Misplaced Pages

#981018

98-488: In 1970, Scottsboro, Alabama insurance salesman Doyle Owens heard from a bus driver friend on ham radio that the Trailways buses had too much unclaimed luggage to deal with. Owens became inspired to buy and sell the luggage, so he drove a borrowed pickup truck and got the bags from Washington D.C. He did not sell airline luggage 1978, when he formed his first airline deal with Eastern Airlines . He then began partnerships with

196-522: A bag and you can know what kind of fashions people are wearing, even things like cosmetics or technology, things that they're carrying with them. It really is a cross-section of what's going on in America, and really across the world because the airlines are global." The Museum of Found Treasures within the store and features unusual items found in luggage. One display includes props from the film Labyrinth which arrived in lost bags in 1997. Jim Henson allowed

294-576: A constitutional convention in Walker Allen's large cabinet-making shop. The 44 delegates wrote a constitution for the new state of Alabama. In accordance with the new state constitution, Huntsville became Alabama's first capital when the state was admitted to the Union. This was a temporary designation for one legislative session only. The capital was moved to more central cities in the state; to Cahaba , then to Tuscaloosa , and finally to Montgomery . In 1855,

392-459: A few months later. In the fall of 1863, they returned to Huntsville, using it as a base of operations for the war in the South until the last months of 1864. According to the journal of a nearby resident, Union troops burned many homes and villages in the surrounding countryside in retaliation for the active guerrilla warfare in the area. Many houses and buildings were burned, although most of Huntsville

490-467: A household in the city was $ 36,554, and the median income for a family was $ 48,803. Males had a median income of $ 35,909 versus $ 25,403 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 21,065. About 14.6% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 15,578 people, 5,995 households, and 3,865 families residing in

588-578: A lake-living lifestyle. Scottsboro High School is the primary educational institution in Scottsboro, Alabama . Scottsboro High School was originally established as Jackson County High School in 1913. In 1957, the school's name was changed from Jackson County High School to Scottsboro High School. Brad Dudley currently serves as the school's principal. 34°39′05″N 86°02′33″W  /  34.651368°N 86.04257°W  / 34.651368; -86.04257 Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville

686-468: A major center for high technology. On July 1, 1960, 4,670 civilian employees, associated buildings and equipment, and 1,840 acres (7.4 km ) of land were transferred from ABMA to form NASA 's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Wernher von Braun was MSFC's initial director. On September 8, President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally dedicated the MSFC. During the 1960s, the major mission of MSFC

784-400: A mob atmosphere in Scottsboro. The only two local attorneys who were willing to take the cases had few qualifications for criminal defense work. They were unable to put up much of a defense when the judge gave them no time to prepare their defenses before the trials. He started the first trial as soon as they agreed to take the cases, and then began each case as soon as the jury had gone out on

882-554: A much larger area than the long-staple cotton of the Sea Islands and Low Country. The increased use of cotton meant an increased use of slave labor throughout the South as well. Like the rest of Alabama , Huntsville was involved in the slave trade . Slaves worked in factories and on cotton plantations. Many cotton mills in the area relied on slave labor, most notably the Bell Factory, where slaves ran textile machinery. The factory

980-548: A pardon in 1976 for the one remaining Scottsboro defendant still imprisoned. "In January, 2004, amidst television cameras and radio and newspaper reporters, a crowd gathered near the Jackson County Court House in Scottsboro to dedicate a historical marker commemorating the Scottsboro Boys' trial and their struggle for justice." "An 87-year-old black man who attended the ceremony, one of the few who could remember

1078-645: A passing train on the Southern Railroad freight route from Chattanooga to Memphis on March 25, 1931. It happened to stop in Jackson County, Alabama where these women made their accusations to local officials against these black youths. The defendants were brought to Scottsboro for trial because it was the seat of Jackson County. During the course of four trials, most of the youths were convicted and sentenced to death by all-white juries , although witnesses provided weak and contradictory testimonies. The case

SECTION 10

#1732859330982

1176-465: A playground. It is the home of Art Sunday, which is an arts and crafts festival that Scottsboro holds the Sunday before Labor Day each year. Many exhibitors and thousands of people attend this festival each year. The King Caldwell Park is named after Scottsboro native and philanthropist, David King Caldwell, who went by the name "King Caldwell". He moved to Tyler, Texas, where he became an oil tycoon and founded

