About Madison
Thinking of moving to Madison? Very good idea! Madison’s blend of charm, small-town comfort and modern convenience makes it one of the fastest growing cities in the South. It has grown 10 to 15 times larger than it was 20 years ago. Madison still has an affordable cost of living and tons of recreational opportunities. It is a family community with an average age of 33.
The city is medium sized with a population of approximately 47,000 and is at the center of the “Golden Triangle”, which consists of Huntsville, Decatur and Athens. Madison, along with Huntsville, is a part of Madison County.
Real Estate is one of Madison’s strong suits, with current construction of 600 new single-family homes and about 100 apartments underway. Average price for a new house is about $100 per square foot. To view listings in Madison, click HERE. Also, please read HEALTHY REAL ESTATE to see that Huntsville/Madison are in EXCELLENT shape as far as the market here!
Madison has it’s own school district and has set EXTREMELY high expectations for it. Madison has six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Madison City Schools rank third in the state in SAT scores, runner up to Vestavia and Mountainbrook - two very prosperous Birmimgham suburbs. Also - to view test scores and compare schools in various North Alabama cities, please click on GREAT SCHOOLS.NET. This is a great tool to use to see that North Alabama has some awesome schools!
On an activity level, Madison offers incredible hiking, biking and birding opportunities in a 200 acre park on Rainbow mountain; fishing and boating on the Tennessee River, and Dublin park is equipped with an Olympic natatorium and outdoor pool, a gymnasium, inside track, basketball and volleyball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts and playgrounds.
Visit the Madison County Chamber of Commerce to learn more about Madison. With everything Madison has to offer, I know you would love living here!
LET ME FIND YOU A HOME IN MADISON!
AND - if you are relocating
and need a "short term" residence while we are searching for that
PERFECT home, and don't want to sign up for a six (6) month lease - or
longer - check out the temporary housing that is available with no
lease, completely furnished and with many locations throughout Huntsville, Madison, Madison County! AHI is the perfect solution and many of their locations allow pets!
HISTORY OF MADISON, ALABAMA
The first known settler in what was to become the City of Madison, Alabama, was John Cartwright, who came here in 1818.
He came to the Tennessee Valley, part of the area then known as the Mississippi Territory, and liked what he saw.
He received a land grant from the federal government in a place that would first be called Madison Station, then just Madison. Later, the Cartwright property would be sold to the Palmer family, and be known as "the Palmer place."
The history of Madison as a town actually began in 1856 when tracks were laid by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad company. In 1858, a Judge Clemons was among the original landowners here. He planned the town lots fronting on the railroad, each of which measured 66' x 198'.
A depot was constructed on one of Clemons' lots and a house was built for T.J. Clay, who was the first station agent.
As more families moved into this fertile region, merchants were attracted and a business district founded on what was to become Main Street.
The first business was a saw and grist mill operated by J.J. Akers, and S.D. Doolittle opened a blacksmith shop. Other early merchants were Walter and Thomas Hopkins and James Bibb.
During the War Between the States, growth was brought virtually to a standstill, and one battle, referred to as "The Affair at Madison Station," was fought on local soil. The battle took place on May 17, 1864, when the federal soldiers took over the railroad, which was on a direct route for men and supplies to be shipped to Georgia.
According to records kept by the Union soldiers, the Confederates had 18 killed and 55 wounded, and the Union had one killed, three wounded, and 66 prisoners taken.
At the end of the war, Madison began to flourish once again. New businesses opened and in 1869 James Bibb and others filed a petition with the County Probate Judge to incorporate. At that time, the word "Station" was dropped and the town became Madison.
By 1980, the city had a population of 4,000 residents.
The population had grown to 14,907 by 1990.
Today, Madison is one of the fastest growing cities in the southeastern United States, with one of the highest per capita incomes.
The population is currently estimated at 36,500 and the retail sector continues to grow, allowing the city to expand and improve public facilities and the infrastructure.
