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This article is about Birmingham in England; see also Birmingham, Alabama and other towns called Birmingham

Birmingham, with its population of 977,087 (2001 Census), is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom, after London.

Introduction

The city is situated in the West Midlands conurbation, of which it forms the largest part. Along with the city of Wolverhampton, the Black Country and a number of surrounding towns, this conurbation consists of around 2.25 million people.

Birmingham was historically a part of Warwickshire, however it has never been in the administrative county (established 1889).

The city is commonly known to its inhabitants as Brum (from the old name "brummagem") and its inhabitants known as Brummies. Birmingham residents also speak with a distinctive Brummie accent. The people are generally regarded as hard working, and having an unusual sense of humour that is quite unique. It is often said that "you can always tell a Brummie, but you can't tell him much".

Birmingham is governed by Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in the United Kingdom (UK).

You will often hear Brummies quoting the facts that not only does Birmingham have more canals than Venice but that it also has both more parkland and more trees (per person) than any other city in Europe. Birmingham certainly does boast an unusual number of trees, and there 35 miles of canals within the Birmingham city boundaries (by comparison there are 26 miles of canals within the centre of Venice - that is, within the six sestieri, and thus a much smaller land area than Birmingham, source [1]).

The City's coat of arms shows two figures, representing Industry and The Arts.

Industry

The conurbation is an industrial centre, home to the Jaguar and MG Rover Group car companies. Until 2003, coins were manufactured at the Birmingham Mint, the oldest independent mint in the world. Other famous brands from the "City of a thousand trades" include Cadbury chocolate, LDV vans and HP Sauce. Past brands include Bird's Custard, BSA motorbikes, Bakelite, Lucas, the Mini and Ansells Beer.

Birmingham also has a history of making railway carriages, wire, steam engines, aeroplanes, guns, precious- metalware, jewellery and even, bizarrely for somewhere so far from the sea, ships (which were made as pre-fabricated sections, assembled at the coast).

While manufacturing is still important to the city, and to its future, the local economy is rapidly diversifying; in particular, professional and financial services and tourism are growing quickly. More details about the Birmingham economy can be found at http://www.birminghameconomy.org.uk

Once considered the Industrial Backbone of Britain, Birmingham has in recent years been renovated, with the city centre now a more attractive and pleasant place to walk around.


The Arts

The bands Black Sabbath, The Beat, Spencer Davis Group, Charlatans, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Dodgy, Duran Duran, ELO, Judas Priest, The Moody Blues, Magnum, Pop Will Eat Itself, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, The Move, Ocean Colour Scene, Steel Pulse, Traffic, UB40 and Wizzard all originated in Birmingham, as did the musicians Joan Armatrading and Steve Winwood.

In fiction, Birmingham was gently satirized by David Lodge. The fictional town of Rummidge and its University which feature in several of his novels, were based on Birmingham. Judith Cutler's crime novels are set in present-day Birmingham. The fictitious characters in the long-running Radio 4 serial The Archers often visit Birmingham, where the programme is in fact made.

Arthur Conan Doyle lived in Aston from about Spring 1879 - early 1882 and many of his works include refences to people or places he knew there.

Washington Irving lived in Birmingham for a while, during which time he wrote stories including Rip van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Bracebridge Hall, or, The Humorists, A Medley is based on Aston Hall.

Symphony Hall (home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) is in the City Centre.

Sport

Birmingham is home to two professional football teams: Aston Villa and Birmingham City. The National Indoor Arena, and Alexander Stadium host international athletics. International Basketball Team The Birmingham Bullets also hail from the city as do Mosely & Birmingham/Solihull Rugby Clubs.

Warwickshire County Cricket Club play at Edgbaston.

Lawn Tennis was first played in Birmingham.

The first ever football league was invented by a Brimingham man in Aston.

Learning

Birmingham has three universities: Aston University, The University of Birmingham and The University of Central England (formerly Birmingham Polytechnic).

Transport

Birmingham is well served by a number of transport modes:

Road: Birmingham is connected to London and the south, and the north-east of England and to Scotland by the M6 motorway. The M40 also connects Birmingham to London and to Oxford. The M5 motorway connects Birmingham to the south-west of England. The M42 motorway connects Birmingham to the East Midlands.

Rail: A plethora of railway lines from all over the UK go into Birmingham, which is a central hub of the rail network. Most of which converge in Birmingham New Street station from where regular train services to all the major cities in the UK including London can be caught. Trains to London can also be caught at Birmingham Snow Hill station, as can trams to Wolverhampton on the Midland Metro.

Air: Birmingham is served by Birmingham International Airport, which has flights to all over Europe and to New York.

Water: Although it has no major river (the Rea is little more than a culverted stream, and the Tame, which only passes through the northern suburbs, is not navigable), Birmingham is at the hub of the country's canal network. Major canals including the Grand Union Canal, the Birmingham and Worcester Canal, and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal go into Birmingham.

