Timeline of Birmingham, Alabama

19th century

1871

Birmingham founded and incorporated.

Robert Henley becomes mayor.

1873

Birmingham becomes seat of Jefferson County.

First Colored Baptist Church founded.

Cholera epidemic.

1874 - Birmingham Iron Age newspaper in publication.

1880 - Population: 3,086.

1881 - Alabama Christian Advocate newspaper begins publication.

1882

Sloss Furnace begins operating.

O'Brien's Opera House opens.

1887 - Howard College active in East Lake.

1888 - Evening News and Birmingham Age-Herald newspapers in publication.

1890

Population: 26,178.

Labor Advocate newspaper begins publication.

1891 - Birmingham Commercial Club incorporated.

1893

Cathedral of Saint Paul built.

St. Mark's School opens.

1895

Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company headquarters relocated to Birmingham.

Birmingham Conservatory of Music established.

1896 - Spencer Business College established.

1900s-1950s

1900 - Population: 38,415.

1901 - March 25: Storm.

1907

Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company acquired by United States Steel Corporation.

Miles Memorial College active in nearby Fairfield.

1909

City expands to include Ensley, North Birmingham, Pratt City, Woodlawn.

Birmingham Terminal Station and Empire Building constructed.

1910 - Population: 132,685.

1912 - John Hand Building constructed.

1913 - City Federal Building constructed.

1916

October 18: 1916 Irondale earthquake.

Robert E. Lee Klan No.1 formed.

1917 - Civitan Club founded.

1918 - Birmingham–Southern College established.

1919 - Alabama Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs formed in Birmingham.

1920

Progressive Farmer magazine headquartered in Birmingham.

Population: 178,806.

1923 - Traffic lights installed.

1924 - Avondale Sun newspaper begins publication.

1927 - Alabama Theatre opens.

1928 - Exchange-Security Bank established.

1929 - Thomas Jefferson Hotel built.

1930

Southern Worker newspaper begins publication.

Population: 259,678.

1933 - Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union active.

1936

Local Steel Workers Organizing Committee formed.

Vulcan statue erected atop Red Mountain.

1940 - Population: 267,583.

1942 - Birmingham Historical Society founded.

1950

Birmingham Post-Herald newspaper in publication.

Population: 326,037.

1955 - Birmingham Zoo established.

1956

Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights headquartered in Birmingham.

Alabama Symphony Orchestra active.

1958 - EBSCO Industries in business.

1959 - West End Hills Missionary Baptist Church built.

1960s-1990s

1960

Eastwood Mall in business.

Population: 340,887.

1961 - First Baptist Church, Kingston built.

1962 - Two North Twentieth built.

1963

April 3: Birmingham campaign for civil rights begins.

April 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. writes Letter from Birmingham Jail.

May: Birmingham riot of 1963.

September 15: 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens open.

1965

Airport Drive-In cinema opens.

Southern Museum of Flight established.

1966 - Southern Living magazine headquartered in Birmingham.

1970

Daniel Building constructed.

Population: 300,910.

1971 - First Alabama Bancshares headquartered in city.

1972 - South Central Bell Building and First National-Southern Natural Building built.

1975 - Birmingham Vulcans football team formed.

1979 - Richard Arrington, Jr. becomes mayor.

1980 - Population: 284,413.

1982

Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and Bama 6 cinema open.

Sister city agreement established with Hitachi, Japan.

1986 - South Trust Tower built.

1988 - AmSouth-Harbert Plaza (hi-rise) built.

1990

Birmingham Islamic Society formed.

Population: 265,968.

1992 - Birmingham Civil Rights Institute established.

1993

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame opens.

Spencer Bachus becomes U.S. representative for Alabama's 6th congressional district.

1995 - Sister city agreement established with Székesfehérvár, Hungary.

1996

City website online (approximate date).

Sister city agreement established with Anshan, China.

1997 - Sister city agreement established with Gweru, Zimbabwe.

1998

April 6–9, 1998 tornado outbreak.

Establishment of sister city agreement with Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples, Italy, and friendship city agreements with Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, and Maebashi, Japan.

1999 - Friendship city agreement established with Krasnodon, Ukraine.

21st century

2000 - Population: 242,840.

2003 - Sister city agreement established with Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

2005

Birmingham Post-Herald newspaper ceases publication.

Locust Fork News-Journal begins publication.

Sister city agreements established with Al-Karak, Jordan; Guédiawaye, Senegal; Plzeň, Czech Republic; and Rosh HaAyin, Israel.

2009 - Sister city agreement established with Winneba, Ghana.

2010

William A. Bell becomes mayor.

Population: 212,237.

2011 - Terri Sewell becomes U.S. representative for Alabama's 7th congressional district.

2015

Minimum wage approved in city.

Sister city agreement established with Liverpool, England.