These numbers might help.
As a self-trained demographer and one who has lived in both BR and Jackson as well as in Alabama, this info might help. Birmingham is on a higher level then both Baton Rouge and Jackson and it should be. B'ham is ranked in a different population category and is consequently a bigger city. B'ham is considered a "big" city by SMSA standards while BR and Jack. are considered "medium-sized" cities. B'ham's population (proper) peaked at about 350,000 in the late '70s but has seen a steady decline to aboout 240,000 (about 65 % black) today. Its metro population stands at about 907,000 and includes Jefferson and several surrounding counties, including the bustling suburb of Hoover. Of the three cities, only BR is growing. BR's population has grown to 219,000 (51% black) but its metro population, which includes East & West Baton Rouge parishes as well as Ascension & one other parish, has balloned to 673,000. Jackson's population has declined from a igh of 203,000 in 1990 to its present pop. of about 182,000 (85% black) today. Jackson's metro pop., which includes Hinds, Rankin, Madison, and Richland, stands at 450,000, and has seen little growth in the last 20 years.
B'ham failed to keep pace with its sister cities of Atlanta, New Orleans, Memphis, and Jacksonville in the seventies and found itself lagging behind. That is precisely the reason some consider it along with cities such as Jackson and Baton Rouge and not with cities such as Atlanta and New Orleans. Even Nashville and Charlotte have far surpassed B'ham in the new millenium. B'ham has lost so much ground, it may never catch up with the afore-mentioned "big cities." And if it is not careful, cities such as BR is makng ground on it and may overtake it. Just look at the populatons! I used to live in Huntsville. Huntsville was a nice city but was extremely boring.