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 Huntsville/Madison County: Community Profile

Overview
The Huntsville/Madison County community has long been regarded as one of the leading technology centers in the south and has built on its reputation as home to Dr. Wernher von Braun and the start of America’s space program. Huntsville has grown to be home to one of the largest research parks in the world and is recognized by Forbes as the 6th Best City in the Country for Business. Huntsville companies include many of the most recognized names of the Fortune 500 as well as the highest concentration of Inc. 500 companies anywhere in the U.S. Though smaller than many major metropolitan areas, the community’s low-cost advantages and attractive lifestyle have garnered recognition from major publications as one of the country’s best values for quality of life.


Headlines
Huntsville named one of America's Top 5 Technology Cities
Huntsville named one of the country's Best Performing Cities
Huntsville named one of the country's Top Adventure Towns.
Huntsville named one of the country's Top 10 Metros for Business Vitality.
Huntsville named one of America's Top 5 Cities for Professional Workers.
Huntsville named one of Forbes Leading Cities for Business
Huntsville named America's #1 Small City of the Future
Huntsville named one of the country's Top 10 cities for job growth and affordability.

March 2007
MSN/Sperling's
Read story online »
Huntsville named one of America's Hottest Cities.
Huntsville is one of the country's "15 Great Cities for Job Seekers".
Huntsville named the Top Mid-sized “Military Community of Excellence” in the country.

Special Issue, August 2006
Expansion Management Magazine
Read story online »
Huntsville named the country's Best Value for Salaries and Cost of Living.
Huntsville named one of the country's Hottest Midsize Cities.

Local Economy
The Huntsville/Madison County region has a proud history as one of the strongest technology economies in the nation with over 300 companies performing sophisticated government, commercial and university research. Huntsville has the highest concentration of engineers in the country and one of the highest ratios of PhDs. Huntsville workers with the U.S. Army, NASA and major corporate contractors manage key national programs such as the Space Station, Space Shuttle Propulsion, National Missile Defense and Army Aviation. The area’s electronics and computer software industry is also robust, ranking 5th in the country for software-related employment.

Leading Industrial Employers

Organization
Industry
Employees
U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal Government
14,601
Huntsville Hospital System Health Care
5,126
Huntsville City Schools Education
3,000
The Boeing Company Aerospace and Defense
3,000
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center Government
2,555
CINRAM Audio/Video Replication
2,500
Sanmina-SCI Corporation Electronic Components
2,500
Intergraph Corporation Computer Services
2,450
City of Huntsville Government
2,199
Madison County Schools Education
2,150
SAIC Aerospace and Defense
1,716
ADTRAN Telecommunications
1,700
Siemens VDO Automotive Electronic Equipment
1,700
University of Alabama in Huntsville Education
1,318
Teledyne Brown Engineering Aerospace and Defense
1,243
Madison County Government
1,220
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. Electronic Components
1,200
Northrop Grumman Aerospace and Defense
1,125
Alabama A&M University Education
1,092
Direct TV Customer Services
1,000
West Corporation Customer Services
1,000
Crestwood Medical Center Health Care
994
Madison City Schools Education
950
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama Automotive Engines
950
LG Electronics, Inc. Electronic Devices
900
Dynetics, Inc. Aerospace and Defense
900
Jacobs Aerospace and Defense
759
Target Distribution Center Retail
750
COLSA Corporation Aerospace and Defense
700
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) Computer Services
700
Redstone Federal Credit Union Financial Services
700
CAS, Inc. Aerospace and Defense
689
Lockheed Martin Aerospace and Defense
635
Raytheon Company Aerospace and Defense
600
PPG Industries, Inc. Aircraft Parts
550
Huntsville Utilities Utilities
535
BASF Catalyst, LLC Motor Vehicle Parts
525

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County

Huntsville/Madison County Economy Resources

Local Government

City of Huntsville and Madison County government officials are active and involved in the growth and welfare of the local community. Area leaders work together to address issues affecting both businesses and residents to enhance the quality of living in the Huntsville/Madison County region. Government officials understand the issues involved with the BRAC relocation process and the needs of individuals and families considering moving to the area. Every effort is being made to plan for community growth and to make your transition to the Huntsville/Madison County region a smooth and positive experience.

Demographics/Statistics


City of Huntsville
Madison County
Population
164,146
293,072
Median Age
36.7
35.7
Race
White
64.5%
72.1%
Black
30.2%
22.8%
Asian
2.2%
1.9%
Other
3.1%
3.2%
Education
% High school degree
85.7%
85.4%
% College degree
36.1%
34.3%
% Foreign Born
4.9%
4.0%
Median Family Income
$52,202
$54,360
Median Home Value
$97,300
$103,300
Mean Travel Time to Work
18.3 min.
20.9 min.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov)


Available Jobs
Employment opportunities for spouses and other family members are available in the Huntsville/Madison job market. Many federal agencies and national corporations employ thousands of diverse workers within Redstone Arsenal and the surrounding Huntsville community. Key industries include Aerospace, Defense, Electronics, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Biotechnology and Healthcare along with major universities, arts, hospitality and business, personal and social services. The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County maintains an available jobs database with current listings from local employers as well as links to employment agencies which can help with any job search.

Local Events
The heart of any community is in the gathering of its people and the opportunities for sharing common bonds of community spirit. The Huntsville/Madison County region is proud to host a wide variety of local community events, festivals, concerts and celebrations throughout the year. Local events feature major outdoor concerts & music festivals, arts and entertainment, summertime gatherings in the park, outdoor movies and patriotic and seasonal celebrations. The following link provides more information on community events and festivals:

Community Involvement
The Helping Hands Book
The Volunteer Center's resource guide to Madison County
download »
The Huntsville/Madison County community is open and welcoming to newcomers and those wishing to get involved in community activities. A wide variety of community organizations exist which provide need services, social interaction and opportunities to help make a difference. With a majority of existing area residents originally coming to the region from other parts of the country, newcomers should feel right at home and are encouraged to take advantage of local volunteer opportunities.

Religion
Huntsville/Madison County residents comprise a large religious base of varying faiths, cultures and denominations. Over 60 major denominational faiths are represented with most major faith groups available, including Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Inter-denominational worship. The following link provides a complete list of faiths and denominational offerings:
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
225 Church Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone: (256) 535-2000 | Toll Free: (866) 854-7551 | Fax: (256) 535-2015 | ltraylor@hsvchamber.org
All Rights Reserved

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