Birmingham

Its numerous canals - there are more in Birmingham than in Venice - are now principally used for pleasure, having in former times carried factory goods and raw materials.

The city probably derives its name from the de Bermingham family, lords of the manor of Birmingham from 1150, who in 1166 were granted royal leave to trade and hold a market. Records show that, as early as 1538, the town was already producing knives, tools and nails and in 1639 began to manufacture arms, supplying the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War (1642-46). It was also Birmingham where, between 1774 and 1800, Matthew Boulton and James Watt perfected the design of the steam engine. This, together with exploitable coal and iron deposits near at hand, accounts more than anything for the city's early rise to industrial pre-eminence. From the end of the 18th century onwards Birmingham experienced a huge upsurge of economic activity; the Industrial Revolution saw it grow into England's principal center of commerce and industry, with much the largest concentration of factories.

Its prosperity was based on the engineering, steel (more particularly British Steel) and motor industries, the latter originating with Herbert Austin's factory in 1905 and continuing with British Leyland and now the Rover group. The city also has long manufacturing traditions in armaments, jewelry and foods. The recent history of the legendary "smithy of England", home of Cadbury's chocolate, luxury Jaguar cars and the Austin Mini Cooper, has been one of recurrent economic crisis.

The highly impressive International Convention Center, opened in 1991, symbolizes present efforts to revitalize the economy by introducing new forms of industry, especially those in the service sector capable of rapid growth.
Birmingham is home to many national and religious festivals as well as Europe's second-largest St Patrick's Day Parade.