1274-517: A state in 1819, Huntsville was designated for a year as the first capital, before the state capitol was moved to more central settlements. The city developed across nearby hills north of the Tennessee River , adding textile mills in the late nineteenth century. Major growth in Huntsville took place in the decades following World War II. During the war, the U.S Army established Redstone Arsenal in

1372-978: A statement denying the closure. When the schools opened on September 9, Wallace was served a restraining order against further interference with the desegregation of Huntsville schools. Huntsville became the first city in Alabama to desegregate its schools as well. Alabama's opposition to desegregation at this time caused concern from the NASA Administrator James E. Webb , who investigated equal employment opportunities for Black people in Huntsville. After failing to attract high-level staff to Huntsville, Webb said that "some research work would have to be switched from Huntsville to New Orleans". This investigation into employment caused MSFC to open their engineering education programs to Black students at Alabama A&M and Oakwood College , as well as for local contractors to "work for progress in race relations". The emergence of

1470-510: A station at Scottsboro and did so in 1857. In the same year, passengers started disembarking at Scott's Station. On January 20, 1870, Scottsboro was incorporated by the Alabama Legislature. A. Snodgrass was the first mayor. Scottsboro got its first telegraph office in 1872. Bellefonte citizens rejected the railroad because they did not want train travel to interfere with the town's thriving river trade. In addition, its low riverside land

1568-518: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Scottsboro, Alabama Scottsboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County , Alabama, United States. The city was named for its founder Robert T. Scott. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city is 15,578. From its incorporation in 1870 until 1890, it was the largest community in Jackson County, losing the distinction from 1900 to 1920 to Bridgeport , but reclaiming

1666-539: Is a center for technology and engineering research in the area. There are commercial technology companies such as the network access company ADTRAN , computer graphics company Intergraph and designer and manufacturer of IT infrastructure Avocent . Cinram manufactures and distributes 20th Century Fox DVDs and Blu-ray discs out of their Huntsville plant. Sanmina-SCI has a presence in the area. A number of Fortune 500 companies have operations in Huntsville. There are several strip malls and shopping malls throughout

1764-493: Is donated or thrown away by Unclaimed Baggage because it is unsuitable for sale. The surviving items are organized within the store by category. Since 1981, Unclaimed Baggage has held an annual ski sale on the first Saturday in November. Doyle Owens died on December 3, 2016 at the age of 85. Since 2020, Unclaimed Baggage has sold some items online. Owner Bryan Owens told NPR , "It's really like an archaeological dig. You open

1862-474: Is enough rainfall to keep soils moist and vegetation lush. Much of Huntsville's precipitation is delivered by thunderstorms . Thunderstorms are most frequent during the spring, and the most severe storms occur during the spring and late fall. These storms can deliver large hail , damaging straight-line winds, and tornadoes . Huntsville lies in a region colloquially known as Dixie Alley , an area more prone to violent, long-track tornadoes than most other parts of

1960-420: Is headquartered in Huntsville. Huntsville has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). It experiences hot, humid summers and generally mild winters, with average high temperatures ranging from near 90 °F (32.2 °C) in the summer to 49 °F (9.4 °C) during winter. Huntsville is near the center of a large area of the U.S. mid-South that has maximum precipitation in

2058-506: Is now widely regarded (including in Scottsboro) as one of the worst travesties of justice perpetrated against blacks in the post-Reconstruction South. Only the first trials were held in Scottsboro. Of the original nine young black defendants (some of them minors at the time of arrest), accused of gang raping two fellow hobo white women on a freight train, eight were quickly convicted and sentenced to death by all-white juries in trials occurring in

SECTION 20

#1732859330982

2156-500: Is partially surrounded by several plateaus and large hills. These plateaus are associated with the Cumberland Plateau , and are locally called "mountains". Monte Sano Mountain (Spanish for "Mountain of Health") is the most notable and is east of the city, along with Round Top (Burritt), Chapman, Huntsville, and Green mountains. Others are Wade Mountain to the north, Rainbow Mountain to the west, and Weeden and Madkin mountains on

2254-654: Is rare in Huntsville. However, there have been some unusually heavy snowstorms, like the New Year's Eve 1963 snowstorm, when 17 in (43 cm) fell within 24 hours. Likewise, the Blizzard of 1993 and the Groundhog Day snowstorm in February 1996 were substantial winter events for Huntsville. On Christmas Day 2010, Huntsville recorded over 4 inches (10 cm) of snow, and on January 9–10, 2011 it received 8.9 inches (23 cm) at

