Madison County, Alabama
Overview
Madison County is a county
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area
.
It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
. The county is named in honor of James Madison
, fourth President of the United States of America, and the first to visit the state of Alabama. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 334,811. Its county seat
is Huntsville
. Madison County covers parts of the former Decatur County
.
Madison County was established on December 13, 1808 by the governor of the Mississippi Territory
.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, and is a major part of the Huntsville Metropolitan Area
Huntsville Metropolitan Area
The Huntsville Metropolitan Area is a metropolitan statistical area in northern Alabama. The Huntsville Metropolitan Area's population was estimated at 395,645.-Counties:The metro area comprises two counties:Limestone and Madison.-Places:...
.
It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
The Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area is the most populated sub-region of North Alabama, and is the second fastest growing region in the State of Alabama, with 510,088 living within the CSA...
. The county is named in honor of James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, fourth President of the United States of America, and the first to visit the state of Alabama. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 334,811. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. Madison County covers parts of the former Decatur County
Decatur County, Alabama
Decatur County, Alabama is a former county of the state of Alabama, United States. It was named is for Commodore Stephen Decatur of the United States Navy. Its county seat was Woodville.-History:...
.
Madison County was established on December 13, 1808 by the governor of the Mississippi Territory
Mississippi Territory
The Territory of Mississippi was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Mississippi....
.
