Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham: The most populous city in Alabama. It is located in the central part of the state. Birmingham is known for its many steel mills, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Vulcan Park and Museum.

About

Birmingham is a city located in the county of Jefferson in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its population at the 2010 census was 212,237. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 206,950 inhabitants.

The city was created 153 years ago in 1870.

Birmingham is the most populous city in Alabama, located in Jefferson County. With over 205,000 residents in the city proper and 1.1 million in the metro area, it serves as a cultural and economic center.

History and Origins

Birmingham was founded in 1871 and grew rapidly as an industrial hub fueled by steel production and the railroad.

Key historical facts:

  • Founded in 1871 at the crossing of two rail lines
  • Named after the industrial city of Birmingham, England
  • Large deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone drove steel industry growth
  • Sustained damage from Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963

Economy and Major Industries

While no longer focused on just steel, major sectors include banking, telecommunications, education, healthcare, and engineering. Top employers are:

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
  • Regions Financial Corporation
  • Birmingham Public Schools
  • St. Vincent's Health System

Attractions and Things to Do

Popular sites include:

  • Birmingham Civil Rights District highlighting the movement
  • Birmingham Museum of Art with over 27,000 works
  • Barber Motorsports Park and NASCAR racing
  • Birmingham Zoo featuring over 700 animals
  • Nightlife in Five Points South, Lakeview, and Uptown neighborhoods

Birmingham provides Southern charm, key heritage sites, cuisine, and urban amenities.

Birmingham locator map
Location of Birmingham on Alabama map.

Quick Facts about Birmingham

Population : 206,950 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : Alabama (United States)
County : Jefferson County
Postal code : 35201
Phone Area Codes : 205
Official name : Birmingham
Water as percent of area : 1.71%
Land as percent of area : 98.29%
Named for : Birmingham
Altitude : 614 feet / 187, 196 meters
Capital city : Birmingham is capital of Jefferson County
Establishment : January 01, 1871 (153 years ago)
Time Zone : UTC−06:00
Local time : 00:07:44 (19th March 2024)
Population growth : -2.55% (2010-2020)
Birmingham%27s skyline from it%27s highest point image
Birmingham%27s skyline from it%27s highest point
Birmingham%27s skyline from it%27s highest point image

Geography

Birmingham is located at 33°31'14"N 86°48'9"W (33.5206600, -86.8024900).

Birmingham map

    Randall Woodfin ,

  • Anshan
  • Cobán
  • Gweru
  • Maebashi
  • Plzeň
  • Pomigliano d'Arco
  • Rosh HaAyin (2000 )
  • Székesfehérvár
  • Vinnytsia

Demographics

According to census records, the population of Birmingham decreased by 2.55% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 212,237 - census
2011 212,095 -0.07% estimation process
2012 211,287 -0.38% estimation process
2013 211,765 0.23% estimation process
2014 211,651 -0.05% estimation process
2015 212,259 0.29% estimation process
2016 211,977 -0.13% estimation process
2017 211,533 -0.21% estimation process
2018 210,487 -0.5% estimation process
2019 209,403 -0.52% estimation process
2020 206,950 -1.19% estimation process

Demographic Facts

Estimated population as of July 1, 2019 : 209,403
Based on demographic estimates as of April 1, 2010 : 212,585
Based on demographic estimates as of 1 April 2010 : -1.5%
April 1, 2020 Population : 200,733
April 1, 2010 Population : 212,237
People under 5 years old, percentage : 6.3%
People under 18 years old, percentage : 20.1%
People over 65 (%) : 14.9%
Female persons, % : 52.8%
White only, percent : 25.8%
Black or African American alone, percent : 69.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native only, % : 0.3%
Asians alone % : 1.1%
Only Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, % : 0.0%
% of people who have participated in two or more races : 1.5%
% of Hispanic or Latino : 3.9%
White people, not Hispanic or Latino people, make up the majority of the population. : 23.8%
2015-2019 Veterans : 12,451
Percentage of foreign-born people, 2015-2019 : 3.8%
Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 44.9%

Birmingham zip code is 35203. County name: Jefferson, County fips: 01073

BHM, Bermincham, Bermingkham, Birmingam, Birmingamas, Birmingem, Birmingema, Birmingham, Birmingham i Alabama, Birminhem, baminguhamu, baminhamu, barmingahema, barmingahyama, beominghaem, birmingemi, bo ming han, brmnghham, brmyngm alabama, parminkam, Μπέρμιγχαμ, Бермингхам, Бирмингам, Бирмингем, Бірмінгем, ברמינגהאם, برمنغهام, برمنگھم، الاباما, برمینگم، آلاباما, बर्मिंगहॅम, बर्मिङ्गह्याम, பர்மிங்காம், རྦིར་མིང་ཧམ།, ბირმინგემი, バーミングハム, バーミンハム, 伯明翰, 버밍햄

