HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Huntsville has been named one of the "Top 100 Best Places to Live" in the United States by Livability.com -- the only Alabama city to earn that distinction.



The website, which rates the quality of life and travel amenities in small and mid-sized cities, said Huntsville earned high marks for its amenities and education, as well as "social and civic capital."

"Great cities are more than just a check-list of bars, coffee shops and museums," Livability.com editor Matt Carmichael said in a Wednesday news release. "Our goal was to collect the best data available, from the best sources and the best partners, to gauge the true measures of livability. Access was important, but so were utilization and affordability."

The website ranked Huntsville No. 30 on its list on the nation's 100 best places to live in 2014 and had this to say about the Rocket City:

"Huntsville's climate and proximity to the Tennessee River make fishing, boating and camping part of almost year-round fun for residents. The city's rich history and dedication to the arts shows through Huntsville's festivals, museums and local attractions, like the Huntsville Clubhouse Cedarhurst Mansion, Big Spring Jam and botanical garden. Its business reputation as a technology center attracts a skilled and talented workforce, and technology-focused programs benefit local students. Huntsville is also home to several colleges, including the University of Alabama-Huntsville and Alabama A&M."

Big Spring Jam is actually no longer a part of Huntsville's cultural scene; organizers decided to scrap the outdoor music festival in November 2011 due to waning attendance.

Palo Alto, Calif., topped the Livability.com list, followed by: Boulder, Colo.; Berkeley, Calif.; Durham, N.C.; Miami Beach, Fla.; Rochester, Minn.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Eugene, Ore.; Reno, Nev.; and Rockville, Md. Click here for the full list.



Huntsville was the only Alabama city on the list, and one of just a handful of places in the South. Lexington, Ky., was ranked No. 27. Also making the cut were Charleston, S.C. (No. 56), Knoxville, Tenn. (No. 61), Fayetteville, Ark. (No. 63), Greenville, S.C. (No. 65) and Chattanooga, Tenn. (No. 83).

Livability.com says it partnered with the Martin Prosperity Institute, a leading think tank on the role of location, place and city-regions in global economic prosperity, to produce the list.

Updated at 10:23 a.m. to add that the Big Spring Jam outdoor music festival ended in late 2011.