Birmingham, AL is a city in north-central Alabama. It is the seat of Jefferson County, which is the most populous county in Alabama. The population of Birmingham was 200,733 in the year 2020, making it the second largest city in Alabama after Huntsville. The area is home to more than 200 different ethnic groups. The population of Birmingham is estimated to increase by 4% by 2025. This is an estimate and may change.
There are many things to do in Birmingham, AL. The city is home to a zoo, which covers 122 acres and welcomes more than four hundred thousand visitors a year. The zoo opened in 1955, with a few animals in a firehouse. Today, it houses more than 800 species. Popular attractions include the Primate Building, Flamingo Lagoon, and Kangaroo Kountry. The zoo also features a camel ride and a Sea Lions Splash Show.
Visiting the Birmingham Museum of Art is a must-do in Birmingham. The city is home to several art galleries, which offer a wide range of artwork. The Museum of Modern Art houses works from Native American, Pre-Columbian, and European cultures. The collection of paintings and sculptures includes work by internationally renowned artists. The BMA has a large collection of Vietnamese ceramics. In addition to galleries, the city has a miniaturist museum, the Hannah Ellot Museum, and the Southeastern Raptor Center.
The city is also home to several universities and colleges. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a state university, and Birmingham-Southern College was established in 1918 through a merger of Southern University and Birmingham College. Samford University was originally chartered in Marion in 1841 and moved to Birmingham in 1887. It operated as Howard College until 1965. Miles Seminary, founded in 1915, and Southeastern Bible School were also founded in Birmingham.
The city has a rich history. In the 1960s, the Alabama Theater was one of the first buildings to have air conditioning in the south. During the 1930s, it was the home of the Mickey Mouse Club. The theater was originally a steel mill, but the Wurlitzer organ was a major asset, and saved the theater from demolition. Currently, the Alabama Theater plays silent films, and is a historical landmark. It is also home to a world-class university.
One of the biggest tourist attractions in Birmingham is Vulcan Park. This park is home to the largest cast-iron statue in the world, known as the “Vulcan.” It was cast from local iron and was created to show off Birmingham for the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. It stands on a pedestal on Red Mountain and offers great views of the city. There is also a small museum at Vulcan Park that features the history of the city.