History

Early years

Small farming settlements existed in the Birmingham area since the Bronze Age. In Roman times, the Ryknield Street Roman road passed through what is now the Birmingham area, and a large millitary fort and marching camp existed at Metchley in what is now southern Birmingham. Remains of pottery kilns dating from the Roman period have also been found in the Birmingham area.

Until the Middle Ages, due to poor quality soil which made agriculture unproductive, the Birmingham area was for centuries a sparsely populated backwater.

Modern Birmingham came into existence in the year 1154 when a local landowner called Peter de Birmingham obtained a charter to hold a market, a settlement grew up around this market named Birmingham after its founder.

The market was called the Bull Ring and was the centre of all activity in what was then a village. Birmingham became a Borough in the early 13th century.

From the 16th century onwards Birmingham became a centre of many metalworking industries, with a skilled population of Ironmongers. Birmingham also became a centre of arms manufacturing, with Guns and Swords being produced in the then town. This trade was greatly helped by the English Civil War, Birmingham manufacturers supplied the Roundheads with much of their armaments.

Birmingham's skilled workforce, and the fact that Birmingham was located near the coalfields of Staffordshire, meant that the town grew rapidly during the Industrial revolution. Birmingham was then home to Matthew Boulton, James Watt, William Murdoch, Joseph Priestley and others, who, together, were known as the Lunar Society.

19th Century Expansion

In the late 18th and early 19th century Birmingham became a centre of the canal system, which greatly aided its industrial growth.

In the 1830s the Grand Junction Railway (linking onwards to Liverpool and Manchester) and the London and Birmingham Railway were built and Birmingham New Street station soon became the hub of the railway network.

During the 19th century Birmingham's population mushroomed and by the middle of the 19th century Birmingham had become the second largest population centre in Britain. It was also during the 19th century that Birmingham gained its reputation (which continues to this day amongst many of those uninformed of recent changes) as a grim industrial city. In 1873 Joseph Chamberlain became mayor of the city. Under his leadership, the council introduced many innovative civic improvements, including municipal gas and water works which improved the lighting and provided clean drinking water to the city; and opened numerous public parks.

Birmingham became a county borough in 1889, and a city in 1896.

20th Century

During the 20th century Birmingham's population continued to rise. An important industrial centre, the city was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe during World War II, in a failed attempt to break the morale of the city's workers. In total, 2,441 Birmingham residents were killed by German bombs during the war.

In the postwar years a massive program of slum clearances took place, and vast areas of the city were re-built, with overcrowded "back to back" housing being replaced by high rise blocks of flats (the last remaining block of four back to backs are to become a museum). The city centre was also extensively re-built, especially the Bull Ring Shopping Centre. Birmingham also became a centre of the national motorway network, with Spaghetti Junction.

In 1974, two city- centre pubs were bombed by the IRA.

Diversity

In the years following World War II a major influx of immigrants from the British Commonwealth changed the face of Birmingham, with large communities from Southern Asia and the Caribbean settling in the city, turning Birmingham into one of the UK's leading multicultural cities. Around 21.5% of the city's population is made up of ethnic minority communities. Amongst the largest minority communities: 6.9% of Birmingham residents are Pakistani, 5.3% are Indian and 4.7% are Black-Caribbean.

Since the early 1980s Birmingham has seen a new wave of migration, this time from communities which do not have Commonwealth roots, including people from Kosovo and Somalia. Birmingham's reputation as a city built on migration looks to continue. If Birmingham ended the 19th century as a Commonwealth city, the future diversity of the City is set to be global.

Regeneration

In the 1970s, the National Exhibtion Centre was built, 10 miles southeast of the centre, close to Birmingham International Airport. Although it is actually just inside neighbouring Solihull, it was instigated, and largely owned by, Birmingham Council, and is thought by most people to be in teh city. It has been expanded several times since then.

The International Convention Centre (ICC) openeed in central Birmingham in thw early 1990s.

The area around Broad Street was extensively renovated at the turn of the Millennium, making it possible to walk beside the canals. In September 2003, after a year long redevelopment project, the new Bull Ring was opened. The city recently failed in its bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008, under the banner "Be in Birmingham 2008".

Regeneration

IN eth 1970s, the National Exhibtion Centre was built 10 miles southeast of the centre, close to Birmingham International Airport. Although it is in neighbouring Solihull, it was instigated, and largely owned by, Birmingham. It has been expanded several timnes since then.

The International Convention Centre (ICC) openeed in central Birmingham in thw early 1990s.

The area around Broad Street was extensively renovated at the turn of the Millennium, making it possible to walk beside the canals. In September 2003, after a year long redevelopment project, the new Bull Ring was opened. The city recently failed in its bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008, under the banner "Be in Birmingham 2008".

Population Growth by year

In recent years, Birmingham's population has declined slightly, from its peak of just over one million in 1980.

Famous Residents

Districts

Nearby Cities

Nearby Towns

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