Birmingham, Alabama: The Best City to Live In

Money magazine recently listed the best places to live in America. Noticeably absent is one of the gems of the South, Birmingham, Alabama. The largest city in Alabama at just over a million citizens, Birmingham occupies the Jonas Valley in the foothills of the Appalachian mountain chain. This location, combined with hot summers, cool and rainy springs, fantastic fall colors, and chilly winters, makes for an amazing home.

History

Birmingham was founded in 1871, just after the Civil War, as an industrial center for the South. The name was chosen to honor Birmingham, England as the sister city in the United Kingdom was also a center for industry. The Alabama city soon acquired the nicknames, the "Magic City" or the "Pittsburgh of the South" because of its amazing growth in the iron and steel industries.

During the 1960's Civil Rights Movement, Birmingham saw much of the action including bombings, sit-ins, and protests. Within a decade of the movement, the South saw Birmingham elect its first African-American mayor, Dr. Richard Arrington Jr. Today, you can visit the Birmingham Civil Rights museum for even more of the rich history.

Birmingham today is a bustling city, attracting even more industries such as banking. Regions Financial, one of the Fortune 500 companies, relocated their headquarters here. Birmingham is rated one of the top banking centers in the United States.

Churches and Neighborhoods

I will admit it. I had a top ten list of places I never wanted to live. Alabama ranked #2 on my no-go list. Of course, this was where my husband was transferred.

And now, I love it! After my husband quit his former job, we decided to stay and open our own business in Birmingham. We fell in love with the area and the people. This truly has a small community feel with big city amenities.

Birmingham has a lot of diversity, not just in the people, but the neighborhoods. You can live close to the center of town, but feel like you are still in the country. You can live on the top of the mountain overlooking the bustling valley or you can live next to the river. You can live in the downtown areas or suburbs. Whatever living situation you enjoy, you most likely can find here.

This is also the Bible belt, so you will find a plethora of churches. You can find just the right congregation for your family, no matter what size or affiliation you are looking for.

You cannot talk about Birmingham without including a very popular area, Hoover. Hoover is home to the Riverchase Galleria, one of the largest malls in the area, and MTV's "Two-a-Days" football team. Hoover has several wonderful neighborhoods with decent prices. If you are looking for mega-churches, some of the larger congregations are located here. Hunter Street Baptist Church, with a large property near the Galleria and membership upwards of 5,000, is in Hoover.

Mountain Brook is a wealthy suburb and you can find some of the best public schools in the area within this community. Housing prices can be steep due to deed restrictions and location, however. Bordering Mountain Brook by I-459 is one of the nicest shopping centers in the city, The Summit. The Summit is home to high-end stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and boutiques.

Vestavia Hills borders Mountain Brook and you get a lot of the same amenities. Close to shopping and business, Vestavia is also home to wonderful medical facilities including a cancer center and Brookwood Hospital.

For those who desire a more rural atmosphere, Trussville is an up-and-coming suburb of Birmingham. Located near the airport, this small community is just beginning to be developed. Homes and neighborhoods cost less currently but are still close to major interstates and city amenities.

Shades Mountain is another area of Birmingham that encapsulates not only stunning views from the mountain, but also excellent churches and schools. Shades Mountain Christian School is rated one of the best Christian schools in the area and the associated church, Shades Mountain Independent, has one of the warmest welcoming congregations. If you are looking for a church that makes you think outside of the box and still has godly values, look no further.

There are certainly a great number of other suburbs not mentioned in this article that are wonderful communities. One thing you find that is consistent in Birmingham is the warmth of the people. Southern hospitality is alive and well in this city.

Education

One of my biggest concerns in moving to Alabama was the report of poor education. Alabama as a whole does not score high in the U.S. for education but in Birmingham, you will find a pocket of excellent schools. The best schools in the state, and some are the best in the United States, are found here.

As I mentioned previously, some of the best public school districts include, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Hoover, and Indian Springs. The Christian schools on the top lists are Homewood Christian, Briarwood, and Shades Mountain Christian.

Colleges and universities abound in Birmingham. It is home to the University of Alabama (UAB) and the medical school associated with it, Samford University, Birmingham Southern College, Southeastern Bible College, and many more.

Activities

Having lived all over the South and in parts of the North and West, I can safely say Birmingham is my favorite city for activities. There is something for everyone.

The Birmingham Zoo is a must-see on a visitor's list and for residents, it is a membership must. For more about the zoo, see my article: The Birmingham Zoo: A Great Family Place.

Vulcan Park houses Birmingham's famous statue (the largest iron statue in the world) and museum.

If culture is more your speed, Birmingham is home to the Birmingham Ballet, Alabama Symphony and the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC). The BJCC hosts many productions including Broadway shows and concerts.

Located near the BJCC is the McWane Science Center. This is a wonderful museum of hands-on experiments for kids and adults.

Oak Mountain State Park has horseback riding trails, camping, barn and stables, lake and boating, swimming, hiking and biking trails, a treetop trail with caged birds, animal rehabilitation center and much more.

Golf courses abound and Birmingham is home to the Regions Charity Classic.

Birmingham is close to a number of lakes including Smith Lake where you can enjoy waterskiing, boating, and swimming.

Proximity to a number of major southern cities makes living in Birmingham ideal. Nashville, Atlanta, Memphis, and the gulf coast cities of Orange Beach, Destin, et cetera, are all within a three hour driving distance and you can appreciate the amenities without having to go far.

Birmingham has so much to offer people of all ages. With all the big city amenities, this "Magic City" still holds the warmth of the South. No wonder so many stay!

For more information see:
http://www.birminghamal.org/
http://www.birminghamzoo.com/
http://www.mcwane.org/
http://www.bbgardens.org/
http://www.800alabama.com/areas-to-visit/alabama-metro-areas/city.cfm?cityid=22
http://www.thesummitonline.com/birmingham/
http://www.birminghamballet.com/
http://www.alabamasymphony.org/
http://www.bjcc.org/
http://www.visitvulcan.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham,_Alabama