Mountains Region, AL Land for Sale

The Mountains region of Alabama covers the northern part of the state, and borders Tennessee to the north, Mississippi to the west and Georgia to the east. The largest city in the region is Huntsville, with other large cities being Tuscumbia, Athens, Scottsboro, Fort Payne, Russellville, Decatur, Florence, Madison, Guntersville, Cullman, Hamilton, Oneonta and Gadsden. Though Huntsville is an anchor city in the region, Decatur and Florence are the anchors of Northwestern Alabama, as the largest economic centers north of Birmingham and west of Huntsville. Florence is the main cultural center of the northwest. Part of this area is often referred to as the "Tennessee Valley," in reference to the Tennessee River, which flows through the northern part of the state, with East Tennessee also being part of that area.

The region has a wide variety of industrial, manufacturing and high-tech corporations with both large and small operations. Each of the three economic centers in Huntsville, Decatur and Florence have distinct economic bases. Huntsville is dominated by the high-tech industries and federal operations such as Boeing and NASA. Decatur is dependent primarily on industrial and manufacturing companies, but also some high-tech and federal entities. The Florence area, also known as "The Shoals," is dependent on industry and manufacturing. The entire region relies heavily on row-crop, cattle and poultry production, with some of the largest row-crop operations in the state. There are a number of higher education institutions in the Mountains Region, which include University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of North Alabama, Oakwood University, Heritage Christian University, Huntsville Bible College, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Calhoun Community College, Gadsden State Community College, J.F. Drake State Technical College, Northeast Alabama Community College, Northwest-Shoals Community College, Snead State Community College and Wallace State Community College.

There are four national wildlife refuges, one national forest and seven state protected areas. Most notable include William B. Bankhead National Forest, Blowing Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge, Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Guntersville State Park, featuring 69,00-acre Guntersville Reservoir and over 6,000 acres of natural woodlands, Monte Sano State Park, rising more than 1,600 feet above sea level, Rickwood Caverns State Park and Joe Wheeler State Park. Some other attractions in the region include the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Cathedral Caverns in Woodville, the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Stone Bridge Farms in Cullman, scenic Lookout Mountain Parkway, Fort Payne Depot Museum, Imagination Place Children's Museum in Gadsden, Jesse Owens Museum in Danville, Blue and Gray Museum of North Alabama in Decatur, with the largest privately owned collection of Civil War artifacts in the country, Helen Keller birthplace in Tuscumbia and Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center in Danville.

Cullman County is located in the southcentral area of Alabama's Mountains region. It is named for Col. John. G. Cullmann, a German businessman and political activist who emigrated to the United States and founded the town of Cullman. Cullman is the largest city and the county seat, with other cities being Arab, Good Hope and Hanceville, and there are more than 30 other towns and unincorporated communities. Wallace State Community College is located in the county in Hanceville, and has grown to be the third largest community college in the state. The county ranks among the highest nationally and regionally in production of poultry and sweet potatoes. Some attractions in the county include Clarkson Covered Bridge and Park, Cullman County Museum, Cullman Depot, Smith Lake Park and Weiss Cottage, the oldest home in Cullman.

Winston County is located just west of Cullman County in Alabama's Mountains region. It is named for John A. Winston, the 15th Governor of Alabama. Haleyville is the only city in the county, and the town of Double Springs is the county seat, and there are around 10 other towns and unincorporated communities. There are four sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Winston County, which include Archeological Site No. 1WI50, Feldman's Department Store, the Houston Jail and the Winston County Courthouse. Part of William B. Bankhead National Forest is located in the county. Some other attractions include Kinlock and Turkey Foot Falls and Natural Bridge.

Madison County is located in the northern part of Alabama's Mountains region, and borders Tennessee to the north. It is the third most populated county in the state. It is named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States. Huntsville is the largest city and the county seat. Other cities include Madison and New Hope, and there are around 20 other towns and unincorporated communities. The county and Huntsville are known for its high-tech industries, with the community fueled by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines, and has even been nicknamed "the STEM capital of the South." Huntsville is home to Alabama's top paid tourist attraction, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the largest space museum in the world. Part of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and Monte Sano State Park are in the county. Some other attractions include Huntsville Botanical Garden, Huntsville Museum of Art, Weeden House Museum and Garden, Burritt on the Mountain, a unique museum of regional history, Historic Huntsville Depot and Alabama Constitution Village.