Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama | |
---|---|
Nickname(s): "The Magic City", "Pittsburgh of the South" | |
Coordinates: 33°31′03″N 86°48′34″W / 33.51750°N 86.80944°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Alabama |
Counties | Jefferson, Shelby |
Incorporated | December 19, 1871 |
Named for | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor – Council |
• Mayor | Randall Woodfin (D) |
Area | |
• City | 149.54 sq mi (387.31 km2) |
• Land | 147.02 sq mi (380.77 km2) |
• Water | 2.52 sq mi (6.53 km2) |
Elevation | 597 ft (182 m) |
Population | |
• City | 200,733 |
• Estimate (2023)[3] | 196,644 |
• Rank | 124th in the United States 2nd in Alabama |
• Density | 1,365.37/sq mi (527.17/km2) |
• Urban | 774,956 (US: 58th) |
• Urban density | 1,521.7/sq mi (587.5/km2) |
• Metro | 1,180,631 (47th) |
Time zone | UTC−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 codes | 205, 659 |
FIPS code | 01-07000 |
GNIS feature ID | 2403868[2] |
Website | www |
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.
History
[change | change source]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
[change | change source]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
[change | change source]- ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Birmingham, Alabama
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Birmingham city, Alabama; Huntsville city, Alabama; Mobile city, Alabama; Montgomery city, Alabama". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ↑ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ↑ Helfert, Manfred. "History in Song, Birmingham Sunday". Archived from the original on 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2008-07-21.