Madison

History

The area was occupied historically by the Koasati (also known as Coushatta), a Muskogean-speaking people. Before them were thousands of years of indigenous cultures. Madison's first European-American resident was John Cartwright, who settled in the area in 1818. The city was originally known as "Madison Station", as it developed in the 1850s around a stop of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Textile mills were built in the area in the late 19th century for processing and manufacture of cotton products. Madison was the site of a battle in the American Civil War. On May 17, 1864, 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. They skirmished with Patterson's rear guard that evening at Fletcher's Ferry on the Tennessee River south of Madison. The town was incorporated on December 2, 1869. From 1880 to 1950, rural Madison had a population of some 400-500 residents. In World War II and the postwar period, military and NASA operations were moved to Huntsville, stimulating an increase in population in the region. Subsidized highways stimulated suburbanization, attracting residents to outlying areas where new homes were built. By 1980, Madison's population was 4,057. In the late 20th century, Madison's population increased rapidly as it developed as a suburb of Huntsville. In 1986, Madison voters overwhelmingly voted to…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , is water. primarily within Madison County, while extending west into Limestone County. Downtown Huntsville is east of the center of Madison, although Huntsville also borders Madison to the south and west. Athens is to the northwest, and Decatur is to the southwest, across the Tennessee River.

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,506
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,082
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  9,969
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  9,371
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  9,144
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,450
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  8,396
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,117

Largest nearby schools

• Bob Jones High School
  High · Madison · 1,920 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• Sparkman High School
  High · Harvest · 1,738 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Liberty Middle School
  Middle · Madison · 1,493 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Discovery Middle School
  Middle · Madison · 1,334 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Monrovia Middle School
  Middle · Huntsville · 1,003 students · 20.1:1 ratio
• MidTown Elementary School
  Elementary · Madison · 999 students · 18.2:1 ratio
• Columbia High School
  High · Huntsville · 954 students · 18:1 ratio
• Mill Creek Elementary School
  Elementary · Madison · 940 students · 15.7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.53 — 2026-04-27
  12 km NNE of Trinity, Alabama
• M 2.5 — 2023-12-23
  7 km ENE of Stevenson, Alabama
• M 2.52 — 2023-06-21
  6 km SSE of Sewanee, Tennessee
• M 2.66 — 2022-08-13
  6 km NW of Hazel Green, Alabama
• M 2.62 — 2020-11-01
  13 km SE of Triana, Alabama
• M 2.78 — 2020-05-10
  7 km SSE of Sewanee, Tennessee