Nestled at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Bessemer area is less than 15 miles from downtown Birmingham.  The city is bordered by Interstate 459 to the south and Interstate 20/59 to the northwest for commuting ease.  Although the city population is less than 30,000, more than 70,000 people live with a five-mile radius of Bessemer.  Residents enjoy well-developed municipal recreational facilities and services as well as regional attractions like the unspoiled natural beauty of West Jefferson County lakes and forests.  Complementing the city's jewels of Roosevelt Park and a well-developed YMCA, Oak Mountain State Park sprawls over nearly 10,000 acres just 15 miles to the southeast to offer horse stables, a golf course, lakeside shopping, and an amphitheater for entertainment and concerts.  Golfers can enjoy numerous nearby fairways, while families appreciate the exciting rides and waterpark thrills of Alabama Adventure Park.  Known as the "Marvel City," Bessemer enjoys a bright future as one of the nation's best business development sites.