Economic Facts

Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 44.9%
Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : $91,100
From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : $1,105
Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : $386
2015-2019 median gross rent : $837
2015-2019 Households : 90,867
Population per household, 2015-2019 : 2.24
Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : 78.8%
Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : 5.4%
Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : 83.2%
Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : 71.9%
Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : 86.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : 27.4%
Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : 14.0%
Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : 14.4%
Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 60.2%
Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 58.5%
Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : 625,294
Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : 5,574,098
Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : 4,118,352
2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : 3,305,948
2012 total retail sales per capita : $15,591
Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 21.9
2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : $37,375
Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : $24,480
Percentage of people living in poverty : 25.9%
Total number of businesses in 2012 : 20,738
Men-owned businesses in 2012 : 10,318
Women-owned businesses in 2012 : 8,286
Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 10,605
Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 8,770
Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 2,082
Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 17,113
2010 population per square mile : 1,453.0
2010 land area in square miles : 146.07
Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 83.6%
Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : $173,000
From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : $1,294
Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : $392
2015-2019 median gross rent : $1,088
2015-2019 Households : 11,568
Population per household, 2015-2019 : 2.84
Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : 88.2%
Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : 9.8%
Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : 95.9%
Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : 89.6%
Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : 90.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : 35.3%
Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : 8.7%
Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : 9.5%
Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 67.0%
Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 60.5%
Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : 60,565
Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : 259,339
Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : 478,591
2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : 388,846
2012 total retail sales per capita : $12,547
Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 31.7
2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : $80,072
Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : $31,599
Percentage of people living in poverty : 9.1%
Total number of businesses in 2012 : 2,762
Men-owned businesses in 2012 : 1,440
Women-owned businesses in 2012 : 1,018
Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 440
Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 2,182
Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 347
Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 2,191
2010 population per square mile : 1,212.0
2010 land area in square miles : 25.04

Best Things to Do in Birmingham

1 Birmingham Zoo

Rating: 4.3 (6194)

2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12058790409 🔗 Url

Birmingham Zoo

2 McWane Science Center

Rating: 4.7 (3650)

200 19th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12057148300 🔗 Url

McWane Science Center

3 Vulcan Park and Museum

Rating: 4.6 (3540)

1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12059331409 🔗 Url

Vulcan Park and Museum

4 Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Rating: 4.8 (3450)

2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12054143950 🔗 Url

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

5 Railroad Park Foundation

Rating: 4.7 (3306)

1600 1st Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12055219933 🔗 Url

Railroad Park Foundation

Where ot Eat in Birmingham

1 Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

Rating: 4.3 (2252)

3555 Roosevelt Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35235, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12056554313 🔗 Url

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant

2 Denny's

Rating: 3.1 (2187)

224 Daniel Payne Dr N, Birmingham, AL 35207, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12052143987 🔗 Url

Denny's

3 Texas de Brazil

Rating: 4.5 (2161)

2301 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12055888333 🔗 Url

Texas de Brazil

4 Mugshots Grill & Bar Birmingham

Rating: 4 (2069)

2311 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N #100, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12055216422 🔗 Url

Mugshots Grill & Bar Birmingham

5 The Original Pancake House

Rating: 4.5 (1907)

1931 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12059338837 🔗 Url

The Original Pancake House

Where to Stay in Birmingham

1 Sheraton Birmingham Hotel

Rating: 4.1 (2282)

2101 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12053245000 🔗 Url

Sheraton Birmingham Hotel

2 Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

Rating: 4.5 (1499)

4000 Grand Ave, Birmingham, AL 35226, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12059167677 🔗 Url

Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

3 Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel

Rating: 4.3 (1399)

1000 Galleria Cir, Birmingham, AL 35244, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12057051234 🔗 Url

Hyatt Regency Birmingham - The Wynfrey Hotel

4 Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham Hoover

Rating: 4.4 (1258)

2960 John Hawkins Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35244, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12059859994 🔗 Url

Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham Hoover

5 The Westin Birmingham

Rating: 4.4 (1105)

2221 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12053073600 🔗 Url

The Westin Birmingham

Other Places in Birmingham

1 Tarrant City Hall

Rating: 1.7 (11)

1133 E Lake Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35217 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12058492800 🔗 Url

Tarrant City Hall

2 Birmingham Traffic Citation

Rating: 1 (7)

710 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12052542152 🔗 Url

3 Birmingham City Hall

Rating: 4.1 (7)

