North Alabama

Several geographic definitions for the area exist, with all descriptions including the nine counties of Alabama's Tennessee Valley region.

The North Alabama Industrial Development Association also lists Cherokee, Cullman, Franklin, and Winston counties in the region.

[1] The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association expands the definition further to include Blount, Etowah, and Marion counties.

Geologically, the Cumberland Plateau, marked by wooded steep-sided plateaus separated by deep valleys, dominates the eastern portion of the region.

The northern areas of Alabama contain a wide variety of industrial, manufacturing, and high-tech corporations with both large and small operations.

The Huntsville area is home to the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal, the largest employer in the region, as well as NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center.

The Decatur area, in the central part of the region, has long been a center for shipping and manufacturing due to its location on the Tennessee River.

[16] The most visited attractions in North Alabama are the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and Point Mallard Park.

Other popular destinations include Lake Guntersville State Park, Joe Wheeler State Park, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Little River Canyon National Preserve, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and the Cook Museum of Natural Science.

Map of North Alabama counties shaded in, with metropolitan areas labeled. (counties not included in a metropolitan area are shaded in red)
Little River Canyon is a distinct feature of North Alabama’s Cumberland Plateau region.
A view of Downtown Huntsville, The largest city in North Alabama
Downtown Madison, The Second largest city in North Alabama
Decatur seen from the Tennessee River, is the third largest city in North Alabama
Wilson Dam is a part of the Tennessee Valley Authority 's valuable impact on the North Alabama economy.
The University of North Alabama is Alabama’s oldest public university.