Madison County, Alabama

Madison County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 334,811, making it the third-most populous county in Alabama.[3] Its county seat is Huntsville.[4] The county is named in honor of James Madison,[5] fourth President of the United States and the first President to visit the state of Alabama. Madison County covers parts of the former Decatur County.

Madison County
U.S. county
Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°45′57″N 86°33′28″W
Country United States
State Alabama
FoundedDecember 13, 1808[1]
Named forJames Madison
SeatHuntsville
Largest cityHuntsville
Government
 • Commission ChairmanDale W. Strong[2]
Area
 • Total813 sq mi (2,110 km2)
 • Land802 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total334,811
 • Estimate 
(2019)
372,909
 • Density410/sq mi (160/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.madisoncountyal.gov
 
  • County Number 47 on Alabama Licence Plates

Madison County is included in the Huntsville, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Madison County was established on December 13, 1808 by the governor of the Mississippi Territory.[1] It is recognized as the "birthplace" of Alabama, which was founded there on December 14, 1819. For much of the county's history, the economy revolved mainly around agriculture. Madison County was one of the largest cotton-producing counties in the state, and textile mills operated around the county.

In 1950, a group of German rocket scientists, led by Wernher von Braun, came to Redstone Arsenal from Fort Bliss, Texas. They developed, among others, the Redstone rocket, which was modified to launch the first two Americans into space. Tens of thousands of jobs came to the area as a result of the Space Race, and the population of Madison County rose from 72,903 in 1950 to an estimated 366,519 in 2018.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 813 square miles (2,110 km2), of which 802 square miles (2,080 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.4%) is water.[6]

The topography in the southern and eastern portions of the county is dominated by the dissected remnants of the Cumberland Plateau, such as Keel Mountain, Monte Sano Mountain and Green Mountain. The northern and western portions of the county are flatter.

Rivers

Adjacent counties
Farm fields near New Market

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18104,699—
182017,481272.0%
183027,99060.1%
184025,706−8.2%
185026,4272.8%
186026,4510.1%
187031,26718.2%
188037,62520.3%
189038,1191.3%
190043,70214.6%
191047,0417.6%
192051,2689.0%
193064,62326.0%
194066,3172.6%
195072,9039.9%
1960117,34861.0%
1970186,54059.0%
1980196,9665.6%
1990238,91221.3%
2000276,70015.8%
2010334,81121.0%
Est. 2019372,909[7]11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2018[3]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 276,700 people, 109,955 households, and 75,319 families residing in the county. The population density was 344 people per square mile (133/km2). There were 120,288 housing units at an average density of 149 per square mile (58/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.06% White, 22.78% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Nearly 1.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the 2000 census, the largest ancestry groups in Madison County were English 50.2%, African 22.78%, Scots-Irish 8.71%, Irish 4.3%, Scottish 4.12%, and Welsh 2.9%

2010

According to the 2010 U.S. Census:

  • 65.9 White(non-Hispanic)
  • 24.6% Black
  • 0.8% Native American
  • 2.5% Asian
  • 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
  • 2.3% Two or more races
  • 4.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

There were 109,955 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 53.40% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. Nearly 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,704, and the median income for a family was $54,360. Males had a median income of $40,779 versus $26,534 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,091. About 8.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

The Madison County School System runs public schools throughout the unincorporated areas of the county and the incorporated and unincorporated communities of Gurley, New Hope, Meridianville, Hazel Green, Toney, Monrovia, New Market, and Owens Cross Roads. The system runs 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 5 high schools and a ninth grade school, and a career/technical center.

High schools in the Madison County School System are:

There are a number of private schools serving Madison County. These include Randolph School, Madison Academy, Westminster Christian Academy, Faith Christian Academy, and several others.

Transportation

Major highways
  • Interstate 565
  • U.S. Highway 72 (University Drive in Huntsville city limits)
  • U.S. Highway 231 (Memorial Parkway in Huntsville city limits)
  • U.S. Highway 431 (Governors Drive in Medical District of Huntsville; Memorial Parkway for rest of length in Huntsville City Limits)
  • State Route 53 (Jordan Lane in much of Huntsville city limits)
  • State Route 255 (Research Park Boulevard)

Rail

Air travel

The Port of Huntsville provides both passenger air service, via Huntsville International Airport which allows access to most of the rest of the United States, and shipping air service, via the International Intermodal Center. There are also three smaller public airports in the county: Hazel Green Airport, Madison County Executive Airport, and Moontown Airport.