2352-528: Is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama . It is the county seat of Madison County with portions extending into Limestone County and Morgan County . It is located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama south of the state of Tennessee . Huntsville was founded within the Mississippi Territory in 1805 and became an incorporated town in 1811. When Alabama was admitted as

2450-476: Is water as of 2024. Huntsville has grown through recent annexations west into Limestone County by 21.5 square miles (56 km ) (13,885 acres, 5,619 ha) in the early 2000s, and south into Morgan County with 1.03 square miles (2.67 km2) (659.1 acres, 266.73 ha) in 2018. Huntsville borders Marshall County across the Tennessee River near Hobbs Island . Huntsville has the 29th largest land area in

2548-562: The Caldwell Zoo . He constantly gave generously to local causes in Scottsboro and paid for the higher education of many Scottsboro school children. He visited his namesake Caldwell School in Scottsboro and gave every child in the school a shiny new half-dollar, at a time when that was a lot of money for a child to receive. The attraction of Guntersville Lake has brought in numerous real estate developers. The Goose Pond area of Scottsboro has seen recent development of communities centered around

2646-574: The Great Depression . Huntsville became known as the Watercress Capital of the World because of its abundant harvest in the area. Madison County led Alabama in cotton production during this time. By 1940, Huntsville was still relatively small, with a population of about 13,000 inhabitants. This quickly changed in early 1941 when the U.S. Army selected 35,000 acres (140 km ) of land adjoining

2744-629: The Memphis and Charleston Railroad was constructed through Huntsville, becoming the first railway to link the Atlantic seacoast with the lower Mississippi River . Huntsville initially opposed secession from the Union in 1861, but provided many men for the Confederacy's efforts. The 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment, led by Col. Egbert J. Jones of Huntsville, distinguished itself at the Battle of Manassas/Bull Run ,

2842-598: The Mississippi Territory , resulting in the statehood of Mississippi , and the creation of the Alabama Territory in 1818. Delegates from Tennessee and the newly formed Madison County met in Sauta Cave and decided to admit a new county. On December 13, 1819, Jackson County was formed. One day later, the State of Alabama was admitted into the Union as the 22nd state on December 14, 1819. The first county seat of Jackson County

2940-604: The Redstone Arsenal property in the south. Brindley Mountain is visible in the south across the Tennessee River. As with other areas along the Cumberland Plateau, the land around Huntsville is karst in nature. The city was founded around the Big Spring, which is a typical karst spring. Many caves perforate the limestone bedrock underneath the surface, as is common in karst areas. The National Speleological Society

3038-698: The Space Shuttle , the International Space Station , and a wide variety of advanced research in space sciences led to a resurgence in NASA-related activities that has continued into the 21st century. In addition, new Army organizations have emerged at Redstone Arsenal, particularly in the ever-expanding field of missile defense . This city is located at 32°31′03″N 87°50′11″W  /  32.51750°N 87.83639°W  / 32.51750; -87.83639 (34.6934098, -86.5607619). According to

Unclaimed Baggage Center - Misplaced Pages Continue

3136-590: The Super Outbreak in April 1974 , the November 1989 tornado that killed 21 and injured over 460, and the 1995 Anderson Hills tornado that killed one person and caused extensive damage. On January 21, 2010, an EF2 tornado struck Huntsville, resulting in moderate damage. Because it was not rain-wrapped and was easily photographed, it received extensive media coverage. While most winters have some measurable snow, heavy snow

3234-562: The U.S. Army Air Force considered this for a major testing facility, but selected another site. Redstone Arsenal was prepared for disposal, but Sparkman used his considerable Southern Democratic influence (the Solid South controlled numerous powerful chairmanships of congressional committees) to persuade the Army to choose it as a site for rocket and missile development. As the Korean War started,

3332-613: The U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 51.7 square miles (134 km ), of which, 47.3 square miles (123 km ) of it is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km ) of it (8.47%) is water. The water areas are the Tennessee River and its backwaters. The section of the Tennessee River Valley that includes Scottsboro is geologically related to the Sequatchie Valley . As of the census of 2000, there were 14,762 people, 6,224 households, and 4,201 families residing in

