Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama has a classic southern charm and hospitality that once earned it the nickname “The Magic City." It is the largest city in the state with a population estimated at about 242,282. This vibrant, beautiful city is nestled in the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Though Birmingham is a city with a lot of history, it is not an Old South city. At only 128, the city is still young and has been embracing progress. It is now recognized as a world-class medical and financial center. When moving to Birmingham, you will soon experience timeless Southern tradition is a bustling metropolis.
Economy:
For many years, Birmingham economy was dependent on the iron and steel production. Its naturally abundant supply of coal, iron ore, and limestone made it the South’s foremost iron and steel industry center in the early 1900s. Today, however, the Birmingham’s economy shifted its concentration into health care and education. The finance and insurance industry is also strong, and automotive manufacturing is a rapidly growing industry. The two major banks currently headquartered in Birmingham are the Regional Financial Corporation and Compass Bancshares Telecommunications, construction and engineering are other expanding industry sectors in the area.
University of Alabama at Birmingham is the largest employer in the Birmingham metropolitan area with close to 19,000 employees followed by Baptist Health System and BellSouth Telecommunications, each with approximately 6000 employees. An abundance of businesses and employment opportunities makes Birmingham a popular moving destination.
History:
Birmingham’s historians divide its history into six distinct periods. The first, from 1830s to the late 1860s, was when the settlement then known as Elyton was just a small farming district. The second, from 1870 to 1880, was when the railroads were built and the city became formally known as Birmingham after an industrial town in England. Incorporated in 1871, the new community grew so quickly that it was named “The Magic City." Around 1880 to the Great Depression, the third period, was the time when the city became known as a leader in the iron and steel production industry. The Great Depression marked the start of the fourth period which ran through the late 1950s. This was a time of suffering for the city caused by wartime economy and post-war recovery. Civil Rights demonstrations highlighted the fifth period which was from the 1960s to the early 70s. In the mid -1970s, the sixth period started and regained the city’s magic touch. It was then that education and business thrived in Birmingham making it the community it is today.
Tourism:
Tourists flock to Birmingham for the wide variety of sights and sounds it offers. The city serves up nationally recognized dining, shopping and entertainment. There’s something for everyone in Birmingham. From art galleries and museums such as the Birmingham Museum of Art, to botanical gardens, to impressive golf courses, to theme parks such as the Visionland Theme Park. Name it, Birmingham has it!
Colleges/Universities:
• Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
• UAB - Welcome - The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Birmingham School of Law
Interesting Facts:
• Birmingham is ranked number one as host city for the annual PGA Senior Golf Tour.
• Birmingham is home to the nation's oldest baseball park, Rickwood Field, which opened in 1910 and hosted baseball greats such as Jackie Robinson, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lorenzo "Piper" Davis, Willie Mays and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
• The US Paralympics Training Facility is located in Birmingham and was the primary location for the 2005 documentary film “Murderball,” about wheelchair rugby players.
Helpful Links:
• Birmingham Real Estate
• Birmingham Storage Facility
• Birmingham Insurance
• Birmingham Dental Offices
• Birmingham Moving Guide