Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England standing on the small River Rea. It is the largest and most populous British city outside London, with a population of 1,101,360 in 2014.
A medium-sized market town in the medieval period, Birmingham grew to international prominence in the 18th century at the heart of the Midlands Enlightenment and subsequent Industrial Revolution, which saw the town at the forefront of worldwide advances in science, technology, and economic development, producing a series of innovations that laid many of the foundations of modern industrial society. From the summer of 1940 to the spring of 1943, Birmingham was bombed heavily by the German Luftwaffe in what is known as the Birmingham Blitz. The damage done to the citys infrastructure, in addition to a deliberate policy of demolition and new building by planners, led to extensive demolition and redevelopment in subsequent decades.
Today Birminghams economy is dominated by the service sector. Birmingham is the fourth-most visited city in the UK by foreign visitors.
Birminghams sporting heritage can be felt worldwide, with the concept of the Football League and tennis both originating from the city. Its most successful football club Aston Villa has won seven league titles and one European Cup with the other professional club being Birmingham City.
People from Birmingham are called Brummies, a term derived from the citys nickname of Brum. This originates from the citys dialect name, Brummagem, which may in turn have been derived from one of the citys earlier names, Bromwicham. There is a distinctive Brummie accent and dialect.

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