710 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12052542000 🔗 Url

Birmingham City Hall

4 Clay City Hall

Rating: 4.3 (6)

2441 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12056801223 🔗 Url

5 Hoover Municipal Center

Rating: 5 (2)

100 Municipal Dr, Birmingham, AL 35216 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12054447500 🔗 Url

6 Birmingham Planning & Zoning

Rating: 5 (1)

710 20th St N STE 207, Birmingham, AL 35203 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12052542211 🔗 Url

7 City of Birmingham

Rating: 3 (1)

3420 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12052542396 🔗 Url

8 US International Trade Administration

950 22nd St N #707, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12057311331 🔗 Url

9 Inspector General-Usda

1800 5th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +12057312262 🔗 Url

10 Birmingham City Clerk

710 20th St N STE 205, Birmingham, AL 35203 ➦ Show Map

☎ +12052542290 🔗 Url

People born in Birmingham (200)

People born in Birmingham, including US track & field athlete Carl Lewis, political activist, scholar, and author Angela Davis, Southern philosophical novelist Walker Percy, .

List

  • DeMarre Carroll (American basketball player) he was born in 27/07/1986
  • Louise Fletcher (American film and television actress) she was born in 22/07/1934
  • Edward O. Wilson (U.S. biologist and author) he was born in 10/06/1929
  • Emmylou Harris (American country singer) she was born in 02/04/1947
  • Kate Jackson (American actress) she was born in 29/10/1948
  • Benny Benjamin (American drummer and member of The Funk Brothers) he was born in 25/07/1925
  • Odetta (American recording artist, singer, actress, guitarist, lyricist, and civil and human rights activist (1930-2008)) she was born in 31/12/1930
  • Jasika Nicole (American actress) she was born in 10/04/1980
  • Jimmy Jones (singer) he was born in 02/06/1937
  • Mary Badham (American actress) she was born in 07/10/1952
  • Nell Carter (actress, singer) she was born in 13/09/1948
  • Dorothy Sebastian (American actress) she was born in 26/04/1903
  • Maria Taylor (American singer/songwriter) she was born in 21/05/1976
  • George Huddleston, Jr. (American politician (1920-1971)) he was born in 19/03/1920
  • Big Chief Ellis (American blues pianist and singer) he was born in 10/11/1914
  • Mary Anderson (American actress (1918-2014)) she was born in 03/04/1918
  • Carol Lewis (American long jumper) she was born in 08/08/1963
  • Gail Patrick (American actress, television producer (1911-1980)) she was born in 20/06/1911

Schools in Birmingham

College & universities near Birmingham, AL

Code Name City ZIP
100663 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham (AL) 35294-0110
100937 Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham (AL) 35254
102049 Samford University Birmingham (AL) 35229-2240
455628 Fortis Institute-Birmingham Birmingham (AL) 35211
450377 Strayer University-Alabama Birmingham (AL) 35243

Stations (5)

Amtrak & bus stations near Birmingham, AL

Code Name Address Type
BHM Birmingham 1819 Morris Ave. RAIL
BRR Brent, AL 10393 Alabama Highway 5 BUS
TCL Tuscaloosa 2105 Greensboro Ave RAIL
ATN Anniston 126 West 4th St RAIL
MAA Marion, AL 26400 Alabama Highway 14 BUS

Post offices near Birmingham

Post Office Name City ZIP
Birmingham Post Office Birmingham (AL) 35203
Downtown Annex Post Office Birmingham (AL) 35222
South Highland Post Office Birmingham (AL) 35205
Crestline Heigh Post Office Birmingham (AL) 35213
Homewood Post Office Birmingham (AL) 35209

Other places with the same name (6)

Other cities in Jefferson County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Jefferson County , AL. (more)

City Name Population Title
Hoover 85,959 The most populous city in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Vestavia Hills 34,317 City in Jefferson and Shelby counties, Alabama, United States
City of Bessemer 27,053 Suburb city of Birmingham, located in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Bessemer 26,043 City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
City of Homewood 25,708 City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Homewood 25,174 City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Trussville 23,048 City in Jefferson and St.
Mountain Brook 20,413 City in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama
Center Point 16,864 City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Hueytown 15,202 City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Gardendale 14,113 City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Irondale 13,226 Town in Alabama, United States
Leeds 12,026 City in Jefferson, St.
Pleasant Grove 10,260 City in western Jefferson County, Alabama
Forestdale 10,162 Unincorporated community in Alabama
Clay 10,042 City in Alabama, United States

Distance to Other Cities

Birmingham distances to largest Alabama cities