Being from Birmingham I really have seen a lot of growth I know they say numbers don't lie but the reason Birmingham is is losing is because a lot of them are moving to the suburbs of Birmingham is one of the few cities in the United States that has sixty-seven surrounding small towns and within those small towns or neighborhoods the majority of people live there not so much in the city anymore the metro area consist of over a million people not including the numbers of who lives with in the city still making it the biggest metro area in the state. We will never really loose that title because it's just so much more going on in Birmingham now and so much being built like more entertainment and eating spots sports bar and grilles stuff like that
@@jojom6657 I count metro and all and by far Birmingham metro is still un touched in the state of Alabama. MT. Brook is literally in the city limits of Birmingham but don't claim as Birmingham the zoning hear is all messed up thats basically the only reason they say Birmingham is losing people. They are only counting the poverty areas of Birmingham for it's size not the whole city it's self
@@jojom6657 Lol. Huntsville is only bigger based on technicality. Nobody in their right mind would see Bham as 2nd or even 3rd largest city in the state. I've been to Huntsville many times, their downtown isn't even half the size of Bhams, and Bham isn't even a large downtown. Let these surrounding cities incorporate into Bham and no other city in Alabama would touch Bham population numbers for another 100 years.
@@jojom6657 you didn’t analyze what he was saying sir ! Not everyone done the census in Birmingham! Trust the population is way more than said ! But the Birmingham metro is 3 times as large as Huntsville. Birmingham metro Is 1.2 million and really you wouldn’t ever notice it being the 3rd largest city it will still feel like it’s the largest city regardless an the county that it’s in , is around 660,000 an that itself is stilll larger then the Huntsville metro ………….. Sir or ma’am 🫡
I noticed that whenever you mention a city's population decline, you just give the population within the city proper without including the entire metro area population. For example, Birmingham city has declined in population, but the entire metro area has actually been slowly rising year to year. ( 1,115,289 as of 2022) That trend is true for many cities as working class families choose to live in the outer burbs instead of inside the main city limits. So I feel that it can be a little misleading to give population numbers based solely on within the city proper.
The entire metro area is stagnant, because the City of Birmingham is stagnant. When the core city declines, that is not a good thing. Even while people move to the suburbs as a result. It may look like growth, but it isn't. It's simply a population shifting and they're building up new suburban areas as a result. Basically, replacing what they left behind in the inner city. Migration from other places outside of the Birmingham Metro area is what really grows and keeps cities vibrant. Like what Atlanta has managed to do over the last 50 years.
Throughout the years Birmingham was being considered as a possible relocation candidate for NFL teams. It had an XFL team (2001) and multiple USFL teams (I have an opinion about the current USFL...) I believe Birmingham can still have a presence in professional sports, but it's gonna take considerable funding from an ownership group with deep pockets to bring such a team into town.
I can see b-ham taking a major team but at the same time I can’t. Because Alabama and auburn are still gonna be king. With most folks having a sour grapes view of pro sports.
@@fatpowerfulit wouldn't be different from any other state either MLS and college sports. Alabama citizens would adapt to the change at some point. The city would generate so much revenue. Hopefully Birmingham can pull something off like that once day.
Atlanta and Birmingham were basically equal in 1960. At that point they spilt and pretty much every decision a city could make they both made the exact opposite choice. It’s like a real life example of how alternate universes work.
@@PrincessPowerUpnah that's not it, it was more so turning down the airport expansion, turning down the train system from the airport to downtown, road infrastructure, cutting back on public transit, breaking off into more and more suburbs. Division by salary....and racism.
Birmingham (and Alabama) held on tightly to racism. Atlanta (and Georgia) knew when it was over *and* that they had to do something for the people. There were still a lot of black people employed by GA government during segregation. And Atlanta very wisely diversified their economy early on.
@@drc3po I can't disagree that Birmingham's South suburbs have a better quality of life than Atlanta's suburbs. I am a 46 year old life long suburban Atlantan and these days the quality of life is much greater in Birmingham's southern suburbs than Atlanta's northern suburbs. Atlanta is too congested. There is too much demographic transition because of rapid growth. Birmingham seems still completely southern and in a sophisticated manner. I'm speaking of those Southside suburbs, here, like Vestavia, Homewood, Hoover, and Mountain Brook. The Atlanta area is a patchwork quilt these days with southern areas still highly noticeable on the west, and south, and northwest parts of the metro, but it also has northern transplant dominated areas, heavy up the 400 corridor Then there are the immigrant dominated areas (Norcross, Chamblee) The lushness of the Birmingham area along with the greater elevation variation (even though the Atlanta area is at a higher elevation, it looks less so because Atlanta is in the Piedmont and Birmingham is the southern end of the Ridge and Valley) makes it very unique. If I ever had to leave the Atlanta area, I'd move to a place like Hoover or Vestavia Hills without questioning it.
@@drc3po I've known how nice that area is ever since around the time my uncle moved to Vestavia from Lilburn, Georgia. He's recently passed, but his wife and one of his daughters (a cousin of mine) still live in the area. A lot of people look at statistics for Birmingham and wrongly assume the whole region is like that. There is a big contrast between much of the area north of Red Mountain (Southside neighborhood is relatively nice and is an exception, as are Trussville and a few other areas on that side of town). The way a friend explained the area is that Birmingham's Southside is comparable to Atlantas Northside, in terms of being the nicest sides of town. Whereas Atlantas Southside is more comparable to Birmingham's northside.
