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Birmingham

major city in England

For the city in the US state of Alabama, see Birmingham, Alabama.
For other uses, see Birmingham (disambiguation).

Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. More than one million people live in Birmingham. It is also within the UK's second biggest metropolitan area, which contains nearly 4 million people. It contains a wide variety of creeds, races and religious communities. Many people call it the "second city" of the United Kingdom.

Birmingham
City and Metropolitan borough
Birmingham City Centre from the south
Library of BirminghamBirmingham Town Hall
St Philip's CathedralUniversity of BirminghamSt Martin's church and Selfridges department store in the Bull Ring
Coat of arms of Birmingham
Coat of arms
Etymology: Old English Beormingahām (home or settlement of the Beormingas)
Nickname(s): 
  • Brum
  • Brummagem
  • Second city
  • City of a thousand trades
  • Workshop of the world
  • Venice of the north
Motto(s): 
Forward
Birmingham shown within the West Midlands county
Birmingham shown within the West Midlands county
Birmingham is located in England
Birmingham
Birmingham
Location within England
Birmingham is located in the United Kingdom
Birmingham
Birmingham
Location within the United Kingdom
Birmingham is located in Europe
Birmingham
Birmingham
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 52°28′59″N 1°53′37″W / 52.48306°N 1.89361°W / 52.48306; -1.89361Coordinates: 52°28′59″N 1°53′37″W / 52.48306°N 1.89361°W / 52.48306; -1.89361
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
RegionWest Midlands
Ceremonial county West Midlands
Historic county Warwickshire
Settlementc. 600
Seigneurial borough1166
Municipal borough1838
City status14 January 1889
Metropolitan borough1 April 1974
Administrative HQThe Council House,
Victoria Square
Government
 • TypeMetropolitan borough
 • BodyBirmingham City Council
 • LeadershipLeader and cabinet
 • Executive 
 • LeaderVacant (Deputy Leader Ian Ward, acting)
 • Lord MayorAnne Underwood
 • Chief Executive (Interim)Stella Manzie CBE
Area
 • City103.4 sq mi (267.8 km2)
 • Urban
231.2 sq mi (598.9 km2)
Area rank151st
Elevation
460 ft (140 m)
Population
 (2005 est.)
 • City1,124,600
 • Rank1st
 • Density10,880/sq mi (4,199/km2)
 • Urban
2,440,986 (3rd)
 • Metro
4,332,629 (List of metropolitan areas in Europe)
Demonym(s)Brummie
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postcode
B
Area code(s)0121
ISO 3166 codeGB-BIR
GSS codeE08000025
NUTS 3 codeUKG31
ONS code00CN
OS grid referenceSP066868
MotorwaysM6
M6 Toll
M5
M42
A38(M)
Ethnicity
(2011 Census) [1]
  • 57.9% White (53.1% White British)
  • 26.6% Asian
  • 8.9% Black
  • 4.4% Mixed Race
  • 2.0% Other
International airportsBirmingham (BHX)
Major railway stationsBirmingham New Street (A)
Birmingham Moor Street (B)
Birmingham Snow Hill (C1)
GDPUS$ 121.1 billion[2] (2nd)
– Per capitaUS$ 31,572[2]
Councillors120
MPs
European ParliamentWest Midlands
Websitewww.birmingham.gov.uk

HistoryEdit

 
A Victorian building in Birmingham, faced with terracotta tiles

Birmingham began as a small town in 1166. Many industries were developed in Birmingham during the 18th and 19th centuries. These included making weapons and food. Queen Victoria gave city status to Birmingham in 1889. It played a big role in the war effort in the First and Second World Wars. However, there is now a far lower amount of industry than at the end of the war.

In 1974, 21 people were killed by two PIRA bombs.

Famous people from BirminghamEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ "2011 Census: Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales". ONS. Retrieved 25 December 2012
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Global city GDP 2014". Brookings Institution. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2014. Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)

Other websitesEdit

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