Birmingham Named All-America City for 2013 (VIDEO)

For the first time in 43 years, Birmingham was named an All-America City by the National Civic League. The Magic City joins nine other cities from around the United States to be selected for this honor. This marks the first Alabama city to be selected since Tuscaloosa-Northport was chosen in 2002.

From the award's website, here is the criteria for being one of the ten cities honored each year:

The National Civic League recognizes ten communities each year for outstanding civic accomplishments. To win, each community must demonstrate innovation, inclusiveness, civic engagement, and cross sector collaboration by describing successful efforts to address pressing local challenges.

 

More than 600 communities have won the award, some as many as five times. All-America Cities have shown the ability to innovate in such areas as job creation, neighborhood revitalization, crime reduction, new housing for low income people, improving education, and engaging youth.

Birmingham's only other win came in 1970. Six cities in the state of Alabama have been named an All-America City since the award was created in 1949. Here are the complete list of state winners:

Anniston - 1977-78
Birmingham - 1970, 2013
Gadsden - 1991
Phoenix City - 1955
Mobile - 1995
Tuscaloosa-Northport - 2002

Watch Birmingham's Video Submission

Watch the Award Presentation for Birmingham