Birmingham was just a sleepy Deep South nothing town. Found iron and steel than magically became a booming city. Hence the magic city. Was the Pittsburgh of the south. Than white flight and became a kind of sketchy place. But now though gentrification is becoming a big food spot and a bigger city for tourism. Because sports, food and history in the south.
That's so true I grew up in huntsville and Birmingham al and Birmingham is still larger then huntsville why they start saying this, now maybe huntsville is larger in business now but not size
One of my favorite metro areas to visit. An epic terrain and downtown looks fabulous from afar at any time of day. Everyone owes it to themselves to put this gorgeous region on the bucket list and do some hiking at Oak Mountain State Park. It’s also centrally located without the usual downside of overwhelming traffic congestion’s that tends to come with that feature; direct connections to Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Tupelo, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and Chattanooga (Cloudland Canyon near I-59 must be seen to be believed), and Huntsville is just a very mild detour as well. Always a pleasure to visit Birmingham.
I grew up in Birmingham in the 70's. When Richard Arrington was elected Mayor, that was it. Corruption and crime went through the roof. Nice neighbor hoods like Huffman, West End, Ensley, Center Point went to straight to Hell. White Flight to the surrounding areas like Hoover, Vestavia spread like wildfire. It's not safe to even drive through B'ham now.
I was born & raised in B'Ham. What happened to it was after the steel industry was governed out of business. Every time it tried to reinvent itself, certain elements started killing people & they quit coming downtown.
That Amanda Marshall song is absolutely fantastic and I loved seeing it on MTV/VH-1 back when they used to play music....but the song isn't actually about Birmingham...at least not directly.
Birmingham has a brighter future that is seems . While Atlanta is filled with big skyscrapers most of downtown is unwalkable and has little foot traffic . Most of downtown Atlanta has huge buildings but the architecture isn't appealing . Birmingham has new developments that will spread uptown northwards in a beautiful way . I think bham downtown is more real and healthy . Birmingham could've fell like Gary Indiana and almost did. Also u.s. steel underpaid their poor white and black workers and the local banks to give good loans to the blacks to build nice homes and once they cut the jobs crime took over Birmingham.
Nobody in their right mind that's been to Huntsville or Montgomery believe that there bigger than BHAM lol, it's over a million people in Birmingham metro probably closer to 1.3 million, it's 700,000 in Jefferson county alone, Huntsville barely has a downtown and a skyline, if Birmingham includes all these little cities that sandwich it in it probably would be 500,000 in Birmingham alone but this is just a city proper count which I still think is way off, but anybody whose drove around Birmingham knows it's still the top dog city in Alabama as far population and amenities
@@jojom6657Huntsville expands it's City limits every year as well. They went from 130 sq miles in the 80s to now having 221 sq mi worth of city limits. They're growing, but they're not RAPIDLY growing. Just expanding and building rapidly.
@@markrichards6863more like they didn’t understand that had to make one specific shift in order to survive: Disband the White minority rule of the city. They fought it tooth and nail until almost the entire White middle and upper class left the city, leaving only a small Black middle class and a large amount of poor white and black residents. In doing so the hamstrung their own economy and they got walloped when US manufacturing started going overseas just like the Rust Belt. Atlanta too saw a steep decline in manufacturing, but their White and Black middle and upper class came to an agreement that they weren’t going to fight the inevitable and welcome Black leadership into government and business. This upset the lower class whites and they were the ones that left the city opening the door for middle class Blacks to move down in droves from the Northeast and Midwest. This seemingly small difference is literally why Metro Atlanta became a emerging world city of nearly 7 million residents with its finger on the pulse of popular culture and Birmingham wallowed in the mud of their stubbornness to move on. The good news though is that it seems Birmingham is finally getting it and hope they succeed. God know Alabama needs some help not becoming Florida or Mississippi 2.0.
@@markrichards6863exactly, if Bham would have fought, we would have won by default for the central location. Our higher ups just didn't want it or the attention. But instead, they invested in Atlanta while living here which is why there are so many rich suburbs in the Birmingham Metro.
In general, cities are measured by their "metropolitan statistical areas." Huntsville's MSA is about 490,000, while Birmingham's is over 1.1 million. Birmingham has a fairly small footprint, but there are many well populated cities spread all around the city. If anyone looked at downtown Huntsville, or the lack of much of one, it would be clear that it isn't the largest city in the state. It's a beautiful city, don't get me wrong. However, it doesn't compare in any way, shape or form to Birmingham.
I lived in this city in 2002. It was GREAT back then. However, shady stuff and shady folks will keep me from going back. The Jewish community center in Mountain Brook is awful to their kitchen employees (non Jewish/primarily black). I worked with two women who'd used to work there (Virginia and Phyllis) at a downtown grocery store called V. Richard's. One of the ladies even told me that an old Jewish woman spit on her food that they'd served her once -- then said that she proceeded to tell them that she really wanted to spit in their face!! Also, a girl named Hannah Rose (last name withheld) that lived in an apartment complex where I live now (Florence, Alabama) told me that her sister was raped by the guy that owns (or owned) an airport shuttle transport company called Rosen Transportation when she was 9. Despite whatever the court said, I'm sure that's on legal record. It's horrible as hell, but it doesn't surprise me, really. I guess the truth of the matter is (joking aside, actually) that Rosen would rather molest/rape a girl like that (unrelated to him) rather than his own daughter, if he has one, that's pretty much gonna wind up in a loveless, sexless marriage for her own, other reasons.
Except what happened to Birmingham has some degree happened to cities all over the country. It's prosperity didn't leave for other states. It left for the suburbs.
