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