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The Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Metropolitan Area also 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 CMSA, has a population of 1,129,721 inhabitants. The metopolitan area consists of the Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan statistical area and the Cullman micropolitan area. It is the 48th largest metropolitan area in the United States according to the 2000 U.S. Census. It is the largest of the all metropolitan regions in Alabama.
Counties
Cities
Primary Cities
Suburbs with more than 10,000 inhabitants
Suburbs with less than 10,000 inhabitants
Commerce
The economy of Greater Birmingham is very diversified compared to any other metropolitan area in Alabama. The many of the region's major employers are located in Birmingham and Jefferson County. The economy of Birmingham has 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, McRae's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other corporations with headquarters in the Greater Birmingham area includes:
- Alabama Power
- AmSouth Bancorp
- Bruno's Supermarkets
- Compass Bancorp
- EBSCO Industries, Inc.
- Energen
- HealthSouth Corp.
- Liberty National Life Insurance Co. (now owned by Torchmark)
- McWane Corporation
- Regions Bancorp
- Royal Cup Coffee, Inc.
- Southern Research Institute
- Sloss Industries
- Vulcan Materials
Transportation
According to a recent study, Greater Birmingham has more roadways than most other US metropolitan areas. It is located a the convergence of the 3 interstate highways: Interstate 20, Interstate 59, and Interstate 65. Other major freeways that located in the area includes 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 2006. There are also plans on board to complete the beltway around Birmingham, the Northern Beltline, which as be set to complete by 2025.
Shopping
Greater Birmingham is home to largest and most affluent shopping centers and malls in Alabama. Many of the retailers have their exclusive Alabama location in the area.
Major shopping centers
- Riverchase Galleria is 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 resturants with major anchors include JCPenney, McRae's, Parisian, Proffitt's, Rich's-Macy's, and Sears. The Galleria is located in Hoover.
- The Summit Shopping Mall is the world's first lifestyle center. The open-air shopping center started a concept that has made owner Bayer Properties world-reknowned. This center to home to many retailers that aren't found anywhere else in Alabama or even neighboring Tennessee and Mississippi. It is also home to the 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 (http://www.coloniabrookwoodvillage.com) originally called Brookwood Village this 2-level mall was one 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 Rich's-Macy's and some 70+ shops and restaurants.
Other shopping areas
- AmSouth-Harbert Promenade is home to the Parisian (http://www.parisian.com) flagship store and few other shops and restaurants. Located at the foot of the AmSouth-Harbert Plaza office building.
- Century Plazais (http://www.centuryplaza.com) a 2-level shopping center home to 100 stores and restuarants located in the Eastwood area of Birmingham with the anchors of JCPenney, McRae's, and Sears.
- Patton Creek Center is a 600,000 square foot (56,000 m²) open-air shopping center home to many area's only location like Galyan's and DSW with a 15-screen movie theater. Located in Hoover behind the Riverchase Galleria.
- Western Hills Mall (http://www.westernhillsmall.com) is a single-level shopping center located in Fairfield with anchors of JCPenney and Parisian. Also a free-standing Sears is nearby.
- Watermark Place (http://www.watermarkoutlets.com) is home to 30 distinctive outlet stores with stores like Tommy Hilfiger Out to Westpoint Stevens Outlet. Located in Bessemer near Visionland.
External Links
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