MADISON COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- We have a question for you. Do you know your neighbors? Have you ever met them? Do you know their names? All too many of us would have to answer no, but there's a movement  across the country to change that. It's something called "new urbanism," and in many ways it's a case of Back to the Future.

Just ask Derek and Brandi Hasley. They're going for a walk with their dog, and in the village of Providence in Madison County, that's a significant occurrence.

"Of all the places we've lived, this is the one community where we have gotten to know more of our neighbors," Derek said.

"I think the goal is to get the community more involved," Brandi added.

Whether they know it or not, the Hasleys are part of a rapidly-growing trend called new urbanism.

MADISON COUNTY, AL (WAFF)-

The numbers are in on the
economic front when it comes to travel and tourism dollars coming into Madison County.

Huntsville City officials and area hospitality
industry leaders said the number of visitors into the area decreased slightly
in 2012, but Huntsville and Madison County are still some of the most visited
cities in Alabama.

"We have an
economic impact of $1 billion dollars to this community and that is huge," said
Judy Ryals, Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We're
bringing in new dollars to the community and that improves the quality of life
for everyone who lives here."

Ryals
and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said they plan to increase the number of
visitors and conventions to the area by continuing to highlight Huntsville's role in space and research and
overall quality of life. More than 14,000 area jobs are tied to the hospitality
industry.