses, and unemployment rates.^[6]

Another 2006 study by Bizjournals.com calculated Birmingham's "combined personal income" (the sum of all money earned by all residents of an area in a year) at $48.1 Billion.^[7]

See also: List of corporations with a major presence in Birmingham, Alabama

Accenture Alabama Power Alagasco, an Energen Company Altec Industries American Cast Iron Pipe Company AmSouth Bancorporation - to merge with Regions Financial Corporation BL Harbert International - international construction company, part of Harbert Management Company BE&K - international construction and engineering company BellSouth - once headquartered in Birmingham, it still has its major...

Infrastructure

Education

The city of Birmingham is served by the Birmingham City Schools system. It is run by the Birmingham Board of Education with a current active enrollment of 30,500 in 67 schools: 11 high schools, 13 middle schools, 34 elementary schools, and 9 K-8 secondary schools. Birmingham City Schools is the public school district that serves the U.S. city of Birmingham, Alabama. ...

The Birmingham Public Library with 21 branches serves the entire community to provide education and entertainment for all ages.

The Greater-Birmingham metropolitan area is home to numerous independent primary school systems. The area's largest are the Jefferson County, Birmingham City, and Shelby County school systems. The Jefferson County School System is the second-largest public school system in the U.S. State of Alabama and serves most of Jefferson County, Alabama. ...

The Birmingham area is home to some of America's best schools. In 2005, the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School in Irondale, an eastern suburb of Birmingham, was rated as the #1 high school in America by Newsweek, a national publication. The school remains among the nation's Top 5 high schools. Mountain Brook High School placed 250 on the list. Other local schools that have been rated among America's best in various publications include Vestavia Hills High School and the Alabama School of Fine Arts located downtown. The metro area also has two highly regarded prep schools: The Altamont School, located in Birmingham proper, and Indian Springs School in north Shelby County near Pelham. Irondale is the name of several places in the United States: Irondale, Alabama Irondale, Georgia Irondale, Missouri Irondale, Ohio also: Irondale Township, Minnesota In Canada, there is: the community of Irondale, Ontario the Irondale River in Ontario This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... Mountain Brook High School Mountain Brook High School (MBHS) is a three-year public high school within the city of Mountain Brook, Alabama, a residential area of Birmingham, with approximately 20,600 residents. ... Vestavia Hills High School aerial photo Vestavia Hills High School (VHHS), founded in 1970, is a public high school in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. ... The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) is a public, partially residential high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. ... The Altamont School, located in Birmingham, Alabama is a college preparatory day school with coeducational enrollment of grades 5 through 12. ... Indian Springs School is an independent 8th-12th grade boarding and day school at the base of Oak Mountain in Indian Springs Village, Shelby County, Alabama, USA, near the city of Birmingham. ...

Institutions of higher education

• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
• Samford University (includes the Cumberland School of Law)
• Birmingham-Southern College
• University of Montevallo
• Birmingham School of Law
• Miles College
• Miles Law School
• Lawson State Community College
• Jacksonville State University
• Jefferson State Community College
• Bessemer State Technical College
• Bevill State Community College (Sumiton)
• Central Alabama Community College
• Herzing College
• Faulkner University
• Southeastern Bible College
• ITT Technical Institute
• Virginia College of Birmingham (includes Culinard)
• Andrew Jackson University
• American Sentinel University (online university)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (also known as UAB) is a public, coeducational university located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The university is part of the three-member University of Alabama System, which includes the University of Alabamas main campus located in Tuscaloosa (UA) and the University of Alabama... Birds-Eye View of the Campus Samford University is a private, coeducational, Baptist-affiliated university located in Homewood, Alabama, (a suburb of Birmingham). ... It has been suggested that Cumberland Law Schools Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics be merged into this article or section. ... BSC: Birmingham-Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. ... The University of Montevallo is a four-year public university located in Montevallo, Alabama. ... Miles College is a Historically Black College (HBCU) founded in 1905. ... Herzing College was one of the first post-secondary institutions founded to train students for the computer industry. ... Faulkner University Faulkner University is a private Christian university, located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, and affiliated with the Church of Christ. ... ITT Technical Institute (often shortened to ITT Tech) is a private, for-profit, nationally accredited technical institute with over 85 campuses in over 30 states of the United States. ... Andrew Jackson University (AJU) is a private, accredited distance learning school in Birmingham, Alabama. ...