I love Birmingham. Not only is it a beautiful place to live with a top notch university/ medical school, but it has easily the best restaurants in the south and the most accessible airport. Try visiting before you critique.
It's a lot more involved than what is suggested. I can't remember why but years ago, businesses started moving to the 280 area. Then Hoover started growing. Centerpoint which was in Bham became it's own city. Hoover and other towns did a big land grab. Bham has no where to expand since it sits in a valley. A lot of people are coming to Bham to open small business. It may not be able to grow but Bham offers some of the finest health care anywhere. 4:49
Why don’t you just tell the truth. It’s corrupt mismanagement. That’s why people move out. They are not stupid. They want safe neighborhoods to raise their families. Period!
Mann birmingham looks horrible from when I lived there 15 years ago.they did finally fix the downtown area but the restof it needs major help. I grew up there went to bush and j.o.
There are many cities in Alabama that once was big productive cities, but they all share a common thing that came into the cities, and then the crime rates went up and the cities started failing. Research the common factor. We've seen it happen in Montgomery over the last 4 years. Our homogeneous had tripled in the lady 4 years. We're becoming another Selma. I thought people learned from history but some keeps their eyes closed and history happens again in other cooties. Research the common factor in all the failing cities in Alabama.
@@al99795 you people have been crying "racism" for SIXTY YEARS and still, nothing has been solved. All you did was introduce a certain dark problem into your own northern cities so you could fail just as badly as we did. Get over it and focus on reality so we can solve it.
They’re talking about building a new statehouse. Call your state rep and Senator and tell them to move it somewhere other than Montgomery. Put it somewhere in east Alabama in the blackbelt if you want a solely economic play. Put it a bit south of Birmingham if you to make it more centrally located. Montgomery’s main selling point was that it was big enough to hone relatively easy to get to and stay in for the legislature while being small enough to be incapable of seriously influencing state politics. Now that it has grown it is not a good place to have the capital.
What happened? It got realllllly dark... The city of Centerpoint many years ago in the '50s was a nice place to live and then certain people move in and everything goes to crap and everybody's property levels go down and you start seeing homes with bars on the windows and life changes. I'm sorry to be so honest but it's the truth.
@@itzkgt2919 I grew up in Eastlake & Woodlawn. I lived around mostly black and Mexican people. We were all poor so it's up to you to decide if it's because of race,crime ,or poverty. I lived there because the rent was cheaper since the place was a ghetto.
Memphis is predominantly black and it’s not like this. The video pretty much says that the racist is worse in the Deep South and the white community everywhere but especially Birmingham haven’t really made any attempts at reparations or trying to redeem themselves. Look at how it’s illegal to do a Nazi salute in Germany. Germany has done more to make amends than the U.S.A. That’s the real reason the population is shrinking in Birmingham. Nobody wants to be around all of this racial tension! If the white community in Birmingham had been more like Germany maybe it would be seen as a more welcoming place to live.
Most current census reports/estimates have it as the third largest in the state behind Huntsville & Montgomery. It looks as if it fell into third place over the last 2 years due to population decline.
Birmingham ALMOST got the Patriots. In 1968, they were playing in Fenway Park, but kept having scheduling conflicts with the Red Sox. They had to arrange a "home" game at Legion Field. Alabama was prepared to build a new, football-only facility, totally free. Patriots owner Billy Sullivan said, "No, thanks, I want to stay in New England." He finally built Schaefer Stadium in 1971, for only $7 million, but at least it was his own money.
I am 63, a native and find this misleading as being a Forgotten Place or in decline. This video is more accurate. Not mentioned in the video is other outstanding features that also bring revenue: The B'ham Zoo, B'ham Botanical Gardens, B'ham Museum of Art, Alabama Theater, Lyric Theater, Barber Motor Sports, and the list goes on. . . th-cam.com/video/e95Vk5eW7ys/w-d-xo.html
US Steel: Revenue Increase US$20.275 billion (2021)[1] Operating income Increase US$4.946 billion (2021)[1] Net income Increase US$4.174 billion (2021)[1] Total assets Increase US$17.816 billion (2021)[1] Total equity Increase US$9.010 billion (2021)[1] Number of employees 24,540[1] (2021) Making a profit of 20 cents on the dollar is impressing for a company in the coal and steel sector.
Yes, a wonderful forgotten city from the past, no doubt. I suggest you take a leisurely walk downtown, say 5 points, around 9 or 10 at night. Forgotten place? Not by those who enjoyed it before it changed. But, you're welcome to enjoy it now and experience something you'll not soon forget. Take your children, your "partner" or, a camera to capture the essence of downtown Birmingham in the evening. Best wishes from an old friend.
I think Atlanta was the problem because of the decline.Because both are big cities but Atlanta is the biggest and it takes Birmingham’s dreams away from its hands. And I have been to Atlanta but I just faking that the fact is good.
There is still white flight with anyone over 65. But this is soon to change. Lived here my whole life. Decisions that were made in the past to not invest in public transportation and expanding the airport. That was part of it. Racism was a part. Then of course sending jobs elsewhere overseas. That hurt us. Not keeping up with the time when it comes to technology.
Wtf are you talking about Birmingham is booming right now especially after the world games 😂😂😂😂😂he literally showed a beautiful city that’s still the biggest in Alabama with sad music😂
@@donkeysaurusrex7881 ok then that mean what u talking is obsolete until hv metro is bigger shut we don't wanna hear it ,and in the words of veezy Birmingham is the capitol of Alabama we got the motion in this state wtf is a Huntsville?.. .Big B'ham 205 shit .
