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Birmingham is a metropolitan borough and city located in the West Midlands, England. Birmingham is often considered to be the second city of the United Kingdom, and is the largest of England's core cities. The city has an estimated population of 1,006,500 in 2006. During the period of the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham was known as "the workshop of the world" by many, or an alternative name of "the city of a thousand trades". The importance of Birmingham in industrial terms has largely decreased over the years, however, the city is still officially the third best place in the United Kingdom to operate a business and, the 21st best in Europe.
The early history of Birmingham began in the 6th century as an Anglo-Saxon hamlet on the banks of the River Rea. Birmingham was first recorded in written supplements of the Domesday Book of 1086. During the 17th Century, Birmingham had transformed from a small village into a market town, now playing a significant role in manufacturing small arms, mostly concentrated in an area of Birmingham called the "Gun Quarter".
Birmingham is located directly west of central England, lying on higher ground — at least 150 metres above sea level. The climate of Birmingham varies, there have a small number of recorded tornadoes. Temperatures in Birmingham are that of variation, with temperatures reaching just above freezing in the winter months, and 20oC in the summer months.