Planning

Before the first structure was built in Birmingham, the plan of the city was laid out over a total of 1,160 acres (4.7 km²) by the directors of the Elyton Land Co. The streets were numbered from west to east, leaving Twentieth Street to form the central spine of downtown, anchored on the north by Capital Park and stretching into the slopes of Red Mountain to the south. A "railroad reservation" was granted through the center of the city, running east to west and zoned solely for industrial uses. As the city grew, bridges and underpasses separated the streets from the railroad bed, lending this central reservation some of the impact of a river (without the pleasant associations of a waterfront). From the start, Birmingham's streets and avenues were unusually wide at 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 m), purportedly to help evacuate unhealthy smoke. An acre is the name of a unit of area in a number of different systems, including Imperial units and United States customary units. ... Red Mountain is a long ridge running southwest-northeast and dividing Jones Valley from Shades Valley south of Birmingham, Alabama,United States. ...

In the early 20th century professional planners helped lay out many of the new industrial settlements and company towns in the Birmingham District, including Corey (now Fairfield) which was developed for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company (subsequently purchased by U. S. Steel). At the same time, a movement to consolidate several neighboring cities gained momentum. Although local referendums indicated mixed feelings about annexation, the Alabama legislature enacted an expansion of Birmingham's corporate limits that became effective on January 1, 1910. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... A company town is a town or city in which most or all real estate, buildings (both residential and commercial), utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company. ... Fairfield, founded in 1910 is a city located in Jefferson County, Alabama with a population of 12,381. ... The United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States and Central Europe. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The Robert Jemison company developed many residential neighborhoods to the south and west of Birmingham which are still renowned for their aesthetic quality.

A 1924 plan for a system of parks, commissioned from the Olmsted Brothers is seeing renewed interest with several significant new parks and greenways under development. Birmingham officials have approved a City Center Master Plan developed by Urban Design Associates of Pittsburgh, which advocates strongly for more residential development in the downtown area and includes a major park over several blocks of the central railroad reservation to be called the Railroad Reservation Park. Along with Ruffner Mountain Park, and the proposed Red Mountain Park, Birmingham would rank first in the United States for public green space per resident. The Olmsted Brothers company was an extremely influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by step-brothers John Charles Olmsted (1852-1920) and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. ... Pittsburgh redirects here. ... Ruffner Mountain is a 1,011-acre nature preserve located in the eastern portions of Birmingham, Alabama, near the neighboring suburb of Irondale. ... Red Mountain is a long ridge running southwest-northeast and dividing Jones Valley from Shades Valley south of Birmingham, Alabama,United States. ...

Notable buildings

The Regions Center (formerly the AmSouth Center, most often called the AmSouth-Sonat Tower, and originally the First National-Southern Natural Building) is a 119 meter (390 foot) tall, 30 story office tower located at northwest corner of 20th Street and 5th Avenue North in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. It serves...

Transportation

Birmingham has one of the most extensive networks of highways and roadways in the Southeast. The city is served by three Interstate Highways, Interstate 20, Interstate 65, and Interstate 59, as well as a southern beltway Interstate 459 and the Elton B. Stephens (Red Mountain) Expressway (U.S. Highway 31 & U.S. Highway 280). There have been some recent developments with the regional interstate system, including the construction of Corridor X (Future Interstate 22), and the planned future construction of a Northern Beltline corresponding to the existing Interstate 459. Birmingham is served by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority through the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus system. Interstate Highways in the lower 48 states. ... “I-20” redirects here. ... Interstate 65 (abbreviated I-65) is an Interstate Highway in the United States. ... Interstate 59 (abbreviated I-59) is an interstate highway in the southern United States. ... Interstate 459 (abbreviated I-459) is the 3-digit spur of Interstate 59 that creates a southern beltway in southern Jefferson County, Alabama, south of Birmingham. ... US Highway 31 is a long north-south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with termini at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and U.S. Highway 90 and U.S. Highway 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama. ... U.S. Highway 280 is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. ... Previously known as Corridor X (one of the Appalachian Regional Corridors), Interstate 22, when completed, will follow the U.S. Highway 78 corridor along a 176 mile (283 km) route from Memphis, Tennessee to Birmingham, Alabama. ...

