News Summary
In a significant demographic shift, Birmingham has fallen to the third-largest city in Alabama, while Huntsville has emerged as the largest city. Huntsville gained around 4,100 residents, contrasting with Birmingham’s loss of over 29,000 residents. Mobile has also shown varied growth dynamics, despite recent challenges. Montgomery maintains a minor population decline but is optimistic about future growth due to new business developments. The trends indicate an urban-rural divide, with urban populations prospering and rural areas continuing to see declines.
Alabama’s Population Landscape Shifts: Birmingham Drops to Third, Huntsville Leads Growth
In a significant demographic shift, Birmingham has fallen from the title of largest city in Alabama to the third-largest, according to a recent report from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA). The city of Huntsville has taken over as the largest city in the state, buoyed by a notable increase in population, while other cities such as Mobile have seen varied growth trends.
Huntsville has experienced a surge in its population, gaining approximately 4,100 new residents, solidifying its position as the leading urban center in Alabama. This growth contrasts sharply with Birmingham, which saw a decrease of over 29,000 residents between 2023 and 2024, showing a stark decline that has prompted discussions about urban development and housing challenges.
Mobile, meanwhile, has made headlines for its ongoing population dynamics. The city recently benefited from the annexation of several neighborhoods, which increased its population count to nearly 210,000 from less than 190,000 in 2020. However, Mobile still faced challenges, including a loss of 500 residents in the last year alone. The city’s mayor indicated that the declining population can be attributed to the aging housing stock, limited development areas, and urban blight.
In the capital city of Montgomery, there was only a minor decrease of 289 residents during the same period. The mayor has expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the PARCA figures and is advocating for a mid-decade census to gain a clearer understanding of the city’s population trends. Montgomery has witnessed positive developments with new business expansions and investments, contributing to job creation that may enhance its population stability.
In the context of broader trends across Alabama, Brookside, located in Jefferson County, emerged as the fastest-growing city with a 13% increase from 2023 to 2024. Other cities experiencing population growth include Madison and Foley in Baldwin County—each adding just over 3,000 residents—and Athens, which gained just over 1,600 residents. The urban areas surrounding Birmingham, Huntsville, and the coastal regions are currently thriving, indicating a migration toward cities that offer more economic opportunities.
Conversely, rural counties, especially in the Black Belt, show a persistent decline in population, highlighting a concerning disparity in growth between urban and rural areas. This trend may have implications for housing, infrastructure needs, and job opportunities across the state, as urban areas are increasingly populated while rural regions continue to experience depopulation.
Overall, the data from PARCA indicates a significant shift in Alabama’s population dynamics, with Huntsville evidently leading the charge in urban growth while Birmingham faces mounting challenges that warrant attention. The ongoing shifts in population trends will likely continue to shape the state’s economic landscape and community planning efforts in the coming years.
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Additional Resources
- Alabama Reflector: Huntsville’s Population Climbing
- AL.com: Fastest Growing Counties in Alabama
- Gulf Coast Media: Alabama’s Growth After 205 Years
- Wikipedia: Demographics of Alabama
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Alabama
