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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 the Top 5 Best Cities for Recession Recovery
Huntsville named nation’s Best City in 2009
Huntsville named one of Money Magazine’s Top 6 Places to Find a Job

May 2009
Money Magazine
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Huntsville named one of Forbes Leading Cities for Business

April 2009
Forbes
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Huntsville named one of the country’s Top 5 Cities for Defense Jobs

April 2009
Forbes
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Huntsville Named the Country’s Leading Metro for Consumer Lending Growth
The City of Huntsville receives Standard & Poor’s highest possible “AAA” bond rating for strength of the local economy

January 2009
Standard & Poor's
Huntsville named one of 10 Great Cities for Salary Growth
Madison County named the country’s Best Place to Live to weather the economy

November 2008
Forbes
Read story online »
Huntsville named one of the Top 50 Best Places to raise children in the U.S.

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
Employees
U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal*
25,373
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center*
7,177
Huntsville Hospital System
5,126
Intergraph Corporation
3,855
The Boeing Co.
3,200
Huntsville City Schools
3,000
CINRAM, Inc.
2,800
City of Huntsville
2,199
Madison County Schools
2,150
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation)
2,120
Sanmina-SCI Corporation
1,971
ADTRAN, Inc.
1,700
UAHuntsville
1,300
Verizon Wireless
1,300
Teledyne Brown Engineering
1,243
Madison County
1,220
ITT/CAS
1,200
Lockheed Martin Corporation
1,200
Northrop Grumman Corporation
1,200
Alabama A&M University
1,092
Jacobs
1,028
Continental AG
1,000
DirecTV
1,000
West Corporation
1,000
Crestwood Medical Center
994
Madison City Schools
950
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc.
900
Eagle Support Services
850
FPMI, Inc.
850
Dynetics, Inc.
750
Qualitest Pharmaceuticals
750
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
700
PPG Aerospace
700
Redstone Federal Credit Union
700
DRS Test & Energy Management, LLC, a Finmeccanica Company
660
Raytheon Company
650
ERC, Inc.
600
LG Electronics Alabama, Inc.
600
Target Distribution Center
600
Yulista Management Services, Inc.
600
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
542
Huntsville Utilities
535
BASF Catalysts, LLC
525
QinetiQ North America, Systems Engineering Group
450
Oakwood University
437
Huntsville Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. dba Phoenix Industries
410
Analytical Services, Inc. (ASI)
400
*Includes on-site contractors
May 2009, 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 (2007 Estimate)
171,327
312,734
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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