Birmingham--Cities across the country are attempting to remain relevant in a society that's become increasingly focused on suburbs. The two are caught in a struggle over population, as residents flee urban cores for the 'burbs. And Birmingham is no exception. The Magic City has been losing population since the 1960's with no sign of stopping. That's bad news for a city that would like to regain its standing as a "jewel of the south". Rosemary Pennington has our first story in a week-long series called "Birmingham: The Urban Divide".

-- Rosemary Pennington, August 27, 2007