About

“Birmingham is and has always been a city for builders, from steel mills to start-ups.      We are as strong as the steel that first built our economy, as we move forward to create better ways to live, work and play for our residents and visitors.” 

        -Mayor Randall L. Woodfin

 

Iron ore, coal, and limestone defined Birmingham when it was founded in 1871. More than 150 years later, the Magic City is a vibrant place of outstanding communities committed to becoming the best version of Birmingham we can be. Birmingham is home to world-class medical research, a celebrated food and arts scene, and the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. We are a community dedicated to fostering growth through a progressive business climate and a devotion to social justice.

 

Nestled at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Birmingham boasts more green space per capita than any other city its size in the nation, with breathtaking locations from Ruffner Mountain to Railroad Park to the 2.2 mile Vulcan Trail at the foot of Vulcan Park and Museum. The city is home to Childrens of Alabama Indy Grand Prix in April, Birmingham Freedom Fest in the summer, great HBCU football in October featuring the Magic City Classic, and the Birmingham Bowl in December.

 

In June 2024, Birmingham will proudly host MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues. The city-owned Rickwood Field is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States and former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. The event will feature a special Regular Season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.  

 

Helpful Links:

Greater Birmingham Region

Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors BureauN

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham Business Alliance

Birmingham 365

 

Did You Know?

Population:

The city of Birmingham has a population of nearly 200,000 and is the central hub of the Greater Birmingham Region with a population of 1.1 million, making it the largest population and economic region in the state of Alabama.

 

Demographics:

Birmingham has a median age of 35.7 with a median household income of $32,404. The median property value in Birmingham is $86,900 with a homeownership rate of 46.4%. The city is 71.6% black, 24.6% white and 3.5% Hispanic.

 

Fast Fact:

Birmingham is seventh among the 150 largest US metros for percent increase in millennial residents (ages 25-34).

 

History:

Birmingham was founded in 1871 at the crossing of two rail lines near one of the world’s richest deposits of minerals. The Alabama Legislature passed an act to incorporate the city on December 19, 1871.

 

Education:

The Birmingham City Schools serves 23,000 students from K-12 with 18 elementary schools, 10 K-8 schools, eight middle schools and seven high schools. 

 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) ranks 15th in federally funded research among public universities. Birmingham is also home to Birmingham Southern College and two-year colleges Jefferson State and Lawson State.

 

Transportation:

Five interstates provide access to more than 80% of the U.S. population in a two-day drive. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport offers 114 flights to 26 airports and 23 cities.

 

Tech:

The Birmingham metropolitan area has more than 550 technology companies employing more than 6,300 skilled workers. The city is home to Innovation Depot, in which 112 startups are located throughout a sprawling 140,000-square-foot complex — the largest in the Southeast.

 

Healthcare:

Birmingham has the highest per capita concentration of healthcare jobs nationwide.

 

Financial Services:

The city is the 12th largest banking center in the nation and third in the Southeast.

 

Advanced Manufacturing:

Birmingham is home to 18,000 skilled automotive workers – twice the US national average and 20,000 skilled metals and machinery workers.