Birmingham is located in
Jefferson County and it is the county seat. The city lies between
Montgomery and
Decatur along Interstate Highway 65, which puts the city in the
Birmingham, Alabama metro area, on the banks of the Cahaba River. Birmingham experiences an average temperature of 62 degrees and an average yearly rainfall of about 52 inches.
Founded in 1871 at the crossing of two railroad lines, the city became the South's foremost iron and steel industrial center. Birmingham suffered terribly in the Depression but after World War II the city grew moderately. Birmingham's iron and steel mills were gradually replaced by a work force of medical and engineering professionals. Today, Birmingham reflects a balance of manufacturing and service-oriented jobs.
Some of the areas to visit are the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Theater in the Historic District and the Birmingham Museum of Art. "Vulcan", the country's largest cast-iron statue, stands on Red Mountain overlooking the city.