About Birmingham 

Roads 

I75 is the main freeway that runs North and South through Oakland County and to all points in northern Michigan. M-59 runs East and West through the county. Other major thoroughfares in Birmingham are Woodward Ave (runs north to Pontiac, the Oakland County seat, and south through many suburbs to Detroit), and 14 Mile Rd., W. Maple Rd., and W. Big Beaver Rd that all run east and west through the city. 

Distances Between Cities 

Birmingham is 8 miles from Rochester Hills, 5 miles from Troy, 16 miles from Lake Orion, and only 3 miles from Bloomfield Hills. Detroit is 17 miles away. Birmingham neighbors Royal Oak and Bloomfield Hills and is less than 8 miles from Pontiac. 

Airports 

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is 23 miles away and is the largest international airport in the area. Flint Bishop International Airport is approximately 40 miles away. Detroit City Airport is approximately 14 miles away. Oakland County International Airport in 13 miles away; Oakland/Troy Airport is another public use airport in the area.  

Terrain 

Birmingham is a beautiful city with many acres of parks and open space. Most neighborhoods are lined with mature trees. The downtown area near Maple Rd. and Woodward Avenue has some high-rises giving Birmingham its own skyline. 

The River Rouge is a tributary of the Detroit River that runs through the city of Birmingham. Quarton Lake in Birmingham surrounding by parkland. 

Birmingham has an area of almost 5 square miles of which .21 square miles is water. 

Population and Other Statistics 

The population of Birmingham is 19,291, with 9,131 households and 5,076 families residing in the city.  

The median household income in Birmingham is $80.861 as compared to $42,000 nation wide (2000 census).

Jobs 

Occupations of residents in Birmingham: Management, professional 63%;
Service occupations 4.6%; Sales and office occupations 25.4%; Construction, maintenance 3.8%; and Production, transportation 2.4%. 

Industries providing employment are Construction 4.2%; Manufacturing 16.1%; Wholesale trade 5.1%; Retail trade 9.2%; Information 4%; Finance, insurance; real estate 10.4%; Professional, scientific, management, administrative 23.4%; Educational, health and social services 17.3%; and Arts, entertainment, recreation 4.4%. 

Unemployment is very low in Birmingham at 1.6%. The mean travel time to work is 22 minutes (2000 census). 

Birmingham residents are highly educated with 38% of the population having a bachelor’s degree and 30% with a graduate degree. 

Birmingham is located near the World Headquarters of Daimler Chrysler and situated within commutable distance from Automation Alley, a concentration of automotive, computer-based, and research focused companies.

Colleges/Universities 

The Birmingham Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit college in Birmingham. 

Colleges and universities near Birmingham include Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills and an enrollment of 11,634, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield with an enrollment of 2,479, University of Phoenix-Detroit Campus in Troy with an enrollment of 2.090, and Oakland University in Rochester Hills with an enrollment of 11.424. 

Housing 

Birmingham is an affluent, family-oriented city with a great downtown shopping and walking district. The community feels like a small town but has all the cultural benefits of an urban area. There is always lots going on in the city of Birmingham for all ages. 

Birmingham has beautiful parks and top-rated schools. The average home value in Birmingham is $505,881. Condos and townhomes, and apartments (some in high-rises) are also available in Birmingham. The median rental price is $1,029. 

Historic Sites 

The Birmingham Historical Museum features The John West Hunter House (1822) and the Allen House (1928) that sit side-by-side in the beautiful John West Hunter Historical Park near downtown Birmingham. 

The Derby Street Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge it noteworthy for its innovative false-arch design. It was built in 1930. 

Interesting Facts 

Birmingham has been called home by actor David Spade, actress Christine Lahti, actor/comedian Tim Allen, actor/director Mike Binder, and folk singer Noel “Paul Stookey. 

Birmingham was named after Birmingham, England, the birthplace of the industrial revolution. In the early 1830’s, Birmingham was as established has a center of industry with founderies, tanneries and blacksmiths. Most of these were gone by the 1860’s. 

Downtown Birmingham boasts a lively downtown district with one of the Midwest’s best shopping districts. 

CityScapes is an outdoor sculpture program which solicits professional sculptors to lend their work for temporary display in public areas within the City of Birmingham. 

Birmingham has been named in the top 20 “Most Walkable Communities." 

Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf 

Birmingham is a beautiful city with many parks. The two major bodies of water in Birmingham both have parks adjacent or around them --- Quarton Lake Park is on Quarton Lake and Booth Park is on the Rouge River in Birmingham. 

Birmingham has a system of interconnecting park trails that include the River Rouge trails, Booth trail, Willits trail and Hawthorn trail. 

Golf Courses in Birmingham include Birmingham Country Club, Lincoln Hills and Springdale Golf Course. 

The City of Birmingham also has an Ice Sports Arena, outdoor skate park and tennis courts. Dogs off leashes are welcome at the Springdale Dog Park. 

Special Events 

The Woodward Dream Cruise is an annual summer event that draws car-lovers from far and wide. Vintage autos are displayed in a festive atmosphere while driving up and down the Woodward Avenue strip. 

Birmingham hosts “In the Park”, a concert series in June through August in Shain Park. 

An important arts organization, the Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Association has grown into a thriving art center, offering classes for all ages, tours and workshops in the visual arts. The works of famous and emerging artists are exhibited and affordable art and fine crafts are available for rent or purchase. Annually, the Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Awards are presented at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. 

Birmingham Farmers Market is held In July through October in the Gallery District. 

Annual Birmingham "Hay Day" is held at the Birmingham Historical Museum.