Birmingham

Birmingham 1940

City heavily bombed in ww2

Birmingham 1970

Declining in manufacturing in city

Job losses reach 50,000 during deindustrialisation

Birmingham 2000s-2010s

Regeneration of city center including Bullring and Brindley Place

Birmingham 2023

City council declared bankruptcy

Birmingham population

1,144,990

Changing demographics: Birmingham median age

34

Lower than England of 40

Cultural characteristics: Birmingham ethnicity

White 48.6%

Asian 31%

Black 11%

Mixed 4%

Socio Econmic change

Representation in Birmingham

Birmingham Roller poem- dialect and her vivid descriptions evoke the sights, sounds, and rhythms of Birmingham, adding an element of local color. Explores identity and working class experience

Peaky Blinders- portrays Birmingham as a place of squalor but also community and respect. Sites across the UK were used for filming, including many Birmingham local areas such as the Black Country Museum. The show brought a temporary influx of tourism to Birmingham, with a 2.5% increase in numbers. However, historians at the UOB have criticized it Peaky Blinders for mythologizing history

Street art of Black Sabbath by N4T4- Artists such as Gent48 and Annatomix often use key social themes in the art such as COVID, the cost-of-living crisis and current events in Ukraine. Many artists also relate to Birmingham’s industrial past, gaining inspiration for historic manufacturing

Lived experience: Resident Satisfaction

Birmingham – 70% satisfied with local area compared to UK – 80% satisfied with local area

• City Centre – 65%-70% satisfied

• Sutton Coldfield – 80% satisfied

• Aston and Ladywood – 50-60%

Changing demographics: Infant Mortality

Birmingham: 7 per 1,000

UK: 3.9 per 1,000

Changing demographics: Crime rate

City center: 350 per 1,000

Aston: 250 per 1,000

Edbagston: 218 per 1,00

Changing demographics: Life expectancy

City center 79

Sutton 84

Aston 72

Cultural characteristics: Religion

Christian 34%

Muslim 29.9%

No religion 24.1%

Lived experience in Birmimgham past

Since 1920, Birmingham city centre has undergone social and economic changes. In the early 20th century, Birmingham was a hub for manufacturing in the automotive and metalworking industries. The rise of factories and workshops provided stable employment, particularly for working-class communities, but also led to poor living conditions in industrial areas like Digbeth and the Jewelry Quarter.​

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Post-World War II, the city faced significant economic challenges, with the decline of traditional industries and high unemployment. The 1970s and 1980s saw efforts to regenerate the city, notably through the construction of the Bull Ring shopping centre in 1964, which revitalized retail and tourism. This period marked a shift toward a service-based economy, with the rise of banking, education, and technology sectors.​

Lived experience in Birmimgham present

In recent decades, Birmingham has transformed into a vibrant cultural and educational centre. The construction of modern landmarks like the Library of Birmingham (2013) and the redevelopment of areas such as the Custard Factory has bolstered its reputation as a creative city. The influx of international businesses and a growing student population, particularly from the University of Birmingham, have reshaped its social fabric, making it more diverse and cosmopolitan.​

Lived experience: Gentrification

In Birmingham, areas like Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth, Moseley, and Balsall Heath have been significantly gentrified, with rising property values and increased investment in infrastructure. This has brought new businesses, cafes, and cultural spaces, boosting the local economy. However, gentrification has also led to the displacement of long-term residents, as higher rents and property prices make areas less affordable for lower-income families.

Changing demographics: poverty rate

Birmingham 37%

West Midlands 27%