Birmingham originated in 1871, following the Civil War. It was established in Jones Valley in Jefferson County, Alabama near the crossing of two railroads. In the area, there was an abundance of iron ore, coal and limestone, the major ingredients of iron and steel production.

It was a well planned city before the first lot was sold or occupied and the city was planned to be a center of commerce. Shortly after its establishment, it was hit with a cholera epidemic and then in 1873, a stock market crash, all of which hindered its growth.

Recovering from these, Birmingham finally began to grow and by the turn of the century had earned the nicknames, the Magic City and Pittsburgh of the South, due to its tremendous growth. It became one of the leading producers of iron and steel in the US and the largest in the South.

Over the decades, it has diversified its ecomomic base to include finance, banking, insurance, medical and publishing industries to become one of the country's major business centers. It has been rated by several groups as the best place to live and raise a family. Approximately 1/4 of Alabama's population lives in Birmingham.

Rickwood Field is the oldest standing baseball stadium in the United States. Many of the great names of baseball, including Babe Ruth, played games there.

Drawing almost half a million visitors per year, the Birmingham Zoo is a "must see" for children and animal lovers.