3430-541: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 225.17 square miles (583.2 km ), of which 223.63 square miles (579.2 km ) is land and 1.54 square miles (4.0 km ), is water as of 2023. According to the City of Huntsville Statistics , the city has a total area of 226.62 square miles (586.9 km ), of which 225.09 square miles (583.0 km ) is land and 1.54 square miles (4.0 km ),

3528-413: The 1980s, a second bridge was built to increase travel and reduce traffic on the B.B. Comer bridge. In 1913, the city purchased approximately 30 acres (12 ha) for a water system on Sand Mountain. The first electric lights in Scottsboro became operational on January 21, 1916. Scottsboro's first hospital was established in 1923. In 1927, aviator Charles Lindbergh performed stunts in his famous plane

3626-516: The Alabama Department of Transportation as being a structurally deficient bridge with an overall rating of 7.7 out of 100. Construction of a replacement bridge commenced in October 2007, and was expected to be complete by 2012. In 1932, a couple were wed on top of the bridge. The newlywed wife commented, "I wanted to be married where the light-blue water touches and meets with the light-blue sky…" In

3724-589: The Alabama Legislature for almost 20 years and later ran a hotel in Bellefonte. Since he and his wife, Elizabeth, wanted a place to call their own and were not very fond of Bellefonte, they moved to Scottsboro around 1850–53. The town was called Scottsville, Scott's Mill, or Sage Town until 1868. In 1853, the newly formed Memphis and Charleston Railroad (a stretch of railroad that starts at Memphis, Tennessee , and ends in Charleston, South Carolina ) decided to build

3822-643: The Army. The Marshall Space Flight Center has been designated to develop NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), and the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) is responsible for developing a variety of rocket-based tactical weapons. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama was constructed in 2003 and is located in North Huntsville Industrial Park. The plant has 1,800 employees as of 2022. The plant manufactures engines for Toyota vehicles. Navistar Huntsville Powertrain Manufacturing Plant

3920-687: The Ordnance Guided Missile Center (OGMC) was given the mission to develop what eventually became the Redstone Rocket . This rocket set the stage for the United States' space program , as well as major Army missile programs, to be centered in Huntsville. Brigadier General Holger Toftoy commanded OGMC and the overall Redstone Arsenal. In early 1956, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) under Major General John Medaris

4018-555: The Spirit of St. Louis. In 1932, Scottsboro officially became a "city" when an act of the Alabama Legislature bestowed that title on towns with more than 2,000 inhabitants. Scottsboro's population at the time was about 2,304. In 1954, the courthouse was starting to deteriorate, so it was renovated and all the wooden walls were replaced with marble. Because of the growth in population and demand, more rooms were added to expand offices for services such as automobile tags and land records. Since

Unclaimed Baggage Center - Misplaced Pages Continue

4116-588: The Square since 1891. The small, yet elegant, shop shows off a 1950s-themed design, offering the classic malt, and it even sports rare photographs of Scottsboro's past. King Caldwell Park is situated near downtown Scottsboro, right next to the Library and across the street from the Police Department. It is largely wooded, with several nature trails running through it. It offers picnic tables, a pavilion with rest rooms and

4214-846: The US. On April 27, 2011, the largest tornado outbreak on record, the 2011 Super Outbreak , affected northern Alabama. During this event, an EF5 tornado that tracked near the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant destroyed many transmission towers and caused a multi-day power outage for the majority of North Alabama. That same tornado also resulted in considerable damage to the Anderson Hills subdivision and in Harvest, Alabama . In total, nine people were killed in Madison County, and many others were injured. Other significant tornado events include

4312-617: The Union Army and helped establish the Union Army's 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment . On the morning of April 11, 1862, Union troops led by General Ormsby M. Mitchel seized Huntsville in order to sever the Confederacy's rail communications and gain access to the Memphis & Charleston Railroad . Huntsville was the headquarters for the Eastern Division of the Memphis & Charleston. During

4410-472: The United States, for cities with a population over 100,000. Huntsville has borders surrounding both the cities of Madison and Triana . Huntsville also borders the cities of Decatur , Athens , Owens Cross Roads , the town of Mooresville as well as the census-designated places of Moores Mill , Meridianville , Laceys Spring, and Redstone Arsenal . Situated in the Tennessee River valley, Huntsville

4508-452: The admission of two Black students to the University of Alabama in Huntsville was challenged by Governor George Wallace . Wallace pushed back the registration dates for multiple state universities (presumably to allow more time for state troopers to move into the area) but instead moved them to Tuscaloosa . The students were admitted without issues. Around the same time, the color barrier