Airplane departing from Birmingham International Airport

Birmingham is served by Birmingham International Airport (there is another airport of the same name in Birmingham, England) which serves more than 3 million passengers every year. With more than 160 flights daily, the Birmingham International Airport offers flights to 37 cities across the United States. Image File history File links Birmingham_Airport. ... Image File history File links Birmingham_Airport. ... Birmingham International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM) is the major airport that serves Birmingham, Alabama and Central Alabama. ... Birmingham International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM) is the major airport that serves Birmingham, Alabama and Central Alabama. ... Birmingham International Airport (IATA: BHX, ICAO: EGBB) is a major airport located 5. ... This article is about the British city. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

Birmingham is served by two major freight railroads, Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation, both of which have major classification yards in the metro area. Smaller regional railroads such as the Jefferson Western and Birmingham southern also serve Birmingham's freight customers. Amtrak's Crescent train connects Birmingham with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta and New Orleans. The Birmingham Amtrak Station is situated at 1819 Morris Avenue. The high-speed Acela Express in West Windsor, New Jersey. ... The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... Baltimore redirects here. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Charlotte redirects here. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... NOLA redirects here. ... The Birmingham Amtrak Station, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is served by the passenger train. ...

Utilities

The water services for Birmingham and the intermediate urbanized area is served by the Birmingham Water Works Authority (BWWB). A public authority that was established in 1951, the BWWB serves all of Jefferson, northern Shelby, western St. Clair counties. The largest reservoir for BWWB is Lake Purdy, which is located on the Jefferson and Shelby County line, but has several other reservoirs including Bayview Lake in western Jefferson County. There are plans to pipeline water from Inland Lake in Blount County and Lake Logan Martin, but those plans are on hold indefinitely. Jefferson County Environmental Services serves the Birmingham metro area with sanitary sewer service. Sewer rates have increased in recent years after citizens concerned with pollution in area waterways filed a lawsuit that resulted in a federal consent decree to repair an aging sewer system. Because the estimated cost of the consent decree was approximately three times more than the original estimate, many blame the increased rates on corruption within the Jefferson County Environmental Services Department. One major reason for the higher cost was that Jefferson County had to buy the sewers from the many smaller municipalities in the area to insure that these sewers were being maintained in a fashion that would meet E.P.A. approval to avoid massive fines for failure to comply with the consent decree. This continues to be a controversial topic in the region.

Electric power is provided primarily by Southern Company-subsidiary, Alabama Power. However, some of the surrounding area such as Bessemer and Cullman are provided by TVA. Bessemer also operates its own water and sewer system[2]. Natural gas is provided by Alagasco, although some metro area cities operate their own natural gas services. The local telecommunications are provided by AT&T. Cable television service is provided by Bright House Networks within the cities of Birmingham and Irondale, and Charter Communications in the rest of metro area. Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a US electricity corporation. ... Alabama Power is a company in the southern United States that provides electricity service to 1. ... Bessemer is an American city and suburb of Birmingham located in southwestern Jefferson County, Alabama. ... Cullman is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States and is considered a part of Greater Birmingham. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Bessemer is an American city and suburb of Birmingham located in southwestern Jefferson County, Alabama. ... Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco) is the largest natural gas utility in north and central Alabama that provides energy to 460,000 homes and businesses. ... This article is about the current AT&T. For the 1885-2005 company, see American Telephone & Telegraph. ... The Bright House Networks logo. ... Charter Communications NASDAQ: CHTR is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 5. ...

People and culture

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 242,820 people, 98,782 households, and 59,269 families residing in the city. The population density was 625.4/km² (1,619.7/mi²). There were 111,927 housing units at an average density of 288.3/km² (746.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.46% Black or African American, 24.07% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.55% of the population were Hispanic or L