'''Birmingham''' er en by og storbyområde i [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]], der har et estimeret indbyggertal påmed {{WD indbyg1/år/text|ref=ja}} indbyggere, hvilket gør det til den næststørste by i [[Storbritannien]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Planning-and-Regeneration%2FPageLayout&cid=1223096353755&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FWrapper |title=Population and Census |publisher=Birmingham City Council |date=7 July 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126101950/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Planning-and-Regeneration%2FPageLayout&cid=1223096353755&pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FWrapper |archivedate=26 November 2015 |deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref name="ONS-2001-2011_census">{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-england-and-wales---unrounded-figures-for-the-data-published-16-july-2012/rft-1-2-ew-fact-file.xls|title=2011 Census: Population and household estimates fact file, unrounded estimates, local authorities in England and Wales (Excel sheet 708Kb)|accessdate=30 December 2013|date=24 September 2012|format=xls|publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref><ref name="BUA2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx|title=2011 Census – Built-up areas| work= | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] | accessdate=4 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="BrookingsMetroEconomy">{{cite web|url=http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/global-metro-monitor-3 |title=Global MetroMonitor |accessdate=23 December 2013 |last1=Istrate |first1=Emilia |last2=Nadeau |first2=Carey Anne |date=November 2012 |place=Washington, DC |publisher=The Brookings Institution |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6H7Jql2A9?url=http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/global-metro-monitor-3 |archivedate=4 June 2013}}</ref> Den er centrum for [[West Midlands konurbation]], som er det tredje mest befolkede område i Storbritannien med en estimeret population på 2.440.986 i 2011.<ref name="BUAR2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx|title=2011 Census - Built-up areas| work= | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] | accessdate=4 July 2013}}</ref> The wider [[List of metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom|Birmingham metropolitan area]] is the second largest in the United Kingdom, with a population of 3.7 million. Birmingham is frequently referred to as the second city of England.<ref>{{cite web |title=England’s second city: Birmingham |url=http://www.britain-magazine.com/carousel/birmingham-englands-second-city/ |publisher=Britain Magazine |accessdate=11 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nation’s ‘second city’, Birmingham, is UK’s fastest growing regional tourist destination, according to figures |url=http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-3287741/Nation-s-second-city-Birmingham-UK-s-fastest-growing-regional-tourist-destination-according-figures.html |publisher=This is Money |accessdate=11 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=An ode to Birmingham: how can the UK's second city fix its image problem? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/12/ode-to-birmingham-britain-second-city |publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=11 June 2018}}</ref>
Det er en [[købstad]] fra [[middelalderen]], men særligt i 1700-tallet og under den efterfølgende [[industrielle revolution]] skete der en stor udvikling inden for både videnskab, teknologi og økonomi i byen, der producerede en række innovation, der lagde grundstenene til det moderne [[industrisamfund]].<ref name="indsoc">{{harvnb|Uglow|2011|pp=iv, 860–861}}; {{harvnb|Jones|2008|pp=14, 19, 71, 82–83, 231–232}}</ref> I 1791 blev den hyldet som "den første produktionsby i verden".<ref>{{harvnb|Hopkins|1989|p=26}}</ref> Birminghams særlige økonomiske profil, med tusindvis af små virksomheder, der udførte en lang række højt specialiserede erhverv medførte en enorm mængde kreativitet og innovation, hvilket gav byen et økonomisk boost der fortsatte helt frem til den sidste fjerdel af 1900-tallet. [[Watt-dampmaskine]] blev opfundet i Birmingham.<ref>{{harvnb|Berg|1991|pp=174, 184}}; {{cite book|last=Jacobs|first=Jane|title=The economy of cities|year=1969|publisher=Random House|location=New York|oclc=5585|pages=86–89}}</ref>
