Living in Birmingham, AL: A Guide to History, Economy & Neighborhoods
The Magic City and the seat of Jefferson County, at the center of a metro area of more than 1.19 million people.
Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County and Alabama’s largest city by metro population, with 200,733 residents in the 2020 census and a metro area of about 1.19 million. Founded June 1, 1871, it is known as the “Magic City,” has a major healthcare, banking and steel economy anchored by UAB, and is divided into 23 communities and 99 neighborhoods.
History and Name
Birmingham was founded on June 1, 1871 by the Elyton Land Company and named after Birmingham, England. It earned the nicknames “The Magic City” and “Pittsburgh of the South” during rapid industrial growth between 1881 and 1920. Elyton and several surrounding towns were absorbed in 1911. The city’s population peaked at 340,887 in 1960.
Civil Rights History
Birmingham is central to the civil rights movement. In 1963, Project C, led by Fred Shuttlesworth, Martin Luther King Jr. and the SCLC, brought protests that were met with police repression, and more than 3,000 people were arrested, almost all of them high-school age. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute sits on Kelly Ingram Park, next to the 16th Street Baptist Church. Dr. Richard Arrington Jr. was elected in 1979 as the city’s first African-American mayor.
Economy and Education
The area’s economy includes banking, telecommunications, transportation, medicine, higher education, steel and construction. Regions Financial and Vulcan Materials Company are headquartered in Birmingham. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, established in 1969 and home to a medical school and dental school, is described as the area’s largest employer. Samford University, Miles College, Jefferson State Community College and Lawson State Community College are also in the area.
Things to Do
Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue, stands in Vulcan Park on Red Mountain. Railroad Park opened downtown in 2010. The 67-acre Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Birmingham Zoo, the McWane Science Center, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and the Alabama Theatre are all in the city. Oak Mountain State Park is about 10 miles south. Sports include the Birmingham Barons at Regions Field, Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium and the Birmingham Stallions. Rickwood Field is described as the oldest baseball field in the U.S.
Getting Around
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport serves more than 3 million passengers annually. Interstates 20, 59, 65 and 22 serve the city, along with the I-459 bypass. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority runs bus service, including the Birmingham Xpress rapid transit line that opened in September 2022, and the Amtrak Crescent is the only remaining passenger rail service.
Government and Sales Tax
Birmingham has a strong-mayor, mayor-council government led by a mayor and a nine-member city council. It replaced the city commission government in 1962. Wikipedia reports a 10% sales tax that also applies to groceries, the highest among the nation’s 100 largest cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Birmingham, Alabama known for?
Birmingham is known as "The Magic City" and the "Pittsburgh of the South," nicknames tied to rapid industrial growth between 1881 and 1920. It is also central to American civil rights history, including the 1963 Project C campaign and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
When was Birmingham founded?
Birmingham was founded on June 1, 1871 by the Elyton Land Company, and named after Birmingham, England. Wikipedia lists incorporation as December 19, 1871.
How many people live in Birmingham?
The 2020 census counted 200,733 people in the city. The Birmingham metro area had 1,180,631 residents in the 2020 census, and Wikipedia lists a 2024 city estimate of 196,357.
What are the biggest employers and industries in Birmingham?
Wikipedia lists banking, telecommunications, transportation, medicine, higher education, steel and construction. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is described as the area's largest employer, and Regions Financial and Vulcan Materials Company are headquartered there.
What is there to do in Birmingham?
Attractions include Vulcan Park on Red Mountain, Railroad Park, the 67-acre Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Birmingham Zoo, the McWane Science Center, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and the Alabama Theatre.
How do you get around Birmingham?
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport serves more than 3 million passengers a year. I-20, I-59, I-65 and I-22 run through the area, with the I-459 bypass. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority runs buses, including the Birmingham Xpress rapid transit line, and the Amtrak Crescent is the only passenger rail service.
What is the climate like?
Birmingham has a humid subtropical climate. The mean daily temperature is 43.8 °F in January and 81.1 °F in July, with about 56.62 inches of rain a year. It lies in "Dixie Alley" for tornadoes.
Explore Birmingham Homes
Browse current homes for sale in Birmingham, AL, or read about nearby Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills.
Source: Facts in this guide come from the Wikipedia article “Birmingham, Alabama” (retrieved October 2026). Verify current details with the City of Birmingham before making decisions.
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Christian Kelly
Associate Broker, ARC Realty
Your Greater Birmingham Realtor