The Birmingham Times
1871 –City of Birmingham founded; now the state’s most populous city, Birmingham was founded at the crossing of two rail lines near one of the world’s richest deposits of minerals.
1873 Birmingham becomes seat of Jefferson County.
–First Colored Baptist Church founded. Birmingham particularly hard hit by cholera due to the lack of urban infrastructure and the poor housing conditions. At least 128 people died from cholera, which struck in the height of summer and persisted for several weeks. The outbreak caused about half of Birmingham’s 4,000 residents to flee.
1874 – Birmingham Iron Age newspaper in publication.
Sloss Furnaces. (Birmingham, Ala. Public Library Archives)
One in an occasional series about Birmingham’s 150th anniversary
From a very rough beginning 150 years ago, Birmingham smoothed out and became a world-class city.
Founded on June 1, 1871, by real estate promoters who sold lots near the planned crossing of the Alabama and Chattanooga and South and North railroads, Birmingham was incorporated on Dec. 19, 1871.
The site of the railroad crossing was notable for the nearby deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone the three principal raw materials used in making steel. Birmingham is the only place worldwide where significant amounts of all three minerals can be found in such close proximity.
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Huntsville Physician Named President of State Medical Association Posted
Submitted
Huntsville physician Aruna Thotakura Arora, M.D., M.P.H., was named president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama during the Association’s Annual Meeting and Business Session in April. Dr. Arora previously served the Association as President-Elect.
“The Association welcomes Dr. Arora’s continued service to the Board of Censors as President,” Executive Director Mark Jackson said. “Her medical experience, as well as her civic-mindedness and sense of compassion brings a strong perspective to the Board. It has been a genuine pleasure getting to know and work with such a leader in the medical community.”