Bicycle routes

There a several bicycle routes in the city of Huntsville. Madison County has a master plan to develop a 70-mile bicycle and walking trail.

Politics

Madison County was formerly an overwhelmingly Democratic county as with most of the rest of Alabama, with only a narrow loss by Al Smith in 1928 due to Prohibitionist anti-Catholicism[13] disrupting this trend until the 1960s. Even in 1964, the county nearly voted against Barry Goldwater due to its opposition to the Arizona Senator’s privatization plans for the Tennessee Valley Authority. However, since that time, the county has become solidly Republican, with the only national Democratic nominee to carry the county since 1960 being Deep South native Jimmy Carter in 1976. In the 2016 election, Gary Johnson had his best showing in the state, carrying 4.05% of the vote. The county is trending less Republican recently, 58.9% in 2004, 56.9% in 2008, 58.47% in 2012, 54.79% in 2016. For counties supporting Donald Trump in 2016, it was the 4th narrowest margin.

Presidential elections results
Madison County vote
by party in presidential elections [14]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 54.8% 89,520 38.5% 62,822 6.8% 11,047
2012 58.5% 90,884 39.9% 62,015 1.6% 2,529
2008 56.9% 86,965 41.9% 64,117 1.2% 1,817
2004 58.9% 77,173 40.2% 52,644 1.0% 1,245
2000 54.9% 62,151 42.5% 48,199 2.6% 2,968
1996 50.0% 50,390 41.9% 42,259 8.1% 8,209
1992 47.7% 51,444 36.1% 38,974 16.2% 17,416
1988 67.1% 53,575 32.3% 25,800 0.7% 519
1984 64.5% 50,428 34.4% 26,881 1.1% 825
1980 47.0% 30,604 46.8% 30,469 6.1% 3,999
1976 36.6% 20,959 62.0% 35,497 1.5% 831
1972 73.4% 38,899 24.7% 13,108 1.8% 977
1968 25.4% 13,213 15.4% 8,004 59.2% 30,736
1964 51.9% 14,279 48.1% 13,217
1960 32.3% 5,299 66.9% 10,959 0.8% 128
1956 24.6% 2,993 74.5% 9,054 0.9% 103
1952 16.4% 1,623 82.8% 8,216 0.8% 81
1948 13.2% 466 86.8% 3,060
1944 8.4% 455 91.3% 4,951 0.3% 15
1940 9.3% 566 90.4% 5,515 0.3% 17
1936 8.3% 514 91.0% 5,661 0.7% 45
1932 10.4% 559 88.8% 4,792 0.9% 48
1928 50.1% 2,695 49.9% 2,681 0.0% 2
1924 14.2% 368 83.8% 2,166 2.0% 52
1920 14.6% 489 84.5% 2,822 0.9% 29
1916 8.7% 215 89.2% 2,206 2.1% 53
1912 5.5% 150 78.2% 2,146 16.3% 448
1908 11.1% 277 87.1% 2,168 1.8% 44
1904 7.9% 182 91.6% 2,119 0.5% 12

Places of interest

Madison County is home to Monte Sano State Park, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and part of the Flint River. It also contains Hampton Cove Golf Course, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. There is a historical marker for Lincoln School and Village which were incorporated into Huntsville in 1956.[15]

See also

References
  1. A Digest of the Laws of the State of Alabama: Containing The Statutes and Resolutions in Force at the end of the General Assembly in January, 1823. Published by Ginn & Curtis, J. & J. Harper, Printers, New-York, 1828. Title 10. Chapter II. Page 80-81. "By Robert Williams, Governor of the Mississippi Territory." (Internet Archive)
  2. "Commission Chairman". Madison County Alabama. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 196.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 214, 261 ISBN 978-0-691-16324-6
  14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  15. Alabama Historical Marker: Lincoln School and Village.

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