Aye this my birth place I give it another 5 years and we gone be good We have coke far over just the last couple of years We are growing They city limits is just losing people to the suburbs Jefferson county is starting to boom
i live in alabama and i went to birmingham to go somewhere and there was a homeless guy living in the abandoned hospital who told me and my family about a shooting there was the night before and to be careful
Being in Alabama is what happened!?look you don't have to stay !better yet listen to lynrd skynrd sweet home alabama!the part where Neil young gets advice.
@@tommy6108 as a history teacher, I talked about where everyone is from everyday. It is called the right of speech. Everyone has an opinion. And I don't respect those who disrespect others for their beliefs. You sound highly ignorant, as is apparent from your perspective and lack of grammar. I dont mean to be disrespectful, but I found your comment highly disrespectful and worth of acknowledgment
@@tommy6108 When you react emotionally to outsiders putting your kind down for being supposedly "backwards", well, you're kind of proving their point. LS at least channeled their angst into words and got a southern rock anthem out of it.
The last 10 years have been insane . Birmingham made a complete turnaround.
Birmingham, AL close proximity to Atlanta played a role in loss of population and flight of fortune 500 companies exodus.
Being from Birmingham I really have seen a lot of growth I know they say numbers don't lie but the reason Birmingham is is losing is because a lot of them are moving to the suburbs of Birmingham is one of the few cities in the United States that has sixty-seven surrounding small towns and within those small towns or neighborhoods the majority of people live there not so much in the city anymore the metro area consist of over a million people not including the numbers of who lives with in the city still making it the biggest metro area in the state. We will never really loose that title because it's just so much more going on in Birmingham now and so much being built like more entertainment and eating spots sports bar and grilles stuff like that
There's so much wrong info in your message! Huntsville is bigger than Birmingham.
@@jojom6657 I count metro and all and by far Birmingham metro is still un touched in the state of Alabama. MT. Brook is literally in the city limits of Birmingham but don't claim as Birmingham the zoning hear is all messed up thats basically the only reason they say Birmingham is losing people. They are only counting the poverty areas of Birmingham for it's size not the whole city it's self
@@jojom6657bhams metro is 1.1 million and Huntsvilles is 500k
@@jojom6657 Lol. Huntsville is only bigger based on technicality. Nobody in their right mind would see Bham as 2nd or even 3rd largest city in the state. I've been to Huntsville many times, their downtown isn't even half the size of Bhams, and Bham isn't even a large downtown. Let these surrounding cities incorporate into Bham and no other city in Alabama would touch Bham population numbers for another 100 years.
@@jojom6657 you didn’t analyze what he was saying sir ! Not everyone done the census in Birmingham! Trust the population is way more than said ! But the Birmingham metro is 3 times as large as Huntsville. Birmingham metro Is 1.2 million and really you wouldn’t ever notice it being the 3rd largest city it will still feel like it’s the largest city regardless an the county that it’s in , is around 660,000 an that itself is stilll larger then the Huntsville metro ………….. Sir or ma’am 🫡
I noticed that whenever you mention a city's population decline, you just give the population within the city proper without including the entire metro area population. For example, Birmingham city has declined in population, but the entire metro area has actually been slowly rising year to year. ( 1,115,289 as of 2022) That trend is true for many cities as working class families choose to live in the outer burbs instead of inside the main city limits. So I feel that it can be a little misleading to give population numbers based solely on within the city proper.
The entire metro area is stagnant, because the City of Birmingham is stagnant. When the core city declines, that is not a good thing. Even while people move to the suburbs as a result. It may look like growth, but it isn't. It's simply a population shifting and they're building up new suburban areas as a result. Basically, replacing what they left behind in the inner city. Migration from other places outside of the Birmingham Metro area is what really grows and keeps cities vibrant. Like what Atlanta has managed to do over the last 50 years.
@@1TewBuMyShoethat’s just how things work. Dallas and Fort Worth as cities aren’t growing very much. But the metro population has exploded.
@@twinkjakdoomerwhy is it different in Florida cities like Tampa, St Pete, Miami where the downtown cores are growing?
We have the oldest baseball field in the country, Rickwood Field. Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and other legends have played there.
And one of the highly considered best ball parks (in major league and otherwise) in the world. Regions is a beautiful place to take in a game
@@fatpowerful I'm talking about Rickwood, not Regions Field the Barons are playing at now (you right about it tho) 🙂
@@c-dogg9188 I know about Rick wood.
So what?
Throughout the years Birmingham was being considered as a possible relocation candidate for NFL teams. It had an XFL team (2001) and multiple USFL teams (I have an opinion about the current USFL...) I believe Birmingham can still have a presence in professional sports, but it's gonna take considerable funding from an ownership group with deep pockets to bring such a team into town.
I can see b-ham taking a major team but at the same time I can’t. Because Alabama and auburn are still gonna be king. With most folks having a sour grapes view of pro sports.
You should give up drugs. Bham sucks always has and always will. its a shithole. I hate it here been here for 65 years.
@@fatpowerfulit wouldn't be different from any other state either MLS and college sports. Alabama citizens would adapt to the change at some point. The city would generate so much revenue. Hopefully Birmingham can pull something off like that once day.
the xfl team was thunderbolts and they sucked.
Atlanta and Birmingham were basically equal in 1960. At that point they spilt and pretty much every decision a city could make they both made the exact opposite choice. It’s like a real life example of how alternate universes work.