4606-419: The age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.85. In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under

4704-458: The age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 32,654, and the median income for a family was $ 42,509. Males had a median income of $ 32,318 versus $ 21,965 for females. The per capita income for

4802-513: The airport and up to 10 inches (25 cm) in the suburbs. As of the 2020 census , there were 215,006 people, 92,074 households, and 52,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 985.7 inhabitants per square mile (380.6/km ) There were 100,391 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 55.17% White, 29.0% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.51% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, and 4.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.75% of

4900-471: The cases firsthand, recalled that the mob scene following the Boys' arrest 'was frightening' and that death threats were leveled against the jailed suspects. He applauded the town's move to install the plaque on the courthouse yard. 'I think it will bring the races closer together,' he said, 'to understand each other better.'" The Scottsboro Boys Museum was opened in this city in February 2010. In 1900, Scottsboro

4998-467: The center at Huntsville, they settled and raised families. The city is nicknamed "The Rocket City" for its close association with U.S. space missions. On January 31, 1958, ABMA placed America's first satellite, Explorer 1 , into orbit using a Jupiter-C launch vehicle, a descendant of the Redstone. This brought national attention to Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville, with widespread recognition of this being

SECTION 50

#1732859330982

5096-473: The city was $ 18,430. About 9.9% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 20.5% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2010, there were 14,770 people, 6,245 households, and 4,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 285.5 inhabitants per square mile (110.2/km ). There were 7,039 housing units at an average density of 136.2 per square mile (52.6/km ). The racial makeup of

5194-558: The city was 89.8% White , 4.6% African American , .8% Native American , 0.8% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 2.0% from other races , and 1.8% from two or more races. 3.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 6,245 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who

5292-493: The city. Scottsboro is home to the Unclaimed Baggage Center . This center sells articles of unclaimed and undeliverable airline luggage whose owners the airlines cannot locate. The Center ends up with such items as electronics, clothing, and any other item that might be found in lost airline luggage. The prices are low and the offerings eclectic enough to attract visitors from other states, and even from other parts of

5390-591: The city. Huntsville has one enclosed mall, Parkway Place , built in 2002 on the site of the former Parkway City Mall. A larger mall built in 1984, Madison Square Mall , was closed in 2017 and the site is being redeveloped into the Mid City lifestyle center. An additional lifestyle center, Bridge Street Town Centre , was completed in 2007, in Cummings Research Park. Huntsville is a key city in rocket-propulsion research for NASA and various organizations run by

5488-509: The city. The population density was 311.8 inhabitants per square mile (120.4/km ). There were 6,848 housing units at an average density of 144.6 per square mile (55.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 91.11% White , 5.34% African American , 1.02% Native American , 0.54% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.56% from other races , and 1.42% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 6,224 households, out of which 28.7% had children under

5586-422: The company stores, which sometimes overcharged them. The mill owners also established rules for behavior and could throw out workers from housing if they violated these policies. As was common for the time, work was highly segregated with only whites being allowed to work inside the mills and Blacks relegated to working outside as laborers and groundskeepers. During the 1930s, industry declined in Huntsville due to

5684-479: The county council decided that: The second requirement eliminated Stevenson and Larkinsville, and the County Commissioners ultimately selected Scottsboro as the county seat. This led to the rapid decline of Bellefonte, which also suffered from no railroad access. Courthouse construction began in 1868 with the jail following two years later. County commissioners sited the courthouse at its current location in

5782-419: The courthouse was set ablaze and was rebuilt. In 1912, the courthouse was demolished and an election was held to determine whether the courthouse would be moved to Stevenson or stay in Scottsboro (some Stevenson residents did not think Scottsboro deserved the role of county seat). Scottsboro won the vote and the present courthouse was built (It was later renovated and expanded in 1954.) The Scottsboro Boys case

5880-591: The early 1980s to the late 2000s, Scottsboro has seen substantial population growth and an economy moved away from its rural agrarian past to a more diversified one. Real estate in a small town environment and competitive state business tax rates both appealed to newcomers who bought homes and/or commuted to jobs in Chattanooga, Huntsville and Atlanta . Scottsboro is located at 34°39′5″N 86°2′33″W  /  34.65139°N 86.04250°W  / 34.65139; -86.04250 (34.651368, −86.042570). According to

