Birmingham was founded June 1, 1871, at the intersection of two major railroads, within the proximity of elements needed for iron and steel production. The city was nicknamed the Magic City, due to rapid growth through the turn of the century. The Great Depression of 1933 began an economic decline in industrial commerce and shortly after World War II; engineering and medical professionals began an influx that has become symmetry for the city’s workforce, along with manufacturing and service-oriented businesses. Overlooking the city on nearby Red Mountain is the world's largest cast iron statue, Vulcan; named after the Roman god of the forge and created by sculptor Giuseppe Moretti.
We are located at Latitude 33° 31’ 29” North and Longitude 86° 48’ 46” West
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Population at 2000 census was 242,820 – urbanized area 663,615
Birmingham-Hoover, AL – MSA 1,052,238, see more.
To visit the US Census Bureau Fact Sheet on Birmingham, click here.
Birmingham may be seen locally abbreviated as Bham.
COMMUNICATIONS
(7 TV; 32 radio stations; 1 educational TV, 1 educational radio station)
Radio Stations can be located at www.answers.com/topic/list-of-radio-stations-in-alabama or newslink.org/alradi.html.
Television Stations are Fox 6 WBRC, PBS 10 WBIQ, NBC 13 WVTM, CW 21 WTTO, Independent 23 WUOA, ABC 33 WCFT, CBS 42 WIAT, ION 44 WPXH and MNT 68 WABM. For more info, go to www.answers.com/topic/list-of-television-stations-in-alabama or newslink.org/update/altele.html.
EDUCATION FACILITIES
(1 public, 2 private universities; 4 private colleges, 3 private law schools)
Birmingham City Schools, 2015 Park Place, 231-4600, or www.bhm.k12.al.us.
Jefferson County Board of Education, 2100 18th Street South, 379-2000 or www.jefcoed.com.
Local Colleges and Universities, www.uscollegesearch.org/birmingham-alabama-colleges.html.
ENTERTAINMENT
Arts and Culture links, www.artsbma.org, www.birminghamartassociation.org, www.cultural-alliance.com, and www.activeculture.info.
Movies playing in the vicinity, www.hellobirmingham.com/MovieShowtimes.Cfm, www.al.com/movies/newsletter_birmingham.ssf, and movies.aol.com/showtimes/birmingham-al/35203/theaters.
Theatre selections, www.ebhm.org/theatre.
GOVERNMENT
City of Birmingham Offices are primarily located at City Hall, 710 20th Street North, 254-2000. The city’s official website is www.birminghamal.gov.
Jefferson County Offices are located at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 21st Street North, 325-5717. For more information about county services, go to www.jeffcointouch.com.
Three different departments handle property taxes, assessment & collection:
- County Board of Equalization appraises property values. Birmingham 325-5566.
- The Jefferson County Tax Assessor processes your property tax bills. Birmingham 325-5505.
- The Jefferson County Tax Collectors collect these tax payments. Birmingham 325-5500.
Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County, 2200 8th Avenue North, 325-1450 or www.jeffcosheriff.net.
Voter Registration is performed at Jefferson County Board of Registrars. Birmingham residents may contact 325-5550 or www.jeffcointouch.com.
Most Alabama State Government offices are at www.alabama.gov. Alabama State Department of Revenue, 50 North Ripley Street, Montgomery, (334) 242-1000 or www.ador.state.al.us. Also, visit www.sos.state.al.us.
INFORMATION RESOURCES
All Things Birmingham can be found through the jump sites www.al.com for news, www.al1stop.com for community and government and www.hellobirmingham.com for a variety. Historical information and articles can be found at www.bhamwiki.com and for a detailed profile go to www.city-data.com/city/Birmingham-Alabama.html. Explore Birmingham trivia at www.birminghamwhoknew.com.
"See Yourself at MagicCityMoments.com!", Birmingham's online magazine for a photojournal of events in and around the City. Visit Birmingham Weekly, www.bhamweekly.com for in-depth political views.
Better Business Bureau, Inc., 1210 20th Street South, 558-2222 or www.birmingham-al.bbb.org, a consumer advocacy group.
Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, 505 20th Street North, 324-2100 or www.birminghamchamber.com.
Birmingham Public Library, Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, 226-3600 or www.bplonline.org, offers a free membership card to residents of Jefferson County and hosts a variety of services including a Bestsellers Club, Brown Bag Lunch Series featuring author readings, computer classes, free computer use and voter registration.
Buildings Downtown can be researched by visiting, www.emporis.com/en/wm/zo/?id=100350.
Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, 2200 9th Avenue North, 458-8000 or www.birminghamal.org offers all you need to know about traveling around the city and offers free guides and maps.
Neighborhood Associations, 10th floor, City Hall, 710 20th Street North, 254-2309 or visit www.birminghamal.gov. The City of Birmingham Department of Community Development coordinates a list of community groups.
Postal Service Information 800-275-8777 or www.usps.com.
Restaurants in the area can be explored via www.birminghammenus.com or www.bhamdining.com.
