Birmingham is a beautiful and diverse city that offers something for everyone. The largest city in Alabama, Birmingham has a population of over 209,000 and is the heart of a metro area of over 1.1 million.
At the height of the nation’s manufacturing age, Birmingham grew so fast in population, it was labeled the “Magic City.” Today, Birmingham has retained that magic as it continues to see its finance and banking center, world-class higher education, civic innovation, medical research, and healthcare grow. The city will experience almost $1 billion in new capital investments through 2021.
Birmingham’s central location and transportation system not only make it an attractive distribution and logistics hub in the Southeast, but also a convenient location for residents to take a drive to the mountains or the Gulf Coast beaches in only half a day.
Birmingham has notable restaurants, chefs, breweries and food events that continue to collect national recognition and a dedicated following. Everything from meat-and-three eateries, coffee houses and fine dining to burgers, barbecue and bakeries can be found in this city, which has been labeled a travel destination for its “ramped-up food culture.’’
Besides its food, it’s easy to see why Birmingham has been named one of the 11 Great Travel Destinations in the United States. Places such as the Birmingham Zoo, Vulcan Park & Museum, the Birmingham Civil Rights District, the Birmingham Museum of Art, Railroad Park and Sloss Furnaces offer activities for every age.
When it comes to sports, people in Birmingham love the adrenaline that competition brings. Barber MotorSports Park hosts the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, which is the signature event of the INDYCAR circuit. At Regions Field, cheering fans and the crack of a baseball bat against a ball fill the air as the Birmingham Barons play. And every year, thousands of people visit Legion Field for the Magic City Classic, which is the nation’s largest HBCU classic.
While Birmingham is full of sporting traditions, it’s also a place where new traditions are made. In 2019, the Birmingham Legion soccer team kicked off its season. And in 2022, the city will welcome more than 4,000 athletes from 100 countries for the World Games.
Birmingham’s low cost of living, high quality of life, shopping opportunities and culture of diversity have created a great place to work, play, and raise a family regardless of one’s race, religion, gender, age, or orientation. This city embraces, values, and celebrates diversity while it also exudes classic Southern charm, genuine hospitality and a spirit that makes one feel like they are right at home.
Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has a vision for Birmingham to be a hub of qualified and diverse talent and a premier destination for small businesses, startups and businesses looking to expand. One way of helping the younger generation access this is through higher education, which is why the city worked to remove barriers Birmingham City Schools students may face when it comes to going to college. The city did this through the Birmingham Promise.
The Birmingham Promise, a public-private partnership, provides apprenticeship opportunities at local companies for high school juniors and seniors from Birmingham City Schools and offers a college tuition assistance program for high school graduates at any public two-year or four-year institution in the state. More than 500 graduates of the Class of 2020 entered their first semester of college in fall 2020 through the Birmingham Promise.
With all of this going on, it’s no wonder the slogan: “It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham,” has stuck through these years.