Madison County is located in the north central portion of Alabama. Madison County covers parts of the former Decatur County. It is recognized as the "birthplace" of Alabama, which was founded on December 14, 1819. For much of the county's history, the economy revolved mainly around agriculture. Madison County was one of the largest cotton-producing counties in the state, and textile mills operated around the county. Wikipedia

Huntsville is in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama and is the county seat of Madison County. The city also extends out west into neighboring Limestone County and extends south into Morgan County. It was founded in 1805 and became an incorporated town in 1811. The city grew across nearby hills north of the Tennessee River, adding textile mills, then munitions factories, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command nearby at the Redstone Arsenal. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Huntsville to its "America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010" list. Wikipedia