Birmingham, Michigan - 48012

Photos courtesy of: Ken Huisjen
 

Birmingham is located in central, southeastern Oakland County. It was originally settled in 1819 by John Hunter and his sons. It received a post office in 1821 under the name Bloomfield, after the township. In 1836, a Roswell T. Merrill envisioned this area to have a successful industrial future and proposed re-naming it after Birmingham, England where the industrial revolution began. This was accepted in 1838 and the name was changed. It eventually incorporated into a village in 1864. This town later played a major role in the development of the auto industry and emerged into a highly successful business area, incorporating as a city in 1932.

Birmingham’s success has continued to the present, maintaining a wide variety of both large and small business. It’s unique downtown area is especially known for being one of the highest quality shopping areas in Michigan and the mid-western U.S.