Metro Counties
Birmingham – Hoover Metropolitan Area
With a population of 1,103,474, the Birmingham – Hoover Metropolitan Area is the largest population and economic center in Alabama. The seven-county region ranks as the 47th largest metropolitan area in the United States and the 12th largest population center in the 11-state Southeastern region.
Serving as Alabama’s transportation hub, Birmingham benefits from its central location in the Southeast and one of the most comprehensively developed interstate transportation networks in the United States. Five interstate highways serve the region: I-65, I-20, I-59, I-22 (completion in 2010) and I-459. Serving more than 3.2-million passengers in 2007, Birmingham International is the largest airport in Alabama.
Positioned at the center of Alabama’s most densely populated region, the metropolitan core is easily accessible to a 14-county workforce recruitment region consisting of a 1.7-million population base, a workforce population of more than 820,000 and a post secondary student population of more than 90,000. Birmingham – Hoover’s vast workforce recruitment region has given rise to one of the most economically diverse metropolitan economies in the United States.
Economic Highlights
- Birmingham – Hoover is among the largest Southeastern locations for corporate headquarters and regional corporate operation functions. The region serves as the location for a large cluster of companies representing: finance and insurance, healthcare management, utilities, construction and natural resource.
- UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) anchors the region’s Medical and Life Sciences component and was the recipient of $435.7-million in grants and contract awards during 2007. More than 70% of Alabama’s biotechnology related companies are clustered in Birmingham – Hoover.
- The region’s comprehensive interstate transportation network and central proximity in the Southeastern United States have created logistical advantages for major distribution facilities, such as: Office Max, Home Depot and Sysco Food Services.
- Birmingham is located at the center of the nation’s fastest growing automotive manufacturing region. Mercedes Benz and Honda have major automotive manufacturing facilities in the Birmingham – Hoover region. Ten automotive manufacturing facilities are located within a two hour drive of downtown Birmingham.
Overview
2007 Population |
1,103,474 | |
2007 Households |
440,039 | |
2007 Age Composition |
||
| Age 0 to 4 | 7% | |
| Age 5 to 9 | 6% | |
| Age 10 to 14 | 7% | |
| Age 15 to 17 | 4% | |
| Age 18 to 20 | 4% | |
| Age 21 to 24 | 5% | |
| Age 25 to 34 | 14% | |
| Age 35 to 44 | 14% | |
| Age 45 to 49 | 8% | |
| Age 50 to 54 | 7% | |
| Age 55 to 59 | 6% | |
| Age 60 to 64 | 5% | |
| Age 65 to 74 | 7% | |
| Age 75 to 84 | 4% | |
| Age 85 and over | 2% | |
| Source: Claritas | ||
2007 Household Income |
||
| 2007 Average | $63,343 | |
| 2000 Average | $52,052 | |
| 00 to 07 Percent Change | 22% | |
| 2007 Median | $46,456 | |
| 2000 Median | $38,528 | |
| 00 to 07 Percent Change | 21% | |
2007 Workforce |
Numeric | Percentage |
| 2007 Estimated population Age 25 and Over |
740,540 | 100% |
| Less than 9th grade | 48,814 | 7% |
| Some High School, no diploma | 105,151 | 14% |
| High School Graduate (or GED) | 213,369 | 29% |
| Some College, no degree | 160,043 | 22% |
| Associate Degree | 40,794 | 6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 112,923 | 15% |
| Master's Degree | 38,648 | 5% |
| Professional School Degree | 14,920 | 2% |
| Doctorate Degree | 5,878 | 1% |
2007 Employment |
Numeric | Percentage |
| Retail Trade | 116,175 | 19% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate | 47,959 | 8% |
| Services | 246,045 | 40% |
| Hotels & other lodging | 5,258 | 1% |
| Personal services | 19,132 | 3% |
| Business services | 35,875 | 6% |
| Motion pictures & Amusement | 9,377 | 2% |
| Health services | 76,153 | 12% |
| Legal services | 9,107 | 1% |
| Educational services | 42,591 | 7% |
| Social services | 15,258 | 2% |
| Other Services | 33,294 | 5% |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | 5,333 | 1% |
| Resource Extraction | 2,252 | 0% |
| Construction | 32,615 | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 63,170 | 10% |
| Transport/Communication, Utilities | 37,756 | 6% |
| Wholesale Trade | 31,191 | 5% |
| Government | 36,297 | 6% |
| Total Employment | 618,793 | 100% |
Largest Employers |
Employees | |
| 1. University of Alabama at Birmingham | 18,750 | |
| 2. AT&T | 5,485 | |
| 3. Regions Bank | 5,000 | |
| 4. Birmingham Board of Education | 5,000 | |
| 5. City of Birmingham | 4,989 | |
| 6. Jefferson County Board of Education | 4,800 | |
| 7. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama | 4,500 | |
| 8. Baptist Health Systems | 4,000 | |
| 9. Mercedes Benz U.S. International | 4,000 | |
| 10. Jefferson County Commission | 3,875 | |
| 11. Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. | 3,477 | |
| 12. Shelby County Board of Education | 3,290 | |
| 13. Children's Health System | 3,200 | |
| 14. Wachovia | 3,094 | |
| 15. Alabama Power Company | 3,000 | |
| 16. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama | 3,000 | |
| 17. University of Alabama Health Services Foundation |
2,800 | |
| 18. St. Vincent's Hospital | 2,800 | |
| 19. U.S. Postal Service | 2,800 | |
| 20. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (former Compass Bank) |
2,696 |
| Source: Michael Shattuck (MDB) using EDPA Claritas statistics |