Metropolitan Statistical Area in Alabama, United States
The
Birmingham metropolitan area
, sometimes known as
Greater Birmingham
, is a
metropolitan area
in north
central Alabama
centered on
Birmingham, Alabama
, United States.
As of 2023
[update]
, the federal government defines the
Birmingham, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
as consisting of seven counties (
Bibb
,
Blount
,
Chilton
,
Jefferson
,
St. Clair
,
Shelby
, and
Walker
) centered on Birmingham.
[1]
The population of this
metropolitan statistical area
as of the
2020 census
was 1,180,631, making it the 50th largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States as of that date.
The seven counties in the Birmingham metropolitan statistical area are combined with the Cullman
micropolitan
area (
Cullman County
) and the
Talladega?Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area
(
Talladega County
and
Coosa County
) to form the federally defined
Birmingham?Cullman?Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area
.
[1]
According to the
United States Census
2020 census, the
combined statistical area
has a population of 1,415,988. It is the 42nd largest population sub-region in the United States, and the largest population region in
Alabama
, constituting roughly 1/4 of the state's population. It is the largest population region in
Central Alabama
. The northern counties of the Birmingham metro area specifically Blount and Cullman are also part of the North Alabama region also known locally as the
Tennessee Valley
and are overlapped by the much larger Birmingham metropolitan area despite its proximity to the nearby Huntsville metro. Nearby counties
Tuscaloosa
,
Etowah
, and
Calhoun
, while not officially a part of
Greater Birmingham
, contribute significantly to the region's economy. The Birmingham
media market
covers these counties as well. According to the
List of metropolitan areas of Alabama
,
Birmingham is the largest urban area and metro in Alabama. Birmingham is part of the
Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion
containing an estimated 19 million people, while many residents also consider themselves part of the
Deep South
. It is classified as
Southeast
by the U.S. Census and also falls in the geographic area of the
Upland South
due to its location at the southern terminus of the
Appalachian foothills
. The entire MSA and CSA are within the congressional Appalachian Regional Commission's definition of
Appalachia
.
Counties
[
edit
]
Counties marked with * are officially part of the Birmingham?Cullman?Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area
County
|
2022 Estimate
|
2020 Census
|
Change
|
Area
|
Density
|
Jefferson County
|
665,409
|
674,721
|
?1.38%
|
1,111 sq mi (2,880 km
2
)
|
599/sq mi (231/km
2
)
|
Shelby County
|
230,115
|
223,024
|
+3.18%
|
785 sq mi (2,030 km
2
)
|
293/sq mi (113/km
2
)
|
St. Clair County
|
93,932
|
91,103
|
+3.11%
|
632 sq mi (1,640 km
2
)
|
149/sq mi (57/km
2
)
|
Walker County
|
64,339
|
65,342
|
?1.54%
|
805 sq mi (2,080 km
2
)
|
80/sq mi (31/km
2
)
|
Blount County
|
59,512
|
59,134
|
+0.64%
|
645 sq mi (1,670 km
2
)
|
92/sq mi (36/km
2
)
|
Chilton County
|
45,884
|
45,014
|
+1.93%
|
693 sq mi (1,790 km
2
)
|
66/sq mi (26/km
2
)
|
Bibb County
|
22,005
|
22,293
|
?1.29%
|
623 sq mi (1,610 km
2
)
|
35/sq mi (14/km
2
)
|
Total
|
1,181,196
|
1,180,631
|
+0.05%
|
4,489 sq mi (11,630 km
2
)
|
223/sq mi (86/km
2
)
|
Cities
[
edit
]
Historical population
Census
| Pop.
| Note
| %±
|
1900
| 140,420
| | ?
|
---|
1910
| 226,476
| | 61.3%
|
---|
1920
| 310,054
| | 36.9%
|
---|
1930
| 431,493
| | 39.2%
|
---|
1940
| 459,930
| | 6.6%
|
---|
1950
| 556,926
| | 21.1%
|
---|
1960
| 812,094
| | 45.8%
|
---|
1970
| 833,075
| | 2.6%
|
---|
1980
| 930,281
| | 11.7%
|
---|
1990
| 956,844
| | 2.9%
|
---|
2000
| 1,052,238
| | 10.0%
|
---|
2010
| 1,061,024
| | 0.8%
|
---|
2020
| 1,115,289
| | 5.1%
|
---|
2021 (est.)
