Birmingham, Alabama earned the nickname of the Magic City thanks to an influx of people to the city and development during the turn of the 19th century, which has kept local Birmingham movers busy.  The city has also been known as the Pittsburgh of the South due to its likeness to Pittsburgh in the importance of the steel industry.

Economy:
Historically, Birmingham’s local economy has strong ties to the steel industry.  It continues to have a strong presence today, with large companies like U.S. Steel, McWane, and Nucor in the city.  In the 1970’s and 80’s, Birmingham’s economy was diversified through the University of Alabama’s focus on medical research and bio-technology.  The University of Alabama Hospital is currently the largest employer in the area. Other major industries include telecommunications, engineering, and financial services.

Tourism:
Birmingham boasts being a true Southern city, and some say it is the last major Southern city in America.  Some attractions include the many museums in the city, such as the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Southern Museum of Flight, and the Arlington Home.  Motorsports are a very popular tourist attraction in the area with the Talladega Superspeedway just an hour away from the city.

History:
Birmingham began as a small pioneer farm settlement, during which time it was known as Elyton.  Since it was not very developed during the time of the Civil War, there was not much there to be significantly affected by the war.  As railroads came to the area in the 1870’s, the area was named Birmingham, and it quickly became a transportation hub.  The area grew so quickly that some said it happened like magic: hence the nickname of The Magic City.  During the 1880’s up until the Great Depression, the city thrived in the mining and metals industries, the area having a natural abundance of coal, limestone, and iron ore.  Beginning with the Depression, the city experienced economic hardship.  In the 1960’s and 70’s, the city was in the spotlight for racial tensions, and the city’s reputation was hurt.  The University of Alabama at Birmingham helped to repair the city’s image as it gained influence in the 1970’s, and also the opening of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in 1993 was viewed as a major step towards a better image.
 
Colleges/Universities:
University of Alabama at Brimingham (UAB)
Samford University
Birmingham-Southern College
University of Montevallo
Birmingham School of Law
Miles College
Central Alabama Community College
Herzing College
ITT Technical Institute
Andrew Jackson University
Strayer University

Interesting Facts:
-Birmingham was recently named the Bass Capital of the World by ESPN, and the region is known for having some of the best fishing around.
-“The Diverse City” is Birmingham’s new slogan.

Helpful Links:
Birmingham moving companies