Madison, Alabama

Madison, Alabama
The Madison Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 2006.
Motto: 
Plant your roots
Interactive map of Madison, Alabama
Coordinates: 34°42′40″N 86°43′52″W / 34.71111°N 86.73111°W / 34.71111; -86.73111
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesMadison, Limestone
Founded1818
IncorporatedDecember 2, 1869
Government
  MayorPaul Finley
Area
  City
30.694 sq mi (79.497 km2)
  Land30.563 sq mi (79.159 km2)
  Water0.131 sq mi (0.339 km2)
Elevation
686 ft (209 m)
Population
 (2020)
  City
56,933
  Estimate 
(2024)
64,029
  RankUS: 649th
AL: 9th
  Density2,086/sq mi (805/km2)
  Urban
329,066 (US: 122nd)
  Urban density1,532/sq mi (591.6/km2)
  Metro
514,465 (US: 109th)
  Metro density378/sq mi (145.9/km2)
  Combined
879,315 (US: 68th)
  Combined density255.3/sq mi (98.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
35756, 35757, 35758
Area code(s)256 and 938
FIPS code01-45784
GNIS feature ID2404989
Websitemadisonal.gov

Madison is a city located primarily in Madison County, near the northern border of the U.S. state of Alabama. Madison extends west into neighboring Limestone County. The city is included in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area, the second-largest in the state, and is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. The population was 56,933 at the 2020 census. Madison is bordered by Huntsville on nearly all sides with some small unincorporated lands within Madison in Madison and Limestone counties.

Madison was mostly a small city for many years, with its population being around 400-500 for much of its history until the Redstone Arsenal was established to the southeast, which attracted many people to the area for jobs. This rapidly increased the city's population and stimulated economic growth. Many of Madison's residents work in Research Park or the Redstone Arsenal. Madison has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Alabama, as well as one of the wealthiest in the state. In 2022 census estimates, Madison was the 9th largest city in Alabama, the 8th densest city in Alabama, and the second largest city in North Alabama after Huntsville.