Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is the second- or third-most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama, with about 197,000 people living in it.[3] It is the county seat of Jefferson County. Its metropolitan area is the biggest in Alabama with more than 1.1 million people living in it. The city has an area of about 152 square miles (390 km2) and an elevation of 614 feet (187 m) above sea level.

Birmingham, Alabama
City
Right to left, from top: Downtown, Vulcan statue, 16th Street Baptist Church, City Hall, Alabama Theatre, and the Birmingham Museum of Art
Flag of Birmingham, Alabama
Flag
Official logo of Birmingham, Alabama
Logo
Nickname(s): 
"The Magic City", "Pittsburgh of the South"
Location in Jefferson County, Alabama
Location in Jefferson County, Alabama
Birmingham is located in the United States
Birmingham
Birmingham
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°31′03″N 86°48′34″W
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesJefferson, Shelby
IncorporatedDecember 19, 1871
Named forBirmingham, United Kingdom
Government
 • TypeMayor – Council
 • MayorRandall Woodfin (D)
Area
[1]
 • City149.54 sq mi (387.31 km2)
 • Land147.02 sq mi (380.77 km2)
 • Water2.52 sq mi (6.53 km2)
Elevation
[2]
597 ft (182 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • City200,733
 • Estimate 
(2022)[3]
196,910
 • Rank124th in the United States
2nd in Alabama
 • Density1,365.37/sq mi (527.17/km2)
 • Urban
774,956 (US: 58th)
 • Urban density1,521.7/sq mi (587.5/km2)
 • Metro
[4]
1,115,289 (50th)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
35201-35224, 35226, 35228-35229, 35231-35238, 35242-35244, 35246, 35249, 35253-35255, 35259-35261, 35266, 35270, 35282-35283, 35285, 35287-35288, 35290-35298
Area codes205, 659
FIPS code01-07000
GNIS feature ID2403868[2]
Websitewww.birminghamal.gov

History

Birmingham was founded in 1871. Three smaller towns came together to make one, which grew into a large town. It was named after Birmingham, England, a British industrial city. The Alabama city is famous for its iron ore, coal, and limestone, which were used in the town's steel mills.

Birmingham Sunday

Birmingham became famous around the world when a bomb exploded in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on Sunday September 15, 1963. Four young black girls were killed. A member of the Ku Klux Klan was charged for the bombing many years later. Richard Farina wrote a sad song called "Birmingham Sunday" in 1964 to the tune of "I Love A Lass".[5] It has been recorded by several singers, including Joan Baez.

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Birmingham, Alabama
  3. "U.S. Census Burea QuickFacts: Birmingham city, Alabama; Huntsville city, Alabama; Mobile city, Alabama; Montgomery city, Alabama". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  4. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  5. Helfert, Manfred. "History in Song, Birmingham Sunday". Archived from the original on 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2008-07-21. {{cite web}}: More than one of |archivedate= and |archive-date= specified (help); More than one of |archiveurl= and |archive-url= specified (help)
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