Bessemer, AL

Located in the Appalachian Mountain foothills in Jefferson County, Bessemer is situated along a vital business corridor that stretches northeast to Birmingham and southwest to Tuscaloosa. The population of Bessemer is approximately 30,000.

Originally named Brooklyn, the city was renamed Bessemer in honor of Sir Henry Bessemer, a British scientist famous for his contribution to steel-making technology. During the nineteenth century, Bessemer was a leading steel producer, thanks to the abundance of iron ore, coal, and limestone in the region. Bessemer grew quickly during the decades following its incorporation in 1889, and the steel industry remained the backbone of the economy until well into the twentieth century. Bessemer's early importance as an industrial center earned it the nickname "The Marvel City," which is still used today.

The city's economy reached its nadir in the 1980s, when decreases in resources led to a major manufacturing slowdown. In recent decades, however, city planners have successfully reorganized Bessemer's economy, taking advantage of its power supplies and transport network to establish incubator programs for small businesses.

Two airports serve the city: Bessemer Airport, within city limits, and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, just five miles from town.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Light manufacturing, new retail developments, and a small-business incubator program keep the economy thriving in Bessemer. The largest employer is Bessemer Carraway Medical Center. Another major employer, Atlanta-based Mueller Water Products, Inc., operates a manufacturing facility on the north side.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Downtown Bessemer is a National Historical District, with many buildings dating back to the 1800s.

FAMILY FUN

• Bessemer is home to the popular Alabama Adventure, an amusement park comprised of a theme park, Magic City USA, and Splash Beach water park. The park features rides, slides, pools, and theaters.
• The Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge is a nature preserve created to protect the watercress darter, an endangered fish found only in the nearby Black Warrior River.
• WaterMark Place Outlet Center is a premier outlet shopping destination located near Alabama Adventure.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Bright Star restaurant opened in 1907, and is Alabama's oldest eating establishment. Acclaimed for its Greek-inspired cuisine, this popular spot is located in downtown Bessemer.
• Visitors can relive Bessemer's history through photographs, machinery, and books at the Bessemer Hall of History Museum, housed in a historic downtown building dating from 1916.
• Sixteen blocks of downtown Bessemer have been designated as a nationally registered historic location. West Jefferson County Historical Society operates three pioneer homes: Sadler Home, Owen Plantation House, and McAdory Plantation House.

EDUCATION

Lawson State Community College is Bessemer's only higher learning institution, but several colleges and universities are nearby, including:

• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Samford University
• Birmingham-Southern College
• Jefferson State Community College
• Southeastern Bible College
• University of Montevallo

LOCAL MEDIA

Two weekly newspapers serve Bessemer residents: The Western Tribune and The Western Star. These papers cover the area known as the "Bessemer Cutoff," which includes the city of Bessemer, as well as neighboring communities in Jefferson County such as Hueytown and Midfield. The Birmingham News also prints a daily newspaper for Bessemer residents, with a weekly section devoted to news from the Bessemer area.

Bessemer residents have access to a full radio and television lineup from the Birmingham broadcast market. WZGX (1450 AM), a bilingual station that broadcasts local high school football games, is the sole radio station operating within Bessemer. Television station WDBB Channel 21 (CW network) transmits from Bessemer.

DID YOU KNOW?

Several notables call Bessemer their hometown:

• NFL players such as Kerry Rhodes, Earl Cochran, Jr. ("Baby Earl"), and Corey White, as well as legendary NFL and MLB star Bo Jackson.
• Professor Alex Bradford (1927-1978), the talented gospel composer, singer, arranger, and choir director, who influenced artists such as Little Richard and Ray Charles. He also helped introduce the modern mass choir movement in gospel.
• Mildred Brown (1915-1989), an African-American journalist, newspaper publisher, and civil rights leader, was born in Bessemer. She and her husband were the founders of the Omaha Star, a leading newspaper for the African-American community of Omaha, Nebraska.
• Matilda the Chicken (1990-2006), a fourteen-ounce hen believed to be the longest living chicken in history.