Facts & Figures

Huntsville is a city centrally located in the northernmost part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located in Madison County and extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County, and the largest city in Alabama. The 2020 census estimated Huntsville’s population at 215,070, which represents a 20% increase over the 2010 census. More than 1.2 million reside in the Huntsville metro area.

Huntsville Statistics

Huntsville Census Data – Quick Facts

FROM COTTON TO ROCKETS

John Hunt first settled in the location in 1805. It was named Twickenham after Alexander Pope’s English home at the request of Leroy Pope. However, the town was renamed “Huntsville” on November 25, 1811 after its first settler. It has grown across nearby hills and along the Tennessee River, adding textile mills, then munitions factories, to become a major city, including NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command nearby at the Redstone Arsenal. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Huntsville to its “America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010” list.

Today, Huntsville, Alabama  is one of the most recognized cities in the Southeast – consistently named as one of the best places to live and work by a variety of national publications. Our city is regularly named as a premier location for both business and quality of life.

Technology, space, and defense industries have a major presence here with the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and Cummings Research Park.

Home to several Fortune 500 companies, Huntsville also offers a broad base of manufacturing, retail and service industries. Our quality of life is second to none – with a variety of educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities.

We successfully combine the rich heritage of Southern hospitality with innovative high-tech ventures and cultural diversity.

For more economic data and reports, visit the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County.

Visit the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau for fun ways to explore Huntsville and its history.