| On a world map the co-ordinates for the city | | | | rivers flowing through Birmingham; the River |
| of Birmingham are 52o 28' latitude north and | | | | Cole which flows across the south to |
| longitude 1o 53' west. Birmingham is a | | | | north-east of the city; the River Rea, which |
| metropolitan borough of the West Midlands and | | | | flows from the south west into the River Tame |
| a unitary authority in its own right. | | | | north of the city centre. The River Tame |
| However, it also still retains historic links | | | | flows west to east across the city and |
| with the counties of; Warwickshire, | | | | eventually flows into the River Trent at |
| Worcestershire and Shropshire to which its | | | | Alrewas. None of the rivers passing through |
| suburbs once belonged. The population of | | | | Birmingham are navigable by boat. |
| Birmingham exceeds 1 million people making it | | | | |
| the second largest city in the country; the | | | | The climate in Birmingham is typical of |
| population of the West Midlands conurbation | | | | England being a temperate one. With most of |
| is almost 2,300,000. Birmingham city covers | | | | its weather systems arriving on the |
| an area of some 26,700 hectare giving it a | | | | prevailing westerly winds, the average |
| population density of around 38 per hectare, | | | | temperature in January is 30C and July it is |
| which is slightly less crowded than many | | | | 150C. On average Birmingham receives less |
| other major UK cities. | | | | than 750ml of rainfall a year which, being |
| | | | relatively close to the Welsh hills and |
| Artefacts dating back to Roman and even the | | | | mountains, much of the rain being carried by |
| Bronze Age establish that there have been | | | | the prevailing winds is deposited over Wales |
| settlements in and around Birmingham for a | | | | before reaching Birmingham. The average |
| long time. Before it became a heavily | | | | expectancy of rain in Birmingham is about 175 |
| industrialised city Birmingham would have | | | | days a year. The temperature in January is |
| grown and developed by the aggregation of | | | | lower than might be expected for a city in |
| small farming hamlets, probably centred on | | | | the midland of England. This is because the |
| areas close to the River Rea. The surface | | | | city is centrally located in the landmass and |
| geology of Birmingham is sandstone, mudstone | | | | so does not benefit from the blanket effect |
| and a pebbly silty clay that would have been | | | | of the North Atlantic Drift. |
| deposited at the time the glaciers retreated | | | | |
| during the ice age. By and large the surface | | | | House prices in Birmingham vary across the |
| geology is rarely more than 10m thick. The | | | | city dependant on the suburb in which they |
| dominant bedrock in Birmingham is the red | | | | are located. Traditionally the two most |
| mudstones and sandstones that were laid down | | | | expensive areas have been Edgbaston and |
| during the Permian and Triassic eras, roughly | | | | Sutton Coldfield. The suburb of Harbourne is |
| 290 to 250 million years ago. | | | | seen as an up and coming area for young |
| | | | professionals being close to the city centre, |
| To the west of the city there are | | | | the university and the main Birmingham |
| Carboniferous coal measure deposits and rocks | | | | Hospitals. Houses in Bournville, especially |
| dating back to the Silurian era. Of | | | | those that are part of the Bournville Village |
| significance here is the area known as Wrens | | | | Trust, are also much sought after. The |
| Nest, Dudley, which is a site of exceptional | | | | overall average price for a house in |
| importance for Lower Silurian limestone. In | | | | Birmingham is 155,000 GBP. |
| 2002 Birmingham was hit with the Uks biggest | | | | |
| earthquake in a decade, measuring 4.8 on the | | | | The average price of a four bed roomed |
| Richter scale the epicentre of it was in | | | | detached house is the same as the national |
| Dudley which sits on a major fault line. | | | | average at 320,000 GBP which is higher than |
| Birmingham also sits on a fault line running | | | | the regional price of 275,000 GBP. A three |
| south-west to north east through the city. | | | | bed-room semi-detached house is 160,000 GBP, |
| | | | below the national average of 185,000 GBP but |
| Once sitting on the northern edge of the | | | | some 5% above the regional average. A two |
| Forest of Arden and surrounded by woodland, | | | | bed-room terraced house in Birmingham |
| timber was the traditional building material. | | | | typically costs 130,000 GBP, about 7% higher |
| With sand and gravel deposits and limestone | | | | than regionally and 10% higher than the |
| nearby the use of mortar mixes and concrete | | | | national average. At over 130,000 GBP for a 2 |
| was also common. Ever since they could be | | | | bed-roomed flat, Birmingham is around the |
| mass produced, bricks and plain baked clay | | | | national average price, but again higher than |
| tiles have subsequently been used in | | | | the regional average. |
| buildings. | | | | |
| | | | Whilst there are 43 major suburbs, the city |
| Geographically Birmingham sits on the | | | | council for Birmingham has 40 electoral wards |
| Birmingham Plateau which is generally 150 to | | | | which each return 3 councillors. The city is |
| 200 metres above sea level. However, the | | | | divided into 10 electoral constituencies to |
| Lickey Hills in the extreme south west of the | | | | return Members of Parliament. |
| city rise to 285m. There are three main | | | | |