Huntsville

The metropolitan area of Huntsville, Alabama, is thriving and growing. In the last few years, the population has swelled, and it's become one of the largest cities in Alabama. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed Huntsville as one of its “America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2010. You can feel the civic pride on the streets of Huntsville. People are happy to be living there, and whether they attend the University of Alabama or work in a factory, they're excited about their growth and their opportunities. Tornadoes are a constant threat in northern Alabama. During a stretch of days in late April, 2011, there was a tornado outbreak that killed nine people and knocked out power to the entire city. While tornadoes always make the news, Huntsville is best known for being the “Rocket City.” This nickname was assigned when the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville started making technology for the U.S. space program.