| City: | Huntsville, Alabama |
| Names to Avoid: | Oakwood College |
| County: | Madison County |
| Timezone: | Central (GMT -06:00) |
| Local Time: | 11:04:42 PM |
| Population: | 596 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 256 / 938 |
| Classification: | Unique [Company/Government] |
| Coordinates: | 34.7546, -86.6511 |
| Land Area: | 0.434 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Oakwood University, the only historically black university owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, operates under dedicated ZIP code 35896 in Madison County. Founded in 1896 as Oakwood Industrial School to educate recently-freed African Americans in the South, the institution opened November 16 of that year with 16 students on a 380-acre former slave plantation purchased for $6,700. The campus takes its name from the towering oak trees on property that once was home to Dred Scott. The school evolved through several names: Oakwood Manual Training School (1904), Oakwood Junior College (1917), Oakwood College, and finally Oakwood University in 2008.
The 0.26-square-mile campus boundary hosts 4 ZIP+4 delivery codes routing mail to Oakwood College on Adventist Boulevard. U.S. News & World Report ranks Oakwood among the nation's top HBCUs, and in 2018 the U.S. Senate recognized it as a leading source of Black medical school applicants. Martin Luther King Jr. visited campus in 1962, inspiring an integrated commitment to civil rights.
The 2020 Census counted 596 residents within this ZIP code. A median age of 20.2 years reflects the student population, with 537 people (90%) living in non-institutional group quarters such as dormitories. ACS data shows 59% of workers in the Educational/Healthcare industry, consistent with the university's role as a major employer with 1,109 jobs. Huntsville is the valid mailing city for this ZIP code.
| Population: | 596 |
| Median Age: | 20.2 |
| Housing Units: | 4 |
| Establishments: | 8 |
| Employment: | 1,109 |
| Residential: | 0 |
| Business: | 1 |
Buildings registered in the USPS ZIP+4 database with designated codes for direct mail delivery.
ZIP Code 35896 has 596 residents and 4 households (average 14.75 persons per household). The median age is 20.2 years, significantly younger than the state (39.7) and significantly younger than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 24.5% male and 75.5% female, which is much lower than the national male share (49.1%), making this a female-majority area. Largest groups are Black or African American (91.8%, much higher than the state average of 25.8% and well above the national average of 12.4%) and Hispanic or Latino (5.4%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%), and Black or African American share is much higher than both the state (25.8%) and national averages (12.4%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 596Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 532Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 1,373.3 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $0Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 4Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $0Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 14.75Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 27.00Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 643 | 612 | 636 | 608 | 680 | 677 | 684 | 700 | 698 | 615 | 619 | 527 | 532 |
| Decennial Census | 636 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 596 | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 20.2
Male Median Age: 20.6
Female Median Age: 20
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 7 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 89 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Female | 2 | 1 | 3 | 217 | 210 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 9 | 3 | 3 | 249 | 299 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| White: | 4 | 0.66% |
| Black: | 547 | 90.86% |
| Hispanic:* | 32 | 5.32% |
| Asian: | 6 | 1.00% |
| American Indian: | 4 | 0.66% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 9 | 1.50% |
| Total: | 602 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 146 | 24.50% | 20.6 years |
| Females: | 450 | 75.50% | 20.0 years |
| Total: | 596 | 100% | 20.2 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 490 | 92.11% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 22 | 4.14% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 20 | 3.76% |
| Total Population: | 532 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 512 | 96.24% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 20 | 3.76% |
In 2023, the Median household income is $0, which is far less than the state median ($62,027), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $0. Family households earn a median of $0 versus $0 for nonfamily households (a difference of $0). By gender, male median income is $0 and female is $0, which is well under the state female median ($44,141), with a current gap of $0 that has stayed about the same from 2011 to 2023. The labor-force participation rate is 42.3%, which is markedly below the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 12.4%, which is far worse than the state rate (4.8%). The largest occupation group is Service (39.1%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Family Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Male Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Female Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Employed: | 197 | 37.03% |
| Unemployed: | 28 | 5.26% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 307 | 57.71% |
| Total: | 532 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 51 | 25.89% |
| Service: | 77 | 39.09% |
| Sales and Office: | 69 | 35.03% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 197 | 100% |
Insufficient data for educational attainment. The uninsured rate is 1.50%, which is markedly below the state rate (9.40%). Private coverage is 85.70%, which is notably higher than the state rate (66.80%). Public coverage is 15.80%, which is markedly below the state rate (37.50%). Insufficient data for poverty. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is college (100.00%). College enrollment is 100.00%, which is markedly above the state rate (26.10%), indicating the community is likely a college hub with student-driven housing and services.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 0 | 0% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 0 | 0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 0 | 0% |
| Some college, no degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Associate's degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 0 | 0% |
| Total: | 0 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 0 | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 0 | 0% |
| Private Insurance: | 456 | 83.21% |
| Public Insurance: | 84 | 15.33% |
| No Insurance: | 8 | 1.46% |
| Total: | 548 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 540 | 98.54% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | -666,666,666.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 0 | 0.00% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 0 | 0.00% |
| College or graduate school: | 532 | 100.00% |
| Total: | 532 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 0 | 0.00% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 0 | 0.00% |
ZIP Code 35896 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 9 business establishments, employing about 1,070 people with an annual payroll of $22,684,000. USPS data shows 0 residential mailboxes and 1 business mailboxes, reflecting local delivery coverage.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 1Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 1Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 9Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $5,000,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $22,684,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 1,070Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 35896 is located in Madison County, Alabama, within the Huntsville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 26620) and Alabama's 5th Congressional District. This Metro area has a population of 504,712 people, about 0.12% of whom live in ZIP Code 35896. It covers 0.434 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.007 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Huntsville, ALSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 26620Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MetroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 504,712Source: Census |
| MSA: | Huntsville, AL MSASource: Census |
| Land Area: | 0.434 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.007 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 05Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 3677.31 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | --Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 0137000Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Huntsville city; AlabamaSource: Census |
We could not locate which school district 35896 belongs to, but we will update this once new district data is released. There are 0 public schools with a nearby mailing address, but we have located 5 public schools nearby. There are however 1 private school(s). It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on January 1, 2026.