Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Birmingham, Alabama
State Alabama
City Birmingham*
County1 Jefferson*
City Population (2005)2 222,154 5.0 % of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 55 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Montgomery
State Population (2005)2 4,442,558
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Bernard Kincaid
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.informationbirmingham.com/mayor/mayor.htm
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 205-254-2277
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 6, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06 No
State Governor Name Bob Riley
State/Governor Website http://www.alabama.gov/portal/index.jsp
State/Governor Contact Information 334-242-7100
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.39    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 19.8%    
     Disability Status 27.6% 72  
     Emphysema 1.33% 63  
     Cardiovascular Disease 26.20% 64  
     Diabetes 5.56% 64  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.55% 61  
     Adult Asthma 8.89% 51  
     Adult Obesity 23.4%   45
     People Without Health Insurance 14.4%   29
     Age: Children under 5 years 6.8% 22  
     Age: 65 years and over 13.5% 63  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 38.0% 64  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 24.5% 13  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 44.6% 31  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 11.8% 62  
     Individuals Below Poverty 24.7% 63  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 35.4% 65  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 42.1% 17  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 4.7% 2  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 4.0    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 41.7 (of 51) 60  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 97,004,749 pounds   40
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 518,266,522 pounds 50
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 461,489,237 pounds 51
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,134,308,512 pounds 47
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 788,493,365 pounds 39
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 1,032.9 grams 49
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.037 tons per person 27
Recycling Rate (1997) 23.0% 30
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 6,996,344 tons 31
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.5 tons/person 40
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 591,608 tons 32
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 8.5% 41
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 2.8% 22
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 44.7% 35
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -63.0% 43
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    4.1***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 448,200 tons   39
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 161,600 tons   40
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 87,234,100 tons   40
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 5,360.0 pounds   43
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 8.0 days 38  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 15.5 PM2.5 66  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 17.3 PM2.5 55  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 5.8 days 36  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 8.7 PM2.5 61  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 17.5 PM2.5 57  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 5 ppm 57  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 57 ug/m3 61  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.006 ppm 38  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 11 days 25  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.8***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Locust ---  
# of Units in Watershed (Not Available) (Not Available)  
# of Assessed Watershed Units (Not Available) (Not Available)  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened (Not Available) 1  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed (Not Available) 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 54.58 inches 4  
Water Area Total, square miles 1,486 square miles 35  
Water Area Inland, square miles 968 square miles 38  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 519 square miles 13  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Mobile ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 57 years 27  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 122 days 19  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Mobile ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 56 years 29  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 0.4 inches 49  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 7,100,000,000 gallons/day 40  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,670,000,000 gallons/day 19  
Ground water, gallons/day 445,000,000 gallons/day 51  
Surface water, gallons/day 6,650,000,000 gallons/day 38  
Irrigation, gallons/day 139,000,000 gallons/day 47  
Public Supply, gallons/day 875,000,000 gallons/day 30  
Industrial, gallons/day 753,000,000 gallons/day 23  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 5,200,000,000 gallons/day 33  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 532,000,000 gallons/day 47  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Birmingham Water Board ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 585,000 people 32  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 11 contaminants 15  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 2 contaminants 16  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 6 contaminants 18  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 5 contaminants 17  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 39  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 5 contaminants 18  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 11 contaminants 15  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 117 contaminants 30  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 101 contaminants 32  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 16 contaminants 31  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score) 3.3    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 1,619.7 people per square mile 64  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 746.6 housing units per square mile 60  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 23.5 minutes 40  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 23.5 minutes 49  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 15.8% 15  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 2.6% 47  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 2.5% 46  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 1.2% 71  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 97.6 18  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 97.4 MV registrations   44
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 47.3%   33
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 39.9 MV registrations   10
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.20 MV registrations   30
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 94,434 miles   33
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.423%   29
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 22.2%   24
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.03 miles   30
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 21.81 miles   30
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,572,000,000   26
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $16,647 per mile   15
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 56.9%   29
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 14.0 hours per person 11  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $242 per person 12  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $165,000,000 9  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 10 gallons per person 15  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $26,735 70  
Median Household Income (2000) $26,735 70  
Per capita income (2004) $15,663 67  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $15,663 65  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 20.9% 62  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 24.7% 65  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 24.7% 63  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.4% 23  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 35.4% 65  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 12,522 people 18  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 7.4% 63  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 11.8% 62  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 6.3% 65  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 10.8% 65  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 14.7% 25  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 8.5% 25  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) No Minimum Wage Law ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 44,243 kids (1.0% of total pop.) 53  
Largest School District Enrollment 37,843 kids (0.9% of total pop.) 50  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 42.1% 17  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 55.4% 38  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 75.5% 60  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 18.5% 67  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 38% 64  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Ahead of the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 98,782 units 54  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 53.7% 16  
Cost of Living: Housing 45.4 2  
Cost of Living: Utilities 99.4 30  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 101.8 45  
Cost of Living: Overall 79.1 4  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 57.31%   40
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 48.70%   24
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 61.60%   14
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 29.0%   30
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 9,547.1 incidents per 100,000 people 65  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,369.2 incidents per 100,000 people 60  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 8,177.9 incidents per 100,000 people 65  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 9,543.5 incidents per 100,000 people 64  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    2.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 54.4% 4  
Total City Urbanized Area % 39.1% 8  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.4    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.55% 61
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.89% 51
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.24% 61
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.33% 63
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 26.20% 64
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.56% 64  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 23.4% 45
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 10.2% 39
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) >25% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 13.0% 31
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 9.1% 45
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 207.3 41
Cost of Living: Health 92.9 11  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 13.8% 24
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 14.4% 29
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 4.3% 40
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.6% 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 5 farms 49
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 2 markets 61
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 2 restaurants 19
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 0 grocery stores 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 1 other source 45
Cost of Living: Food 94.6 11
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 90.5% 62
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 39.7% 28
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.9***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 11.9%   12
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 47 years 32
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 60% 19
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.8 mph 33
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10.1 mph 23
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 6.9 mph 48
Heating Degree Days 1,702 days 9
Cooling Degree Days 2,627 days 55
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 36 years 38
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 87% 54
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 59% 35
Elevation, feet 614 feet 42
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 222,154 55 (of 72 in EDN study) 5.0 % of state population
City Population (2000) 242,820 55 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 4,442,558 23 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region South ---  
EPA Region 4 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 150.0 square miles 30 0.3 % of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 50,750 square miles 28  
Watershed Name Locust ---  
Elevation, feet 614 ft. (186.8 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 42.6°F (5.9°C) 27
Average Daily Temperature - July 80.2°F (26.8°C) 48  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 34.3 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 75.0% 25  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 13.5% 9  
Under 5 years of age 16,564 kids (6.8% of total pop.) 54  
One Race-White % (2005) 22.0% 68  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 78.0% 5  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 2.9% 63  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 4.7% 71  
Largest School District Name Birmingham City ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network