Especially the decisions around gambling and alcohol. Alabama is hard headed.
@@PrincessPowerUpnah that's not it, it was more so turning down the airport expansion, turning down the train system from the airport to downtown, road infrastructure, cutting back on public transit, breaking off into more and more suburbs. Division by salary....and racism.
Birmingham (and Alabama) held on tightly to racism. Atlanta (and Georgia) knew when it was over *and* that they had to do something for the people. There were still a lot of black people employed by GA government during segregation. And Atlanta very wisely diversified their economy early on.
@@drc3po
I can't disagree that Birmingham's South suburbs have a better quality of life than Atlanta's suburbs. I am a 46 year old life long suburban Atlantan and these days the quality of life is much greater in Birmingham's southern suburbs than Atlanta's northern suburbs. Atlanta is too congested. There is too much demographic transition because of rapid growth. Birmingham seems still completely southern and in a sophisticated manner. I'm speaking of those Southside suburbs, here, like Vestavia, Homewood, Hoover, and Mountain Brook. The Atlanta area is a patchwork quilt these days with southern areas still highly noticeable on the west, and south, and northwest parts of the metro, but it also has northern transplant dominated areas, heavy up the 400 corridor Then there are the immigrant dominated areas (Norcross, Chamblee) The lushness of the Birmingham area along with the greater elevation variation (even though the Atlanta area is at a higher elevation, it looks less so because Atlanta is in the Piedmont and Birmingham is the southern end of the Ridge and Valley) makes it very unique. If I ever had to leave the Atlanta area, I'd move to a place like Hoover or Vestavia Hills without questioning it.
@@drc3po
I've known how nice that area is ever since around the time my uncle moved to Vestavia from Lilburn, Georgia. He's recently passed, but his wife and one of his daughters (a cousin of mine) still live in the area.
A lot of people look at statistics for Birmingham and wrongly assume the whole region is like that. There is a big contrast between much of the area north of Red Mountain (Southside neighborhood is relatively nice and is an exception, as are Trussville and a few other areas on that side of town).
The way a friend explained the area is that Birmingham's Southside is comparable to Atlantas Northside, in terms of being the nicest sides of town. Whereas Atlantas Southside is more comparable to Birmingham's northside.
It beats Montgomery any day of the week.
Any place in Alabama would be better than Rhode Island.
@@davidlafleche1142 That's such an exaggeration, Rhode Island is not that bad lol
@@davidlafleche1142 Beaches, good seafood AND not sweating like one is on a chain gang... Rhode Island: 🙂 Montgomery: ☹️ The Redneck Riviera: 🫠
That's not saying much.
@@davidlafleche1142 Newport is lapping Gulf Shores in any competition of beach towns
Its still the largest, white flight and its a lotta Suburbs.... the Birmingham MSA is the 50th largest in the USA with over 1.2 million ppl
Spare me your "white flight" nonsense. Many people don't want the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Birmingham was just a sleepy Deep South nothing town. Found iron and steel than magically became a booming city. Hence the magic city. Was the Pittsburgh of the south. Than white flight and became a kind of sketchy place. But now though gentrification is becoming a big food spot and a bigger city for tourism. Because sports, food and history in the south.
I moved from Pittsburgh to birmingham lmao
The metro is more than double the size of any other city in Alabama. Jefferson county alone is bigger than Huntsville
That's so true I grew up in huntsville and Birmingham al and Birmingham is still larger then huntsville why they start saying this, now maybe huntsville is larger in business now but not size
@@MarcusRamos-f6fjus large in people not business
One of my favorite metro areas to visit. An epic terrain and downtown looks fabulous from afar at any time of day. Everyone owes it to themselves to put this gorgeous region on the bucket list and do some hiking at Oak Mountain State Park. It’s also centrally located without the usual downside of overwhelming traffic congestion’s that tends to come with that feature; direct connections to Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Tupelo, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and Chattanooga (Cloudland Canyon near I-59 must be seen to be believed), and Huntsville is just a very mild detour as well.
Always a pleasure to visit Birmingham.
Birmingham isn’t that bad. There’s a lot of nice areas all around Birmingham. You’re close to mountains, the beach, Nashville, Atlanta.
Close but no Cigar.
@@lettybastien4624 I don’t know how that saying applies but okay
I wouldnt call Atlanta nice. Even Nashville is looking rought but in Atlanta, the city is just falling apart.
@@thorgeirnable well have you ever been north of downtown?
@@Feelsbadman23I think the same thing because there is a lot of amazing places to visit and go!😊❤
I grew up in Birmingham in the 70's. When Richard Arrington was elected Mayor, that was it. Corruption and crime went through the roof. Nice neighbor hoods like Huffman, West End, Ensley, Center Point went to straight to Hell. White Flight to the surrounding areas like Hoover, Vestavia spread like wildfire. It's not safe to even drive through B'ham now.
black politicians are always insanely corrupt
I was born & raised in B'Ham. What happened to it was after the steel industry was governed out of business. Every time it tried to reinvent itself, certain elements started killing people & they quit coming downtown.
Crime in Southside....
Certain elements? Well, think of what was done to these elements by people like you.
Amanda Marshall wrote a great song called Birmingham. Great video. Love learning about parts of the USA I probably won’t get a chance to visit.
I had that awesome
Cd, by Amanda.
I'd say Randy Newman's "Birmingham" is a closer historical depiction of the town.
@@markbajek2541
Hmm,I should check
that out.
That Amanda Marshall song is absolutely fantastic and I loved seeing it on MTV/VH-1 back when they used to play music....but the song isn't actually about Birmingham...at least not directly.
