Birmingham city is the largest city in Alabama with a current population estimated at 242,820 people. The city is a municipality under the state laws of Alabama and has a metro population of 1,079,089.
Everything has a beginning and this beautiful town of Birmingham AL has one too. It was founded way back on 1st June, 1871 by real estate promoters known as the Elton land company. This company sold all the lots that neighbored the railroads. Most of these lots were near the planned crossing of Alabama, Chattanooga as well as south and north Alabama land which was formerly part of Benjamin P. Worthington plantation. The lots sold by Elton land company were mainly used for business, the very first business at the crossroads being the trading post and a small county store. The railway crossing site was famous for iron ore, coal and limestone deposits, raw materials used in steel making. All these activities gave rise to the proper planning of the city as the great center of industry.
As the founders, those who bought lots from Elton Land Company and the developers sought to find a name for the growing industrial town and named it Birmingham, borrowing this name from England’s industrial city to publicize the town. This did not take off well as the city’s growth was hindered by a cholera outbreak and almost immediately a Wall Street crash in 1873. It really was a development setback for the newly found city of Birmingham in Alabama.
19th century was a good turn around for Birmingham city. Several surrounding towns including Elytron and Alabama were absorbed into Birmingham in 1911. The boring downtown areas experienced rapid change, from the low commercial and residential activities to a busy center of activity. The commercial buildings were upgraded to busy skyscrapers. This was evident through the construction of four large buildings between 1902 and 1912. It’s certainly because of this swift growth that gave Birmingham its nickname; the magic city. The four high-rise buildings constructed were well distributed within Birmingham. One was constructed at the intersection of 20th street, the other at the central north – south part of the city and to connect the warehouses and industrial facilities along the east-west railroad corridor was the 1st avenue north building. The very first and remarkable skyscrapers were nicknamed the heaviest corner of the earth.
Just when the city of Birmingham was thriving to greater heights, another turn of events took place. The funds that were allocated to the city’s expansion dried up, farm workers gave up farming in search for work at the city. All these events somehow retarded the growth of the city and new deal programs contributed to the city’s infrastructure and other important plans. However, the demand for steel during the war and post – war periods saw yet another return of Birmingham to prosperity. Key manufacturers and major institutions like hospitals and schools found it necessary to expand their scope.
Birmingham did not gain much attention earlier like it did in the 1950s and 1960s. This is because of much attention experienced both nationally and internationally due to the civil rights struggle of African Americans. The movements were led by some fierce leaders, among them was Fred Shuttlesworth, a notable and fierce preacher, and Martin Luther king Jr. the human rights activist. These activities led to the public accommodation of the African Americans in Birmingham.
Today Birmingham city is one of the most beautiful cities in Alabama. It has become more diverse with new people coming in to live and work as well as investors who have found the city’s beauty quite magnificent for business growth.