5978-457: The eastern Tennessee region, chiefly from the Upper South, they found the Tennessee River to be an excellent source of food, water, and a way of shipping goods to the big cities. John Hunt, in 1805, decided to migrate to the area and built a small log cabin in the woods near the river. More people settled in the area, and Huntsville was formally incorporated in 1811. More settlers moved into

SECTION 60

#1732859330982

6076-458: The end of the war in 1945, the munitions facilities were no longer needed. They were combined with the designation Redstone Arsenal (RSA), and a considerable political and business effort was made in attempts to attract new tenants. One significant start involved manufacturing the Keller automobile , but this closed after 18 vehicles were built. With the encouragement of US Senator John Sparkman (D-AL),

6174-488: The first major encounter of the American Civil War . The regiment, which contained two Huntsville companies, were the first Alabama troops to fight in the war. They were also present when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. Nine generals of the war were born in or near Huntsville; five fought for the Confederacy and four for the Union. Other Huntsville residents joined

6272-428: The first occupation, Union officers took over many of the larger homes in the city while the enlisted soldiers camped in tents mainly on the outskirts. Union troops searched for Confederate troops hiding in the town and weapons. There was not much resistance, and they treated Huntsville residents in a relatively civil manner. However, residents of nearby towns reported harsher treatment. Union troops were forced to retreat

6370-521: The history of American jurisprudence. Prior to Scottsboro's founding, the area surrounding the present-day city was inhabited by the Cherokee Indians . While the Tennessee Valley did not have large Native American settlements at the time of the first white settlers, there was a Cherokee town named "Sauta" near where Scottsboro developed along the Tennessee River. As settlers began pouring into

6468-484: The oldest lodge in Alabama. In 1811, Huntsville became the first incorporated town in what is now Alabama. However, the recognized "founding" year of the city is 1805, the year of John Hunt's arrival. David Wade settled in Huntsville in 1817. He built the David Wade House on the north side of what is now Bob Wade Lane (Robert B. Wade was David's grandson), just east of Mt. Lebanon Road. Huntsville's initial growth

6566-423: The population. Huntsville's main economic influence is derived from aerospace and military technology. Redstone Arsenal, Cummings Research Park (CRP), Jetplex Industrial Park, and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center comprise the main hubs for the area's technology-driven economy. CRP is the second largest research park in the United States and the fourth largest in the world. The University of Alabama in Huntsville

6664-556: The previous one. In its two reviews of appeals from the case, the United States Supreme Court overturned their death sentences and convictions, saying that the convictions had been obtained by improper procedures. Those convicted spent at least six years and as many as nineteen years incarcerated in harsh local jails and state prisons. The Scottsboro Boys had served long prison sentences when Governor George Wallace partially mitigated this widely accepted injustice by issuing

6762-583: The protests, the Community Service Committee (CSC) was formed to help organize sit-ins and protests, as well as bail out arrested protestors. In April 1962, a committee was formed by the city to "address the concerns of the African American community," and eight lunch counters, as well as a number of other public spaces, were desegregated. On May 11, 1962, Huntsville became the first city in Alabama to be racially integrated. In June 1963,

6860-435: The public square. The 20th century brought great changes to Scottsboro. In 1902, two cases of smallpox were found but the disease did not spread more widely. In 1903, the first car that came to the town drove through the square en route from Ohio to Florida. In 1906, local blacksmith H.C. Payne built Scottsboro's first homemade automobile, which was made with a wooden frame, four sprocket wheels and hand-powered cranks. In 1911,

6958-408: The rest of the United States domestic airlines. In 1995, Doyle sold the store to son Bryan Owens and wife Sharon, who expanded the storefront to its current size, the length of a city block, and introduced a museum and cafe. Oprah featured Unclaimed Baggage in 1995, bringing it national attention. Less than one half of one percent of luggage is unclaimed in the United States, and more than half of it

7056-444: The second largest in Alabama after Birmingham / Hoover . The City of Huntsville was incorporated on November 25, 1811 Due to settlement pressures after the United States gained independence, this area had become largely empty of indigenous peoples by the turn of the 19th century. An Indian trader and boatman named Ditto established himself at a landing on the river prior to American settlement. Revolutionary War veteran John Hunt

7154-594: The southern third is located in the unincorporated community of Greenbrier . More than 25 biotechnology firms have developed in Huntsville due to the Huntsville Biotech Initiative. The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is part of the 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) Cummings Research Park. The non-profit HudsonAlpha Institute has contributed genomics and genetics work to the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements ( ENCODE ). For-profit business ventures within

