By 
August 7, 2023
3,261 – that’s how many new residents the City of Huntsville welcomed between July 2021 and July 2022, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
It doesn’t take a mathematician to see our city is growing. As Huntsville works to manage its growth in a smart, measured way, it’s important that newcomers know how to navigate their City government.
Here’s a beginner’s guide to getting to know Huntsville:
Know your first responders
First things first, you should know who to call in case of an emergency. This includes the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), Huntsville Fire & Rescue (HFR) and Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).
In a true emergency, it’s normal to call 911; however, each of these agencies has a nonemergency line for the other operations they handle in the City:
- Huntsville Police Department: 256-722-7100
- Huntsville Fire & Rescue: 256-722-7210
- Huntsville-Madison County EMA: 256-427-5130
HPD also has specific lines for accident reports, crisis intervention and reported drug activity. That contact information can be found here.
Get around town
Getting around the Rocket City has never been easier.
With Huntsville Transit, over 70 miles of greenways and bike routes galore, there are countless options to maneuver Huntsville with or without a vehicle.
Huntsville Transit offers multiple services for residents. Access is a specialized, door-to-door paratransit service, while Orbit is available to everyone at bus stops across the City. Ride-sharing services through CommuteSmart are also available to alleviate heavy traffic during your morning and evening commute.
Huntsville’s bus system, Orbit, operates Monday–Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you’re hoping to take the scenic route to your destination, look no further than Huntsville’s greenways.
Through the City’s partnership with the Land Trust of North Alabama, trails, paved pathways and pedestrian/bike streets connect Huntsville residents to each other. See a map of our current greenways here.
Stay connected
If you need to report service requests like potholes, a lost pet or broken parking meters – look no further than Huntsville Connect.
The free mobile and web application is the perfect way to find a fix through photos and real-time feedback. It even allows you to report situations confidentially.
Huntsville Connect also notifies you when the issue is resolved. The app is available here or for download on Google Play or the App Store.
Find your Council member
Make sure you know who your City Council representative is – and how to contact them when the need arises.
Current members of the Huntsville City Council are Devyn Keith, David Little, Jennie Robinson, Bill Kling and John Meredith. Contact information for each Council member as well as a map of their districts is located here.
City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the 1st Floor Chambers of City Hall, 308 Fountain Circle. Meetings are open to the public in-person, broadcast on HSV-TV (Comcast 1088/16 or WOW 42) and streamed live via HuntsvilleAL.gov/HSVTV.
You should also find your polling location when you move into your new home.
All election information, including important dates and where to vote, is available here. If you need to register to vote or update your address, visit alabamavotes.gov.
Members of the Huntsville City Council, left to right: David Little, Jennie Robinson, John Meredith, Bill Kling and Devyn Keith.
Have fun
Once you’re settled in, it’s time to explore and see all the City of Huntsville has to offer!
Spend time outdoors at one of the City’s 65+ parks that span over 3,000 acres. Our parks range from small green spaces to massive multiuse areas with playgrounds and plenty of activities.
If you’re hoping to stay indoors, look no further than our recreation centers. With centers scattered across the City, there are opportunities for everyone to have fun – sometimes right outside their front door. Recreation center activities include everything from swimming, sports and disc golf to games and computer classes.
In addition, Huntsville boasts numerous museums, walking trails and greenways, theaters, art exhibits, restaurants and much more.
For more information about being a Rocket City resident, visit our Resident Toolkit or follow the City of Huntsville on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
