Madison County, Alabama enjoys two distinct personalities; recognized as the “birthplace” of Alabama – the state was founded in this county in 1819 – the county is rich in history. However, the nickname of Huntsville, its county seat, is “Rocket City.”
Throughout much of Madison County’s history, its economy revolved around cotton crops and textile mills. That changed in 1950 when a group of German rocket scientists, led by Wernher von Braun, came to Redstone Arsenal and developed the Redstone rocket, the basis of which launched the first two Americans into space. Tens of thousands of jobs came to the area as a result, and the population of Madison County rose from 72,903 in 1950 to an estimated population today of almost 300,000.
It was, “lights, camera, action” at Huntsville’s Space Camp recently, as Hollywood invaded the US Space & Rocket Center to create an ABC film based on the book, A Smile as Big as the Moon. The film tells the triumphant story of a special education teacher’s dream of helping his students attend Space Camp.
Founded in 1982, Space Camp is an educational program for children created to excite children in the areas of math and science. Campers between 9 and 11 years of age can choose from one of three tracks and typically spend three to six days focusing on their unique activities and areas of study about space, aviation or robotics. From the few who attended in 1982, Space Camp has now grown to more than 500,000 graduates.
Madison County is named in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America; it is Alabama’s third most-populated county, with a per-capita income second only to Shelby County, Alabama (one of the 10 highest-income counties in the US).
Madison County is located in the heart of the Tennessee Valley, sprawling at the foot of the mountains of Tennessee. The county is 100 miles directly south of Nashville, and equal distance to Mississippi and Georgia to the west and east. Madison covers 806 square miles and incorporates the Tennessee, Flint and Paint Rock River. The median income for a household in the county is $44,704.
Cultural organizations in Madison County include the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, oldest continuously-operating professional orchestra in Alabama.
Data provided by GreatSchools.org 2025 © 2025. All rights reserved.
Submitting Request
Apartment Finder utilizes the industry's largest and most complete database of real-time rents and availabilities to help you find an amazing deal on your next rental.
Apartment communities change their rental rates often - sometimes multiple times a day. We track the changes and keep you up to date when a rental rate decreases.
"Best value" units are located in buildings rated three stars or higher. We label apartment rentals that are priced significantly less than similar high-quality units nearby.
Apartment communities regularly advertise deals for new residents. Whether it's a move-in special or a free tv, we locate the rentals that offer a little something extra when you sign your lease.
Note: Based on community-supplied data and independent market research. Subject to change without notice.