Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama

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Birmingham is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Jefferson County. Portions of the city are also located in Shelby County. Though pronounced differently, it is named after Birmingham, England. Birmingham was at the center of the American Civil Rights Movement throughout the 1960s. Birmingham is a city that features a mixture of Old South meets New South, but perhaps without the progressive government that the label connotes in this new southern culture. In recent years Birmingham has been named by various groups as one of the best U.S. cities in which to live.

Related Topics:
City - U.S. - Alabama - County seat - Jefferson County - Shelby County - Birmingham, England - American Civil Rights Movement - 1960s

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Birmingham was founded as an industrial enterprise after the close of the Civil War. However, beginning in 1873, the city began to grow at an astonishing pace through the turn of the century, earning itself the nicknames of "The Magic City" and "The Pittsburgh of the South". Over the course of the 20th century, while industry declined nationwide, the city's economy diversified. Though manufacturing is still a strong sector, Birmingham also is a major medical research center and a regional banking and publishing power.

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The population of the city proper is only 242,820 (2000 U.S. census), and declined to 236,620 according to the 2003 estimate. However, it serves as the primary nucleus for a sprawling urbanization known as Greater Birmingham with 1,052,238 inhabitants.

Related Topics:
2000 - U.S. census - Urbanization - '''Greater Birmingham'''

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Birmingham's area code is 205.

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