WiFi Info & Locations for Metro Birmingham are viewable at www.ipsaonline.org/wifi/.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
(16, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center; Veterans Affairs Hospital)
Hospitals with 24-hour Emergency Rooms
Physician's Medical Center Carraway, 1600 Carraway Blvd., 502-6000 or www.carraway.org.
St. Vincent's East, 50 Medical Park East, 838-3000 or www.stvhs.com/east/.
Trinity Medical Center, 800 Montclair Rd., 592-1000 or www.trinitymedicalonline.com.
UAB Hospital, 619 19th St. South, 934-4011 or www.health.uab.edu.
PUBLICATIONS
Daily Newspaper, published by The Birmingham News, 325-2251 or www.al.com/birminghamnews.
Locally Produced Online publications are www.magiccitymoments.com, www.birminghamview.com, and www.bhamterminal.com.
Monthly Magazine, published by Birmingham Magazine, 241-8180 or www.bhammag.com.
Other magazine publications are Alabama Baby www.southeastbaby.com and Portico www.porticomag.com.
Weekly Newspaper is published by Birmingham Weekly every Thursday. 939-4030 or www.bhamweekly.com.
Other newspaper publications include, Birmingham Business Journal http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham, Birmingham Southern Online Publications (Student paper of Birmingham Southern College) www.bsc.edu/communications/publications.htm. The Birmingham Times http://thebirminghamtimes.com/news/default.asp, Black & White (Alternative publication) www.bwcitypaper.com, Deep South Jewish Voice, www.dsjv.com and Kaleidoscope (Student paper of UAB (University of Alabama, Birmingham) http://studentaffairs.sass.uab.edu/kscope/.
TRANSPORTATION – MASS
(1 international airport; 4 major rail freight lines; Amtrak; 1 bus line; 75 truck line terminals; 5 air cargo companies;
7 barge lines; 5 interstate highways.)
Amtrak, 1819 Morris Avenue. The Crescent serves us, stopping between New Orleans and New York City. Call 800-872-7245 or visit www.amtrak.com.
Birmingham International Airport, 5900 Airport Highway. General information, carriers and a live flight tracker at 595-0533 or www.bhamintlairport.com.
Buses out-of-town, Greyhound, 618 19th Street North, 252-7190 or www.greyhound.com.
Downtown Area Rapid Transport (DART) Bus System offers three lines that run north and south and between Five Points to Downtown, east and west, around downtown and east and west between the University of Alabama – Birmingham (UAB) and Lakeview. They are green and red trolleys. Rides are $ .25 and the route map is on the wall. Call 521-0101 or www.bjcta.org.
Metro Area Express (MAX) Bus System is Birmingham’s major bus system with natural gas trolleys and electric buses, most of which have bicycle racks. Rates are $1.00; transfer fee is $ .25. However, when a red flag is displayed on the front of the bus indicating ozone day, the rate is $ .25 all day. Call 521-0101 or www.bjcta.org.
TRANSPORTATION – PERSONAL
Mandatory Vehicle Insurance is the law in Alabama. Minimum liability limits are $20,000 for injury liability for one person, in an accident, $40,000 for all injuries in an accident and $10,000 for property damage in an accident. Drivers are required to carry proof of insurance, which must be shown to the police during routine traffic stops and roadblocks. Failure to show this proof of insurance results in fines and/or suspension of vehicle tag registration.
Motor Vehicle Registration includes the payment of vehicles taxes and registration with an area Revenue Department office. Call 325-5171.
Motor Vehicle Tags & License can be obtained at the Jefferson County courthouse, 908 Bankhead Highway West, 252-7445. New residents have 30 days to purchase an Alabama driver’s license and vehicle tag. Residents with a valid out-of-state license need only take an eye exam.
UTILITY SERVICES
Alabama Power, 600 18th Street North, Main 257-1000, residential 800-245-2244 or www.alabamapower.com, supplies electricity. For emergencies, call 1-800-888-APCO.
Alagasco, 20 20th Street South, Customer Service 326-8200 or www.alagasco.com, offers natural gas. For emergencies, call 1-800-292-4008.
Cable provider depends on where you live. Providers are Bright House Networks 591-6880 or www.mybrighthouse.com and Charter Communications 733-8778 or www.charter.com.
Telephone service provider is AT&T. New service or changes to existing service can be accessed online at www.att.com or call 888-764-2500.
Trash Pickup is performed by the Birmingham Street and Sanitation Department. Trash should be set out between 6 pm and 6 am. You may call the appropriate district office to find out what days trash and recycling is picked up in your area. City of Birmingham at 254-6344.
Water & Sewer service can be established by filling out a form, providing a photo ID and a copy of your deed or lease, to Birmingham Water Works Board. You may get a form at www.bwwsb.com or call 251-3261. For emergencies, call 251-3261.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
ALL EMERGENCIES (Fire/Police/Ambulance) DIAL 911
NON-EMERGENCIES (Community Assistance) DIAL 311
CAP (City Action Partnership) 251-0111
CAP can only assist you if you are within the Business Improvement District, which is bounded to the north by 11th Avenue North (to include the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, BJCC) south to 5th Avenue South, east to 22nd Street and west to 16th Street North & 18th Street South, respectively. For more information, visit www.capisdowntown.com.
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