Madison

Madison a city located primarily in Madison county in northern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. Madison extends west into neighboring Limestone county. The city is included in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area and is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 36,824. Madison's mayor is Paul Finley.
==History==
Madison's first resident was John Cartwright, who settled in the area in 1818. The city was originally known as Madison Station, and grew up in the 1850s around a stop of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Madison was the site of a battle in the American Civil War on March 16, 1864, when Col. Josiah Patterson's 5th Alabama Cavalry, supported by Col. James H. Stuart's cavalry battalion and a section of horse artillery, drove Col. Adam G. Gorgas's 13th Illinois Infantry Regiment from the city. Patterson's men captured the 13th Illinois Regiment's wagon train, taking 66 prisoners. They also burned Union supplies and tore up the railroad tracks before retreating. Portions of the 5th Ohio Cavalry, the 59th Indiana Infantry and the 5th Iowa Infantry were sent in pursuit from Huntsville and skirmished with Patterson's rear guard that evening at Fletcher's Ferry south of Madison.
More recently, the city has become a fast-growing suburb of Huntsville. In 1980, the population of Madison was about 4,000. Today, the city's estimated population is 36,824.
==Geography==
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.2 square miles (60.2 km²), of which, 23.2 square miles (60.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.30%) is water.
Madison is located at (34.715065, -86.739644), primarily within Madison County.
==Demographics==
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,329 people, 11,143 households, and 8,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,266.5 people per square mile (488.9/km²). There were 12,121 housing units at an average density of 523.4/sq mi (202.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.15% White, 13.00% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 3.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 2.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,143 households out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
In 2004, Madison was the fastest growing city in Alabama.
==Economy==
===Personal income===
The median income for a household in the city was $63,849, and the median income for a family was $74,532. Males had a median income of $57,216 versus $32,316 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,821. About 4.4% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
===Industry===
Madison's largest employer is Intergraph, a computer software company based in Madison. Thousands of Madison residents commute to Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal in nearby Huntsville. Within the city limits, most of Madison's businesses are retail, with stores and fast-food restaurants lining US 72 to the north and Madison Boulevard to the south. Parts of Madison is long distance to other parts (crossing the Madison/Limestone county border) as AT&T has not kept pace with growth in the region as reported in the Huntsville Times/Decatur Daily/Athens-News-Courier.
==Education==
The Madison City School System, formed in 1998, serves over 8,400 students from the city of Madison and town of Triana.Madison City Schools - About Us. madisoncity.k12.al.us In 2009, the school system had seven elementary schools (Columbia Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School, Horizon Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Rainbow Elementary School, West Madison Elementary School, and Mill Creek Elementary), two middle schools (Discovery Middle School, Liberty Middle School), and one high school (Bob Jones High School). Madison also has several private schools, including Madison Academy, Faith Christian Academy, St John the Baptist, and Westminster Academy.
==Media==
The Madison RecordThe Madison Record and the Madison County RecordMadison County Record have served as the hometown newspapers for the city since 1967.
==Infrastructure==
===Roads===
Madison is served by Interstate 565 and US 72. Madison Boulevard (the former Alabama State Route 20) parallels 565.
===Rail and airline===
The Norfolk Southern railway has a main line and a spur running through Madison. The Port of Huntsville, an intermodal center which includes Huntsville International Airport and a rail cargo center, is just south of the city.
==Notable residents==
*Josh Hester, a right-handed pitcher drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008. He played baseball at Madison's Bob Jones High School.
*John Stallworth, a professional football player who lives in Madison. Stallworth played in six AFC Championship Games and four Super Bowls.
==References ==
==External links==
*Official Madison City web site
*Historic Clay House Museum/Art Gallery
*Recreation Trails in Madison County
*Madison Chamber of Commerce
Category:Index
Category:Cities in Alabama
Category:Huntsville Metropolitan Area