Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Metropolitan Area

Encyclopedia : B : BI : BIR : Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Metropolitan Area

Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area

The Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area sometimes known as Greater Birmingham, is made up of 8 counties in Central Alabama.  According to the 2000 U.S. Census, officially designated as the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, AL CSA, it has a population of 1,129,721 inhabitants.  The 2005 Census estimate puts the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman CSA at 1,170,012.  The statistical area consists of the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan statistical area and the Cullman micropolitan area.  It is the 48th largest population sub-region in the United States, and the largest population region in Alabama constituting roughly 1/4th of the state's population.  Nearby counties Tuscaloosa, Etowah, Talladega, and Calhoun, though not officially a part of Greater Birmingham, contribute significantly to the region's economy.

Contents

1 Counties
2 Cities

2.1 Primary Cities
2.2 Suburbs with more than 10,000 inhabitants
2.3 Suburbs with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

3 Commerce

3.1 Major employers in the Greater Birmingham area

4 Transportation

4.1 Mass Transit

5 Shopping

5.1 Major shopping centers
5.2 Other shopping areas

6 External links

Counties

Cities

Primary Cities

Suburbs with more than 10,000 inhabitants

Suburbs with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

Commerce

The economy of Greater Birmingham is the most diversified of any other metropolitan area in Alabama. Many of the region's major employers are located in Birmingham and Jefferson County. The economy of Birmingham ranges from the service industry to banking and finance to health related technological research to 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 Saks Incorporated, parent company of Parisian and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Major employers in the Greater Birmingham area

Accenture
Alabama Power
AmSouth Bancorporation (now part of Regions Financial Corporation)
BellSouth
Bruno's Supermarkets
Compass Bancshares
Drummond Company
EBSCO Industries
Energen
HealthSouth
Liberty National Life Insurance Co. (now owned by Torchmark)
McWane Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation
Royal Cup Coffee, Inc.
Saks Incorporated (parent company of Parisian and Saks Fifth Avenue)
Southern Research Institute
Sloss Industries
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vulcan Materials Company
Wachovia (formerly SouthTrust)

Transportation

According to a recent study, Greater Birmingham has more roadways than most other US metropolitan areas. It is located at the convergence of the 3 interstate highways: Interstate 20, Interstate 59, Interstate 65, and Interstate 459, which creates a southern belt around Birmingham, U.S. Highway 31 and U.S. Highway 280, which converges into the Elton B. Stephens Expressway (Red Mountain Expressway). Interstate 22, also known as Corridor X, is currently under construction and set to be complete by 2010 with many portions opening to traffic prior to full completion. There are also plans on board to complete the beltway around Birmingham, the Northern Beltline, which as be set to complete by 2025. The Birmingham International Airport is the primary airport for the region's air travellers.

Mass Transit

Birmingham is served by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority through the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus system.However, BJCTA has been direly underfunded partly because Alabama's constitution limits the ability of local governments to tax citizens. Birmingham is served by the [Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority] through the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus system.

Birmingham's mass transit system, such as it is, exemplifies the reluctance of the citizens of Alabama to support an areawide public mass transit system. A 1956 amendment to the state's constitution requires that all gas taxes be used for highway construction rather than public transit. As a result, the sprawling city, which once boasted the second-largest streetcar system in the United States, now ranks among the leading cities for automobile use (and routinely fails to meet air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.)

The US Congress, with the urging of Senator Richard C. Shelby granted $87 million to help fund a regional multi-faceted mass transit system. The county and state have let many deadlines for 20% matching funds pass, and little visible progress is being made toward adequate transit services.

Shopping

Greater Birmingham is home to the largest and most affluent shopping centers and malls in Alabama. Many of the retailers have their exclusive Alabama location in the area. Birmingham is the only city in Alabama that currently has 2 Macy's stores and no Dillard's stores.

Major shopping centers

Riverchase Galleria is the largest mixed use project in the Southeastern United States, and also Alabama's and Greater Birmingham's largest shopping center. Riverchase Galleria, locally called "The Galleria", has the world's longest skylight with 200 specialty shops and restaurants with major anchors include JCPenney, Parisian, Belk, Macy's, and Sears. The Galleria is located in Hoover.
The Summit is the world's first lifestyle center. The open-air shopping center started a concept that has made owner Bayer Properties world-renowned. It is home to Alabama's only Saks Fifth Avenue, the only one between Atlanta and New Orleans. Other anchors include Parisian, Old Navy, and a 16-screen movie theater.
Colonial Brookwood Village originally called Brookwood Village this 2-level mall was one of the first shopping centers built outside of the Birmingham proper. This shopping center has recently been renovated so that it would have a main-street appeal to its facade. Its anchors include Parisian and Macy's and some 70+ shops and restaurants.
Patton Creek is a 600,000 square foot (56,000 m²) open-air shopping center home to many of the area's only locations such as Dick's Sporting Goods and DSW and includes a 15-screen Rave movie theater. It is located in Hoover behind the Riverchase Galleria.

Other shopping areas

AmSouth-Harbert Promenade is home to the Parisian flagship store and few other shops and restaurants. Located at the foot of the AmSouth-Harbert Plaza office building in Downtown Birmingham.
Century Plaza is a 2-level shopping center home to 100 stores and restaurants located in the Eastwood area of Birmingham with the anchors of JCPenney, Belk, and Sears.
Western Hills Mall is a single-level shopping center anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter located in Fairfield. There is also a free-standing Sears nearby.
[Watermark Place] is home to 30 distinctive outlet stores with stores like Tommy Hilfiger Out to Westpoint Stevens Outlet. Located in Bessemer near Visionland.
Falls at Grants Mills under development
Pinnacle at Tutwiler Farms under construction (will be open in early 2007)
Colonial Promenade Alabaster under construction

External links

[Region 2020, a co-operative that involves many of the counties in Greater Birmingham]

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