Birmingham has a brighter future that is seems . While Atlanta is filled with big skyscrapers most of downtown is unwalkable and has little foot traffic . Most of downtown Atlanta has huge buildings but the architecture isn't appealing . Birmingham has new developments that will spread uptown northwards in a beautiful way . I think bham downtown is more real and healthy . Birmingham could've fell like Gary Indiana and almost did. Also u.s. steel underpaid their poor white and black workers and the local banks to give good loans to the blacks to build nice homes and once they cut the jobs crime took over Birmingham.
Nobody in their right mind that's been to Huntsville or Montgomery believe that there bigger than BHAM lol, it's over a million people in Birmingham metro probably closer to 1.3 million, it's 700,000 in Jefferson county alone, Huntsville barely has a downtown and a skyline, if Birmingham includes all these little cities that sandwich it in it probably would be 500,000 in Birmingham alone but this is just a city proper count which I still think is way off, but anybody whose drove around Birmingham knows it's still the top dog city in Alabama as far population and amenities
And one of the top 10 in the US in violent crime.
Lol! Huntsville outgrew Birmingham!!!
@@jojom6657Huntsville expands it's City limits every year as well. They went from 130 sq miles in the 80s to now having 221 sq mi worth of city limits. They're growing, but they're not RAPIDLY growing. Just expanding and building rapidly.
This is what happens when the people who built the city have had enough. They move and take their money and resources with them.
It was always gonna be a choice between Atlanta and Birmingham and Atlanta won the economic fight.
Birmingham didn't even try to compete.
@@markrichards6863more like they didn’t understand that had to make one specific shift in order to survive: Disband the White minority rule of the city. They fought it tooth and nail until almost the entire White middle and upper class left the city, leaving only a small Black middle class and a large amount of poor white and black residents. In doing so the hamstrung their own economy and they got walloped when US manufacturing started going overseas just like the Rust Belt. Atlanta too saw a steep decline in manufacturing, but their White and Black middle and upper class came to an agreement that they weren’t going to fight the inevitable and welcome Black leadership into government and business. This upset the lower class whites and they were the ones that left the city opening the door for middle class Blacks to move down in droves from the Northeast and Midwest. This seemingly small difference is literally why Metro Atlanta became a emerging world city of nearly 7 million residents with its finger on the pulse of popular culture and Birmingham wallowed in the mud of their stubbornness to move on. The good news though is that it seems Birmingham is finally getting it and hope they succeed. God know Alabama needs some help not becoming Florida or Mississippi 2.0.
@@markrichards6863exactly, if Bham would have fought, we would have won by default for the central location. Our higher ups just didn't want it or the attention. But instead, they invested in Atlanta while living here which is why there are so many rich suburbs in the Birmingham Metro.
In general, cities are measured by their "metropolitan statistical areas." Huntsville's MSA is about 490,000, while Birmingham's is over 1.1 million. Birmingham has a fairly small footprint, but there are many well populated cities spread all around the city. If anyone looked at downtown Huntsville, or the lack of much of one, it would be clear that it isn't the largest city in the state. It's a beautiful city, don't get me wrong. However, it doesn't compare in any way, shape or form to Birmingham.
Finally someone who actually understands
Can you please do a video on Utica NY?
That would be a good one. I left in 1982.
I lived in this city in 2002. It was GREAT back then. However, shady stuff and shady folks will keep me from going back. The Jewish community center in Mountain Brook is awful to their kitchen employees (non Jewish/primarily black). I worked with two women who'd used to work there (Virginia and Phyllis) at a downtown grocery store called V. Richard's. One of the ladies even told me that an old Jewish woman spit on her food that they'd served her once -- then said that she proceeded to tell them that she really wanted to spit in their face!! Also, a girl named Hannah Rose (last name withheld) that lived in an apartment complex where I live now (Florence, Alabama) told me that her sister was raped by the guy that owns (or owned) an airport shuttle transport company called Rosen Transportation when she was 9. Despite whatever the court said, I'm sure that's on legal record. It's horrible as hell, but it doesn't surprise me, really. I guess the truth of the matter is (joking aside, actually) that Rosen would rather molest/rape a girl like that (unrelated to him) rather than his own daughter, if he has one, that's pretty much gonna wind up in a loveless, sexless marriage for her own, other reasons.
Birmingham is still here and thriving
Except no water
@@grumbogee1772 tf u talking about
@@IamJWood you live under a rock?
@@grumbogee1772 its water all round this mfhka, tf is you talking about....hell its water in pipes too. this aint Flint
@@grumbogee1772 do you? Birmingham has water dummy
I love my city 😂❤️
Failure to diversify its economy has killed Birmingham's prospects.
They are pulling in telecommunications now. Seems to be helping a lot
Being in Alabama is what happened to Birmingham.
How insightful.
Except what happened to Birmingham has some degree happened to cities all over the country. It's prosperity didn't leave for other states. It left for the suburbs.
Found the most moronic comment
Outdated, tired, lame bigotry vomited by someone who is unable to locate the US on a map. Yawn….🥱🥱
Birmingham is a huge festering cancerous boil on the face of Alabama.
I love Birmingham. Not only is it a beautiful place to live with a top notch university/ medical school, but it has easily the best restaurants in the south and the most accessible airport. Try visiting before you critique.
It's a lot more involved than what is suggested. I can't remember why but years ago, businesses started moving to the 280 area. Then Hoover started growing. Centerpoint which was in Bham became it's own city. Hoover and other towns did a big land grab. Bham has no where to expand since it sits in a valley.