| 1,114,262
| | ?0.1%
|
---|
Anchor city
[
edit
]
Principal cities
[
edit
]
Cities marked with * are officially part of the Birmingham?Cullman?Talladega, AL Combined Statistical Area
Suburbs with at least 10,000 inhabitants as of the
2020 census
[
edit
]
Demographics
[
edit
]
According to the 2019 ACS 1-Year Estimates Data Profiles, there were 1,090,435 people living in the Birmingham?Hoover, AL Metropolitan Area. The racial makeup of the area was 65.8%
White
, 31.6%
African American
, 1.9%
Asian
, 0.9%
Native American
, 0.1%
Pacific Islander
, 1.6% from
other races
, and 1.6% from two or more races. 4.5% of the population were
Hispanic
of any race.
[3]
Economy
[
edit
]
The economy of
Greater Birmingham
is the most diversified of any metropolitan area in Alabama. Many of the region's major employers are located in Birmingham and Jefferson County. The economy of Birmingham ranges from service industries such as banking and finance to health-related technological research and heavy industry. The
University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) is Alabama's largest employer as well as the area's largest, with some 20,000 employees. The area is world headquarters for
Regions Financial
, and
Books-A-Million
, the second largest book retailer in the United States.
Major employers
[
edit
]
Retail
[
edit
]
Birmingham is known as the shopping destination in the state of Alabama and a primary shopping hub of the
Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion
. It includes the major retail destination for the region, the
Riverchase Galleria
mall, along with several other shopping centers and malls.
Major Malls & Shopping Centers
[
edit
]
- Riverchase Galleria
, a 1,570,000 square foot, enclosed-mall in the southern suburb of Hoover.
- The Summit
, a large, upscale lifestyle center near the Cahaba Heights neighborhood.
- Pinnacle at Tutwiler Farm
, a lifestyle center in the eastern suburb of Trussville.
- The Shops At Grand River, an outlet mall in the eastern suburb of Leeds.
Transportation
[
edit
]
Road
[
edit
]
Greater Birmingham
is at the convergence of four major interstate highways:
Interstate 65
(which connects with
Mobile
and
Chicago
);
Interstate 20
(which connects with
Dallas
and
Atlanta
);
Interstate 59
(which connects with
New Orleans
and
Chattanooga
); and
Interstate 22
(which connects with
Memphis
).
Interstate 459
, completed in 1984, forms a southern bypass around Birmingham. It runs through portions of
Bessemer
,
Vestavia Hills
, and
Trussville
, and forms a main route through the primary city of
Hoover
.
Interstate 422
, the Birmingham Northern Bypass is planned to run from the current I-20/59/459 interchange near Bessemer to Interstate 59 and
US Route 11
near
Argo
. It is planned to be completed by 2048.
Four U.S. highways,
US-31
,
US-11
,
US-78
, and
US-280
, run through Greater Birmingham. US-31 parallels
Interstate 65
for its entire route, including Greater Birmingham. US-280 runs southeast of the city, connecting it with
Auburn
and
Auburn University
. The corridor through suburban Birmingham is notorious for its severe congestion as it carries about 200% of its traffic capacity. US-31 and 280 merge in
Homewood
to form the Elton B. Stephens Expressway known locally as the
Red Mountain Expressway
. This expressway goes through a
geologic cut
through Red Mountain, connecting downtown Birmingham to its southern suburbs. US-78 parallels
Interstate 22
to the northwest of Birmingham, and
Interstate 20
to the east. US-11 parallels
Interstate 59
for its entire route. All four of these highways meet in downtown Birmingham.
Major highways
[
edit
]
Mass transit
[
edit
]
Birmingham received $87 million from the US Congress to help fund a regional transportation system. The city's new $30 million, three-block intermodal station brings Amtrak, Greyhound, the
Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority
and automotive transportation together in one place.
Greater Birmingham
is served by
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
with
American Airlines
,
American Eagle
,
Southwest
,
United
, and
Delta
providing service to more than 40 cities. Established in 1931, BHM has been governed by the Birmingham Airport Authority since its establishment in 1986. In 2008, the airport was renamed Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in honor of late Birmingham civil rights activist
Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
.
Education
[
edit
]
Major Colleges & Universities
[
edit
]
Natural features
[
edit
]
Rivers
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
33°31′29″N
86°48′46″W
/
33.524755°N 86.81274°W
/
33.524755; -86.81274