7252-622: The southwest area of the city for building three chemical munitions facilities: the Huntsville Arsenal , the Redstone Ordnance Plant (soon redesignated Redstone Arsenal), and the Gulf Chemical Warfare Depot. These operated throughout World War II , with combined personnel approaching 20,000. Resources in the area were strained as new workers flocked to the area, and the construction of housing could not keep up. At

7350-407: The store to keep the items, which included the puppet Hoggle. In 2023, the store's first "Found Report" documented trends in luggage contents as well as unusual finds, which included a pole vault pole, two live snakes, and medieval armor. 34°40′25″N 86°2′39″W  /  34.67361°N 86.04417°W  / 34.67361; -86.04417 This United States retail business article

7448-465: The title in 1930 and holding it since that time. It is located 30 miles each from the state boundaries of Georgia to the east ( Dade County ) and Tennessee to the north, about 45 miles from Huntsville, Alabama to the west and about 55 miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee to the northeast. The city lent its name to the Scottsboro Boys case, which is one of the most important civil rights cases in

7546-482: The travel/adventure television series Globe Trekker . Also, on the old Memphis and Charleston Railroad near the public square, the freight depot still stands. Built in 1861, it is considered the oldest standing structure in the original city limits. During the Civil War, Union raiders and Confederate soldiers fought in a skirmish, which ended up with bullet holes in the brick walls and wooden cargo doors. The structure

7644-656: The vicinity, with a chemical weapons plant and related facilities. After the war, additional research was conducted at Redstone Arsenal on rockets , followed by adaptations for space exploration. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center , the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command , and most recently the FBI's operational support headquarters, all were sited at Redstone Arsenal. The National Trust for Historic Preservation included Huntsville in its "America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010" list. The population

7742-512: The winter and spring, not summer. The average yearly precipitation is more than 54 inches. On average, the wettest single month is December, but Huntsville has a prolonged wetter season from November to May with, on average, nearly or over 5 or more inches of precipitation most of those months. On average, August to October represent slightly drier months (see climate chart, showing less than 3.6 inches of precipitation these months). Droughts can occur, primarily August through October, but usually there

7840-465: The world who make their way to Scottsboro to see what others have lost. The Unclaimed Baggage Center has been featured several times in the media, including in The Wall Street Journal , Vogue Magazine , The Los Angeles Times , Good Morning America , The Washington Post , The Dallas Morning News , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , The Baltimore Sun , The Seattle Times and

7938-480: Was 215,006 at the 2020 census , and was estimated to be 221,933 in 2022. The Huntsville metropolitan area 's population was 514,465 in 2022, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in the state after the Birmingham metropolitan area. The Huntsville metro area, which includes Madison city and the separate Southeast Huntsville urban areas had a combined population of 349,231 people in 2020, which makes it

8036-451: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.86. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males. The median income for

8134-588: Was a pioneer in 1805 on land around the Big Spring . The US negotiated an 1805 treaty with the Chickasaw and an 1806 treaty with the Cherokee who ceded their claims to land to the federal government. The area was subsequently purchased by LeRoy Pope , who named it Twickenham after the home village of his distant kinsman Alexander Pope . Thomas Freeman and Pharoah Roach started government surveys in 1805. Twickenham

8232-678: Was among the most important civil rights cases in the history of American jurisprudence. It was twice appealed to the United States Supreme Court and established the principles that, in the United States, criminal defendants are entitled to effective assistance of counsel and that people may not be de facto excluded from juries due to their race. In 1931 nine black youths, ranging in age from twelve to twenty, were accused in Scottsboro of raping two white women, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates, one of whom would later recant her accusation. The victims and accused alike had all hitched rides on

8330-463: Was at Sauta , a former native town, near present-day Scottsboro. Early county meetings were held in Sauta cave. Sauta did not survive after the courthouse was moved to Bellefonte in 1821. Since Bellefonte had better access to the Tennessee River than Sauta, more settlers started moving to the area. They were also attracted by it being the county seat. Scottsboro's founder, Robert Thomas Scott, served in

8428-513: Was based on wealth generated by the sale of cotton from plantations , for which there was international demand, and trade associated with railroad industries. Many wealthy planters moved into the area from Virginia , Georgia , and the Carolinas to develop new cotton plantations. The invention of the cotton gin in the late eighteenth century meant that uplands areas could be profitably cultivated with short-staple cotton, which could be grown in