A lot of people are coming to Bham to open small business. It may not be able to grow but Bham offers some of the finest health care anywhere. 4:49
Why don’t you just tell the truth. It’s corrupt mismanagement. That’s why people move out. They are not stupid. They want safe neighborhoods to raise their families. Period!
Can you make a video about three rivers stadium
Mann birmingham looks horrible from when I lived there 15 years ago.they did finally fix the downtown area but the restof it needs major help. I grew up there went to bush and j.o.
U kno Sam tremble
I was born and raised there. I have a love/hate relationship towards the state. Bitter sweet memories
That place you can easily tell the poor areas vs the high income areas. Southside poor move towards Homewood it gets better
There are many cities in Alabama that once was big productive cities, but they all share a common thing that came into the cities, and then the crime rates went up and the cities started failing. Research the common factor. We've seen it happen in Montgomery over the last 4 years. Our homogeneous had tripled in the lady 4 years. We're becoming another Selma. I thought people learned from history but some keeps their eyes closed and history happens again in other cooties. Research the common factor in all the failing cities in Alabama.
racism, still alive and well down there
Say you didn’t watch the video without saying you didn’t watch the video.
You didn’t come here to learn you came to spread hate from a “moral high ground” you think you’re on because your skin pale😂
@@al99795racism is still alive and well all over the United States.
@@al99795 you people have been crying "racism" for SIXTY YEARS and still, nothing has been solved. All you did was introduce a certain dark problem into your own northern cities so you could fail just as badly as we did. Get over it and focus on reality so we can solve it.
I used to love coming to Birmingham to work.
My dad works at AmeriGas in Birmingham too.
Excellent!
More like what happened to Montgomery?! That place is the absolute pits now!! I say we move the Capital to B'ham or Huntsville!❤👏💯👍
I have been wanting the capital to be in Birmingham for forever bruh
@@Prod.Likidd4L B'ham was once the capital a long time time ago.
They’re talking about building a new statehouse. Call your state rep and Senator and tell them to move it somewhere other than Montgomery. Put it somewhere in east Alabama in the blackbelt if you want a solely economic play. Put it a bit south of Birmingham if you to make it more centrally located. Montgomery’s main selling point was that it was big enough to hone relatively easy to get to and stay in for the legislature while being small enough to be incapable of seriously influencing state politics. Now that it has grown it is not a good place to have the capital.
@@xaviergross4002 Só was Huntsville
@@xaviergross4002no it wasn't. We were never the Capitol. Tuscaloosa was at one point, Huntsville as well.
What happened? It got realllllly dark... The city of Centerpoint many years ago in the '50s was a nice place to live and then certain people move in and everything goes to crap and everybody's property levels go down and you start seeing homes with bars on the windows and life changes. I'm sorry to be so honest but it's the truth.
As in certain people you mean black people? Right? Lmao just say it my guy
@@itzkgt2919 I grew up in Eastlake & Woodlawn. I lived around mostly black and Mexican people. We were all poor so it's up to you to decide if it's because of race,crime ,or poverty. I lived there because the rent was cheaper since the place was a ghetto.
Memphis is predominantly black and it’s not like this. The video pretty much says that the racist is worse in the Deep South and the white community everywhere but especially Birmingham haven’t really made any attempts at reparations or trying to redeem themselves. Look at how it’s illegal to do a Nazi salute in Germany. Germany has done more to make amends than the U.S.A. That’s the real reason the population is shrinking in Birmingham. Nobody wants to be around all of this racial tension! If the white community in Birmingham had been more like Germany maybe it would be seen as a more welcoming place to live.
@@stephaniemarie4303 Yep.
@@OliviaJowersCrump428 being from there it's definitely a lot of racial tension. Most that not from there don't know it.
We the second largest city in Alabama!I'm from Birmingham
Most current census reports/estimates have it as the third largest in the state behind Huntsville & Montgomery. It looks as if it fell into third place over the last 2 years due to population decline.
That is only city limits. Metro area is number one and will be for at least twenty more years at current trends.
Birmingham ALMOST got the Patriots. In 1968, they were playing in Fenway Park, but kept having scheduling conflicts with the Red Sox. They had to arrange a "home" game at Legion Field. Alabama was prepared to build a new, football-only facility, totally free. Patriots owner Billy Sullivan said, "No, thanks, I want to stay in New England." He finally built Schaefer Stadium in 1971, for only $7 million, but at least it was his own money.
You is?
Not something I’d be proud of
I am 63, a native and find this misleading as being a Forgotten Place or in decline. This video is more accurate. Not mentioned in the video is other outstanding features that also bring revenue: The B'ham Zoo, B'ham Botanical Gardens, B'ham Museum of Art, Alabama Theater, Lyric Theater, Barber Motor Sports, and the list goes on. . . th-cam.com/video/e95Vk5eW7ys/w-d-xo.html
US Steel:
Revenue Increase US$20.275 billion (2021)[1]
Operating income Increase US$4.946 billion (2021)[1]
Net income Increase US$4.174 billion (2021)[1]
Total assets Increase US$17.816 billion (2021)[1]
Total equity Increase US$9.010 billion (2021)[1]
Number of employees 24,540[1] (2021)
Making a profit of 20 cents on the dollar is impressing for a company in the coal and steel sector.
Since October, Huntsville took 1 and Mobile took 2.
The lack of education outcomes and anti-science attitudes along with the resistance to change is the answer.
😂😂. Found the left wing fascist bigot.
