| With a population of 230,000 the city of Birmingham is the largest in state of Alabama. The metro area has a population of 1.2 million residents. The city was founded in 1871, has an elevation of about 640 feet and is located within the Central Standard Time Zone. The Birmingham area code is 205. Birmingham weather is usually comfortable with winter low temperatures of 32 and summer highs around 90. Birmingham rainfall averages about 4 and half inches of rain each month. Birmingham, Alabama is a major center of commerce and many large companies and corporations have a presence in the area including Liberty National, BBVA Compass, Regions Financial Corporation, Superior Bank, B.L. Harbert International, Protective Life, ProAssurance, and Buffalo Rock Company. Although production has declined the steel industry is still important to the area. Higher education institutions in the area include the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Miles College, Birmingham School of Law, and Samford University. With thirty four stories, Wells Fargo Tower is the area's tallest building. Other tall Birmingham structures include the AT&T City Center and Regions Center. Four major interstates traverse the area: I-20, I-65, I-59, and I-22. The median income for a family is around $32,000. Birmingham things to do include the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the McWayne Science Center, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and the Alabama Museum of Health Sciences as well as the Birmingham Museum of Art, and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Annual events include the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival as well as the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival and the Southern Heritage Festival. The Birmingham Barons, affiliated with the Chicago White Sox play here, as well as the Unuversity of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers (UAB) basketball and football. The major newspaper of the area is The Birmingham News. |
