A former Huntsville city planner, Dallas Fanning, told me that Huntsville learned a very important lesson in the early 70s when the space program and the anti-ballistic missile programs both crashed at the same time. Unemployment sky rocketed. Huntsville learned to diversity it’s employment base across both military and civilian.
I was fortunate that the military brought me to Huntsville in the mid-70s. Absolutely great place to live.
I grew up in the 70s in the region (west of Huntsville). When I go back to the region, I’m often surprised how things have changed and improved. A kid who grows up in this region today, and gets a background/degree in a technology field, is virtually guaranteed a job for the rest of is life in Huntsville.
Toss in the moderate weather, relative low crime, reasonable tax base, improving school system, and airport situation (local, and Nashville only an hour away)...it’s a great area. Only negative is hot July weather, tornado warnings, and snakes.
I had a customer in Huntsville who manufactured optical discs (compact discs, laser disc, DVDs, etc.). Loved to visit the Space and Rocket Center when I was in town...