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Birmingham Alabama
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Birmingham is medium-sized city and Alabama's largest, is set in
the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It has
several universities, the prestigious University of Alabama
Medical Center and an impressive range of cultural offerings.
Birmingham came to the world's attention in 1963, when images of
sit-ins, civil-rights protests and the brutal response of its
police chief, "Bull" Connor, were broadcast on the evening news.
Being known as the "Pittsburgh of the South" might seem like
faint praise; however, Birmingham also earned the label of the
"Johannesburg of America" for the brutality and intolerance of
its police force. Birmingham Airport is just three miles from
downtown; call Yellow Cabs ($12) at 205/252-1131. Amtrak pulls
in at 1819 Morris Ave, downtown, and the Greyhound station is at
19th Street N, between Sixth and Seventh avenues - a rough area
at night.
A more peaceful present-day Birmingham is exemplified by the
Birmingham Museum of Art, which has a large Asian art
collection. It also offers major traveling exhibitions and a
fine collection of Renaissance art, Wedgwood china and Remington
bronzes. Two other tranquil spots are the Birmingham Botanical
Gardens. 27 hectares of wildflowers, rose gardens, Japanese
gardens and 200 species of birds and the Birmingham Zoo.Cullman
is a farming and light-manufacturing town that's the home of the
Ave Maria Grotto, a fantasy landscape of more than 125 miniature
churches, shrines and famous buildings constructed on a
1.5-hectare hillside. It was the life's work of a Benedictine
monk. Another potential day-trip destination is DeSoto Caverns
-65 km southeast, near Childersburg 145 km northwest of
Montgomery.
Attractions include the Birmingham Zoo and the Alabama Sports
Hall of Fame. Sloss Furnaces National Historical Landmark
commemorates Birmingham’s industrial past. A 55-ft iron statue
of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and patron of metalworkers,
dominates the city from the summit of Red Mountain. The city has
a variety of cultural offerings, including music festivals such
as City Stages, the Birmingham Heritage Festival, and Birmingham
Jam.
- Founded: 1871 (chartered 1864)
- Head Official: Mayor Bernard Kincaid (since 2000)
- City Population
- 1980: 284,413
- 1990: 265,347
- 2000: 242,820
- 2003 estimate: 236,620
- Percent change, 1990–2000: –8.7%
- U.S. rank in 1980: 50th
- U.S. rank in 1990: 60th (State rank: 1st)
- U.S. rank in 2000: 82nd (State rank: 1st)
- Metropolitan Area Population
- 1980: 815,000
- 1990: 839,945
- 2000: 921,106
- Percent change, 1990–2000: 9.6%
- U.S. rank in 1980: 42nd
- U.S. rank in 1990: Not reported
- U.S. rank in 2000: 54th
- Area: 151.95 square miles (2000)
- Elevation: Average 620 feet above sea level
- Average Annual Temperature: 62.5° F
- Average Annual Precipitation: 52.16 inches of rain;
2.1 inches of snow
- Major Economic Sectors: services, wholesale and
retail trade, government
- Unemployment rate: 4.3% (November 2004)
- Per Capita Income: $15,663 (2000)
- 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 21,265
- Major Colleges and Universities: University of
Alabama at Birmingham; Samford University; Birmingham-Southern
College; Miles College
- Daily Newspaper: Birmingham Post-Herald;
Birmingham News
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Birmingham Alabama
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