Madison County, Alabama

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Madison County, Alabama
Madison County Courthouse May 2011 02.jpg
Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville
Map of Alabama highlighting Madison County
Location in the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded December 13, 1808[1]
Named for James Madison
Seat Huntsville
Largest city Huntsville
Area
 • Total 813 sq mi (2,106 km2)
 • Land 802 sq mi (2,077 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (28 km2), 1.4%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 350,299
 • Density 437/sq mi (169/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.madison.al.us
Footnotes:  
  • County Number 47 on Alabama Licence Plates

Madison County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 334,811.[2] Its county seat is Huntsville.[3] The county is named in honor of James Madison,[4] fourth President of the United States of America, and the first to visit the state of Alabama. Madison County covers parts of the former Decatur County.

Madison County is included in the Huntsville, AL 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.

This changed when a group of German rocket scientists, led by Wernher von Braun, came to Redstone Arsenal in 1950. 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 2014 population of 350,299.

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.[5]

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

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810 4,699 —
1820 17,481 272.0%
1830 27,990 60.1%
1840 25,706 −8.2%
1850 26,427 2.8%
1860 26,451 0.1%
1870 31,267 18.2%
1880 37,625 20.3%
1890 38,119 1.3%
1900 43,702 14.6%
1910 47,041 7.6%
1920 51,268 9.0%
1930 64,623 26.0%
1940 66,317 2.6%
1950 72,903 9.9%
1960 117,348 61.0%
1970 186,540 59.0%
1980 196,966 5.6%
1990 238,912 21.3%
2000 276,700 15.8%
2010 334,811 21.0%
Est. 2014 350,299 [6] 4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2014[2]

As of the census[11] 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:

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.

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 Madison Academy, Westminster Christian Academy, Faith Christian Academy, and several others.

Transportation

Major highways

State Route 20

Rail

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

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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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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." (Google Books)
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External links

 Lincoln County, Tennessee Franklin County, Tennessee
Limestone County Jackson County
  Madison County, Alabama  
Morgan County Marshall County

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