Huntsville is located in
Madison County and it is the county seat. It lies northeast of Madison, along Highway 565 near
Monte Sano State Park. Huntsville's area in square miles is 174.43. The warmest normal high is 90 degrees in late July and early August and the coldest normal high is 48 degrees in late January. The annual rainfall is 52 inches.
Huntsville was settled in 1805. Six years later, it became the first incorporated town in Alabama. Huntsville also is the site of the state's first bank, textile mill, public library and water system.
Today, technology, space and defense industries comprise a major presence in Huntsville, including NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal and Cummings Research Park. Several Fortune 500 companies are based in Huntsville, which has a variety of manufacturing, retail and service industries.
Huntsville is part of the
Huntsville, Alabama metro area.