Madison, Alabama

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Madison, Alabama
City
City of Madison
The Madison Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 2006.
The Madison Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 2006.
Motto(s): 
Play hard, learn well & live richly
Location of Madison in Limestone County and Madison County, Alabama.
Location of Madison in Limestone County and Madison County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 34°42′54″N 86°44′23″W / 34.71500°N 86.73972°W / 34.71500; -86.73972
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesMadison, Limestone
Government
 • MayorPaul Finley
Area
 • Total30.45 sq mi (78.88 km2)
 • Land30.32 sq mi (78.52 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
Elevation
705 ft (215 m)
Population
 • Total42,938
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
51,593
 • Density1,663.81/sq mi (642.40/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
35757-35758
Area code(s)256
FIPS code01-45784
GNIS feature ID0122191
Websitewww.madisonal.gov

Madison is a city located primarily in Madison County, near the northern border of the U.S. state of Alabama. Madison extends west into neighboring Limestone County. The city is included in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area, the second-largest in the state, and is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 42,938.[4] Madison is bordered by Huntsville on all sides.

History[edit]

Southern Railroad Depot, Madison, Alabama

This area was occupied historically by the Koasati (also known as Coushatta), a Muskogean-speaking people and, before them, thousands of years of indigenous cultures.

Madison's first European-American resident was John Cartwright, who settled in the area in 1818. The city was originally known as Madison Station, and it developed in the 1850s around a stop of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Textile mills were built in the area in the late 19th century for processing of cotton.

Madison was the site of a battle in the American Civil War. On May 17, 1864, Col. Josiah Patterson's 5th Alabama Cavalry, supported by Col. James H. Stuart's cavalry battalion and a section of horse artillery, drove Col. Adam G. Gorgas's 13th Illinois Infantry Regiment from the city. Patterson's men captured the 13th Illinois Regiment's wagon train, taking 66 prisoners. They also burned Union supplies and tore up the railroad tracks before retreating. Portions of the 5th Ohio Cavalry, the 59th Indiana Infantry and the 5th Iowa Infantry were sent in pursuit from Huntsville. They skirmished with Patterson's rear guard that evening at Fletcher's Ferry on the Tennessee River south of Madison.

The town was incorporated in 1869.[5] From 1880 to 1950, rural Madison had a population of roughly 400-500 residents.

In the World War II and postwar period, military and NASA operations were moved to Huntsville, stimulating an increase in population in the region. Suburbanization drew residents to outlying areas, where new homes were built. By 1980, Madison's population was 4,057. In the late 20th century, Madison's population increased rapidly as it developed as a suburb of Huntsville. By 2010 its population had grown to 42,938; the US Census estimated the city had 46,450 in 2014.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.7 square miles (77.0 km2), of which 29.6 square miles (76.6 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.45%, is water.[6]

Madison is located at 34°42′54″N 86°44′23″W / 34.71500°N 86.73972°W / 34.71500; -86.73972 (34.715065, -86.739644),[7] primarily within Madison County, while extending west into Limestone County.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880410—
1900412—
19104263.4%
19204352.1%
1930431−0.9%
19404555.6%
195053016.5%
19601,435170.8%
19703,086115.1%
19804,05731.5%
199014,904267.4%
200029,32996.8%
201042,93846.4%
Est. 201951,593[3]20.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2018 Estimate[9]

As of the census of 2010, 42,938 people were residing in the city, an increase of 44.6% from the 29,329 residing there in 2000. The population consisted of 16,111 households and 11,770 families. The average household size was 2.65, while the average family size was 3.16. 30.8% of the population was age 19 or younger, 61.0% was 20–64, and 8.2% was 65 or older. The median age was 37.0 years. The population was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

The racial makeup of the city was 74.0% White, 14.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 7.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. 4.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the Madison Chamber of Commerce, Madison was the fastest-growing city in Alabama as of 2010.[10]

Economy[edit]

Personal income[edit]

The median income for a household in the city was $92,136, and the median income for a family was $111,217. The per capita income for the city was $41,490. About 3.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Industry[edit]

Madison's largest employer is Intergraph, a computer software company based in Madison. They are currently working on a streetlight maintenance program. Thousands of Madison residents commute to jobs at Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal in nearby Huntsville, about 12 miles away. The high-tech and academic positions in the area have attracted numerous highly educated residents.

Within the city limits, most of Madison's businesses are retail, with stores and fast-food restaurants lining US 72 to the north and Madison Boulevard to the south.

Education[edit]

The Madison City School System, formed in 1998, serves over 10,000 students from the city of Madison and town of Triana.[11] As of 2012, the school system has seven elementary schools serving grades K-5 (Columbia Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School, Horizon Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Mill Creek Elementary School, Rainbow Elementary School, and West Madison Elementary School), two middle schools serving grades 6-8 (Discovery Middle School, Liberty Middle School), and two high schools serving grades 9-12 (Bob Jones High School and James Clemens High School). Madison Elementary, built about 1936, is the oldest school in the system.

Madison also has several private schools, including Madison Academy and St John the Baptist Catholic School.

Media[edit]

The Madison Record[12] and the Madison County Record[13] have been newspapers for the city since 1967. The Madison Weekly News[14] is another local newspaper.

Infrastructure[edit]

Roads[edit]

Madison is served by Interstate 565, US 72 (University Drive), and Madison Boulevard (Alabama State Route 20, and Alt. US 72) as main routes for east–west traffic. Slaughter Road, Hughes Road, Wall Triana Highway, and County Line Road are main north–south roads in the city.

Rail and airline[edit]

The Norfolk Southern railway has the main line and a spur running through Madison. The Port of Huntsville, an intermodal center which includes Huntsville International Airport and a rail cargo center, is just south of the city.

Culture and entertainment[edit]

Sports[edit]

The Rocket City Trash Pandas (formerly Mobile BayBears) is a Double A Southern League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels that is moving from Mobile, Alabama to Madison. The team will start play in Madison in April 2020.[15]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Madison (city), Alabama - State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "Madison | Encyclopedia of Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Madison city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  10. ^ "Madison Chamber of Commerce – Madison, AL". www.madisonalchamber.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  11. ^ Madison City Schools - About Us Archived March 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. madisoncity.k12.al.us
  12. ^ The Madison Record
  13. ^ Madison County Record
  14. ^ "Madison Weekly News | Covering the news that makes Madison home!". www.madisonweeklynews.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Gattis, Paul (August 1, 2019). "Trash Pandas release 2020 schedule, opening vs. Braves". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "Board of Directors". Alabama Alliance for Arts Education. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  17. ^ "Madison Academy grad Kerron Johnson leading Belmont into third straight NCAA tournament". Alabama Media Group. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  18. ^ "Actor, dancer Robert Hoffman brings moves to Dance Trance". The Madison Record. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  19. ^ Alabama State Senate: Bill Holtzclaw Archived February 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ District 2: Meet Bill and His Family
  21. ^ "Birmingham News Super Senior Reggie Ragland ready to roll with Tide". The Huntsville Times. August 17, 2011.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 34°42′54″N 86°44′23″W / 34.715065°N 86.739644°W / 34.715065; -86.739644

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