8526-456: Was broken further when the first white person enrolled at Alabama A&M University. In August 1963, a court ruling determined that Huntsville must desegregate their schools. Wallace used state troopers to stop four students from entering the first desegregated school. On September 6, the troopers announced that the desegregated schools were closed for three more days, but the Board of Education issued

8624-501: Was carefully planned, with streets laid out in a northeast to southwest direction based on the flow of Big Spring. Given anti-British sentiment during this period after the Revolution and with tensions leading to the War of 1812 , in 1811 the town name was changed to "Huntsville" to honor pioneer John Hunt. Both John Hunt and LeRoy Pope were Freemasons and charter members of Helion Lodge #1 ,

8722-413: Was formed. In 1950, about 1,000 personnel were transferred from Fort Bliss , Texas, to Redstone Arsenal to form the Ordnance Guided Missile Center (OGMC). Central to this was a group of about 200 German scientists and engineers, led by Wernher von Braun ; they had been brought from Nazi Germany to the United States by Colonel Holger Toftoy under Operation Paperclip following World War II. Assigned to

8820-528: Was home to about 1,000 residents. Beginning in 1908, a ferry began transporting passengers and automobiles to and from Sand Mountain. In 1928–1931, the Kansas City Bridge Company built the B.B. Comer Bridge, a long steel bridge that now connects the county seat to Sand Mountain , almost tripling the town's population. The bridge entered use in July 1930. By 2007, the aging structure was classified by

8918-538: Was in developing the Saturn boosters used by NASA in the Apollo Lunar Landing Program . For this, MSFC greatly increased its employees, and many new companies joined the Huntsville industrial community. The Cummings Research Park was developed just north of Redstone Arsenal to partially accommodate this industrial growth, and has now become the second-largest research park of this type in America. Huntsville

9016-511: Was kept intact as it housed both Union officers and troops. During the Reconstruction era , three delegates from Huntsville attended the 1867 Constitutional Convention including Andrew J. Applegate , originally from Ohio, who went on to serve as Alabama's first Lieutenant Governor. Councill Training School, which eventually became William Hooper Councill High School , was established as the first public school for African American students. It

9114-464: Was known throughout Alabama for its high levels of production. Cotton mills grew Huntsville and the South's economies greatly, becoming 60% of all U.S. exports and connecting Huntsville to major cotton markets in Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans. An 1822 census showed that out of the 1,300 inhabitants of Huntsville, 448 were slaves, making up 36% of the city's population. In 1819, Huntsville hosted

9212-450: Was named for educator and school founder William Hooper Councill . Huntsville became a center for cotton textile mills , such as Lincoln, Dallas , and Merrimack. Each mill company constructed worker housing outside the city, creating communities that eventually included schools, churches, grocery stores, theaters, and hardware stores, all within walking distance of the mill. In many such company towns, workers were required to buy goods at

9310-447: Was not suitable for tracks. In 1861/1863, the Bellefonte courthouse was set ablaze and charred. The area was heavily damaged during the U.S. Civil War . Selection of the new county seat began in 1860 by having a contest to see which towns were suitable. Many of the county's towns pushed for their selection, but the leading candidates were Hollywood , Stevenson , Larkinsville, and Scotts-borough (Scottsboro). To narrow consideration,

9408-480: Was opened in 2008 and provides powertrain components to Navistar's vehicle assembly plants in Springfield, Ohio and Escobedo, Mexico. The plant is located north of Huntsville International Airport. The Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA was constructed in 2021 with a plan to hire 4,000 employees. The facility produces Toyota and Mazda SUVs and pickup trucks . The majority of the plant is located in Huntsville; however,

9506-529: Was restored and reopened as a museum in June 2012. First Monday has been a major draw for over one hundred years, perhaps since 1870. In the old Southern style, First Monday is a trade day (or craft show ) in which people set up booths and sell homemade wares. Payne's Soda Fountain, located on the Courthouse Square, has been in business since 1869. It has been in its current location on the northwest corner of

9604-645: Was selected as the permanent home of the United States Space Operations Command in 2020, but in 2023 the Pentagon announced that the temporary headquarters would be expanded and remain in Colorado. Huntsville was a key location in the Civil Rights Movement . In 1962, students from Alabama A&M University held the city's first lunch counter sit-in . After the mayor refused to address

#981018