Yes, a wonderful forgotten city from the past, no doubt. I suggest you take a leisurely walk downtown, say 5 points, around 9 or 10 at night. Forgotten place? Not by those who enjoyed it before it changed. But, you're welcome to enjoy it now and experience something you'll not soon forget. Take your children, your "partner" or, a camera to capture the essence of downtown Birmingham in the evening. Best wishes from an old friend.
Might have the best BBQ in the country Alabama
It's the law of the states that drives people away and business...
💯
I could tell you exactly what happened to Birmingham, but I’d get cancelled
Trumps not coming back 😂
@@kurisu3000looks like he is
This is so misleading and misinformed. As others have said, the Birmingham-Hoover MSA is still the major business center in the state and is growing.
the death of unions and middle class jobs that what happen and it coming to a state near u the gop way
Birmingham is a Democrat city; that's much more important than Alabama being a red state. Local politics supercedes state politics within a city
There's more people live in Jefferson County than Huntsville metro area.
fool, Bill Clinton signed NAFTA into law.
Think hard, junior....was Clinton a Democrat or a Republican?
I'll wait....
Democrats ruined birmingham
I'm surprised you made no mention of the once famous 'Heaviest Corner on Earth'.
I think Atlanta was the problem because of the decline.Because both are big cities but Atlanta is the biggest and it takes Birmingham’s dreams away from its hands. And I have been to Atlanta but I just faking that the fact is good.
I hope that changes again
If I told you what happened to Birmingham Alabama I'd be banned and called a racist. With that said you can figure out what happened to Birmingham.
There is still white flight with anyone over 65. But this is soon to change. Lived here my whole life. Decisions that were made in the past to not invest in public transportation and expanding the airport. That was part of it. Racism was a part. Then of course sending jobs elsewhere overseas. That hurt us. Not keeping up with the time when it comes to technology.
Aint no way Huntsville is bigger than Bham 🤦 Birmingham has 3 major interstates crossing it for a reason
I LOVE BIRMINGHAM. 205 4L❤
Still in the top 5 or 10 mirder capitals of the entiee country year after year
Wtf are you talking about Birmingham is booming right now especially after the world games 😂😂😂😂😂he literally showed a beautiful city that’s still the biggest in Alabama with sad music😂
Foreal he cappin like a mf😂
Huntsville is the biggest city. Birmingham has thebiggest metro area.
@@donkeysaurusrex7881 ok then that mean what u talking is obsolete until hv metro is bigger shut we don't wanna hear it ,and in the words of veezy Birmingham is the capitol of Alabama we got the motion in this state wtf is a Huntsville?.. .Big B'ham 205 shit .
@@dirtydirty5857 LOL
World Games didnt really help the city from what I heard
Aye this my birth place
I give it another 5 years and we gone be good
We have coke far over just the last couple of years
We are growing
They city limits is just losing people to the suburbs
Jefferson county is starting to boom
i live in alabama and i went to birmingham to go somewhere and there was a homeless guy living in the abandoned hospital who told me and my family about a shooting there was the night before and to be careful
🙄 and?
Existing is what happened to Birmingham Alabama 🤣😭😭🤣
I imagine if I had to live in Alabama, I'd only pick mobile
Mobile is quickly becoming the second homicide capital, thank goodness I live across the bay in Baldwin county. Fairhope is my little Hallmark home
@@chrisswank6846 I'm sure mobile is thankful your ass is far from it.
Sureeee please go live in Prichard 😂😂😂😂😂
You wouldn’t last a day in mobile that’s worse then Birmingham 😂
@@itzkgt2919my family lives there you runt
NHL should just include a newest hockey expansion team in in Birmingham, Alabama!❤🤍💙❤🤍💙🏟🏟🏟🏟🏟🏟🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒
What happened to Birmingham ALabama? It's in Alabama, the shame of the US.
Well "lil" whatever, bye a plane ticket and leave
@@bama2579
Gotcha. You're yet another right winger who cries and moans about free speech but wants to shut down other's free speech.
@@lilmsgs make your comment make sense
@@bama2579
Maybe you can get someone to help you understand a perfectly understandable comment.
😅
Great video!
ey this the place i live
Ever been to Alabama? Mississippi? Georgia (outside of the cities)? *That's* what happened to those states.
Explain please
GIDDY UP STALLIONS!!!
It's still there
Economic and cultural problems
Democrats happened to birmingham
When you elect the wrong people this is what happens.
We all know what happened.
Your voice is kind of sad. But it is only fitting with the subject.
say less 🥷🏽
Democrats!
Being in Alabama is what happened!?look you don't have to stay !better yet listen to lynrd skynrd sweet home alabama!the part where Neil young gets advice.
@@aleckazamproductions8139 maybe you shouldn't be there either my friend!you don't sit back&let people talk about where you ate from.
@@tommy6108 as a history teacher, I talked about where everyone is from everyday. It is called the right of speech. Everyone has an opinion. And I don't respect those who disrespect others for their beliefs. You sound highly ignorant, as is apparent from your perspective and lack of grammar. I dont mean to be disrespectful, but I found your comment highly disrespectful and worth of acknowledgment
@@tommy6108 When you react emotionally to outsiders putting your kind down for being supposedly "backwards", well, you're kind of proving their point. LS at least channeled their angst into words and got a southern rock anthem out of it.
@@scarpfish 538 north park place apt #5!either you ate a man or not!
One word BLACKS
desegregation. period.
Boohoo, can you still fit into your kkk costume?
It turned blue. It died!