The Rocket City just keeps getting better and better!Â
Out of 25 cities lists as the South's best on the rise in 2024, Huntsville sits near the top – landing right at No. 4.
Southern Living says the cities on their list have "excellent food scenes, cool yet quaint downtown districts, incredible natural beauty, thriving arts communities, and the warmth (the South) is known for. And they’re not done growing. Each one has exciting new projects on the horizon."
In describing Huntsville, Southern Living highlights The Orion Amphitheater as a "world-class music venue and live entertainment destination," and mentions how the city is looking to add a $325 million mixed-use development to include restaurants, a hotel, shops, entertainment, and more. They even mention how Huntsville was named the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Place to Live for Families in 2023-2024.
Now, here's their list of the South's best cities on the rise in 2024:
1. Wilmington, North Carolina
2. Franklin, Tennessee
3. Spartanburg, South Carolina
4. Huntsville, Alabama
5. Columbia, South Carolina
6. New Braunfels, Texas
7. Bowling Green, Kentucky
8. Cary, North Carolina
9. Alpharetta, Georgia
10. Bentonville, Arkansas
11. Covington, Louisiana
12. Gulfport, Mississippi
13. Palm Bay, Florida
14. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
15. Georgetown, Texas
16. Frederick, Maryland
17. Gainesville, Georgia
18. Clarksville, Tennessee
19. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
20. Morgantown, West Virginia
21. North Port, Florida
22. Lake Charles, Louisiana
23. Reston, Virginia
24. Edmond, Oklahoma
25. Dover, Delaware
How did Southern Living come up with the above list? Here is their answer: "Southern Living editors compiled a large list of cities based on research, reporting, and our own experiences. Then, our readers selected their top picks in our annual South’s Best Awards survey."
See Southern Living's full report .
Image from the City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government Facebook page
