Limestone County, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Limestone County
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Limestone County Courthouse in Athens
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Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
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 Alabama's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Alabama |
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| Founded | February 6, 1818 | ||
| Named for | Limestone Creek | ||
| Seat | Athens | ||
| Largest city | Athens | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 607 sq mi (1,570 km2) | ||
| • Land | 560 sq mi (1,500 km2) | ||
| • Water | 47 sq mi (120 km2) 7.8% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 103,570 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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114,654  |
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| • Density | 170.63/sq mi (65.88/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 5th | ||
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Limestone County is a county in the state of Alabama, United States. It is located in the northern part of the state. In 2020, about 103,570 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Athens. The county gets its name from Limestone Creek. Limestone County is part of the larger Huntsville area.
Contents
History of Limestone County
Limestone County was created on February 6, 1818. This was done by the Alabama Territorial legislature. A few years later, in 1821, the county's border changed. An area near the Elk River and Tennessee River was added. This part used to belong to Lauderdale County.
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Geography and Nature
Limestone County covers about 607 square miles. Most of this area, 560 square miles, is land. The rest, 47 square miles, is water. It is one of the smaller counties in Alabama.
Rivers and Waterways
- Tennessee River
- Elk River
Neighboring Counties
Limestone County shares borders with several other counties:
- Giles County, Tennessee - to the north
- Lincoln County, Tennessee - to the northeast
- Madison County - to the east
- Morgan County - to the southeast
- Lawrence County - to the southwest
- Lauderdale County - to the west
Protected Areas
A part of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is located in Limestone County. This refuge helps protect wildlife.
People of Limestone County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 9,871 | — | |
| 1830 | 14,807 | 50.0% | |
| 1840 | 14,374 | −2.9% | |
| 1850 | 16,483 | 14.7% | |
| 1860 | 15,306 | −7.1% | |
| 1870 | 15,017 | −1.9% | |
| 1880 | 21,600 | 43.8% | |
| 1890 | 21,201 | −1.8% | |
| 1900 | 22,387 | 5.6% | |
| 1910 | 26,880 | 20.1% | |
| 1920 | 31,341 | 16.6% | |
| 1930 | 36,629 | 16.9% | |
| 1940 | 35,642 | −2.7% | |
| 1950 | 35,766 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 36,513 | 2.1% | |
| 1970 | 41,699 | 14.2% | |
| 1980 | 46,005 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 54,135 | 17.7% | |
| 2000 | 65,676 | 21.3% | |
| 2010 | 82,782 | 26.0% | |
| 2020 | 103,570 | 25.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 114,654 | 38.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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In 2020, the county had 103,570 people. There were 32,020 households and 23,919 families. The population has grown a lot over the years.
Most people in Limestone County are White. About 73% of the population is White. About 12.7% are Black or African American. Other groups include Asian, Native American, and people of mixed races. About 7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Limestone County
Limestone County has several school districts. These districts provide public education for students.
- Limestone County School District
- Athens City Schools
- Decatur City School District
- Huntsville City School District
- Madison City School District
For higher education, there are two colleges:
- Calhoun Community College is a two-year college.
- Athens State University is a four-year university.
Transportation Routes
Limestone County has important roads and railways. These help people and goods move around.
Major Highways
Interstate 65
Interstate 565
U.S. Highway 31
U.S. Highway 72
Alternate U.S. Highway 72/State Route 20
State Route 53
State Route 99
State Route 127
State Route 251
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Railways
- CSX Transportation has a freight line running north to south.
- Norfolk Southern Railway has a freight line running east to west.
Airports
The closest major airport is Huntsville International Airport (HSV). It is about 23 miles away. Nashville Airport (BNA) is also nearby, about 104 miles north.
Fun Things to Do
Limestone County offers many activities for recreation. You can enjoy nature, sports, and local events.
Outdoor Activities
- Walking and Biking Trails:
- Ardmore Walking Tracks: Two tracks, one 0.25 miles and another 0.5 miles long.
- Athens Greenway Walking Trail: A 3.3-mile trail that extends to U.S. Highway 72.
- Richard Martin Trail: A 10.2-mile trail for biking, horseback riding, and walking. It is a National Recreation Trail.
- Water Fun:
- Cowford Landing: A spot for swimming, fishing, and boating.
- Limestone County Canoe and Kayak Trail: A 21.9-mile trail along the Elk River. It is also a National Recreation Trail.
- Golfing:
- Canebrake Club (membership required)
- Southern Gayles Golf Club (open to the community)
- Fishing:
- You can fish in the Elk River, Tennessee River, and Wheeler Lake. These are great spots for fishing.
- Hunting:
- Several preserves offer hunting for deer, dove, quail, and pheasant.
- Swan Creek WMA and Tennessee Valley Federal Property also offer regulated hunting areas.
Local Festivals and Events
Limestone County hosts many fun festivals throughout the year.
- Spring Events:
- Polk Sallet Follies (March)
- Athens Cruise In (April–September)
- Earth Day Celebration (April)
- Limestone Sheriff's Rodeo (May)
- Summer Fun:
- Athens Lions Club Kiddie Carnival (June–August)
- Limestone County Week of Independence (late June–early July)
- Firework Show (July)
- Ardmore Crape Myrtle Festival (August)
- Fall Festivals:
- Athens Grease Festival (September)
- Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention (October)
- Athens Storytelling Festival (October)
- Winter Celebrations:
- Athens Christmas Parade (December)
- Limestone County Tree Lighting (December)
Places to Visit
Limestone County has many interesting places to explore, including museums and historic sites.
Museums and History
- Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives: This museum honors veterans from different wars. It has many displays and items.
- College Inn/Newby Gulf Station Museum: This old gas station has been restored to look like it did in the 1940s.
- Donnell House: A historic home important to the "Sack of Athens" event during the Civil War.
- Houston Memorial Library and Museum: This building is a library and also houses the county museum.
- Limestone County Archives: Here you can find records about the community and family history.
Other Points of Interest
- Alabama Welcome Center: Located near the state border, it has a Saturn 1B rocket and war memorials.
- Athens State University: Founders Hall is the original building. It has large pillars and a special chapel.
- Trinity School: This school was started to educate children of freed slaves.
- Limestone County Confederate Soldiers Memorial
Communities in Limestone County
The largest city completely within Limestone County is Athens. In 2020, Athens had over 25,000 people. Other cities like Madison and Huntsville are partly in Limestone County. Mooresville is the smallest town, with only 47 people in 2020.
Cities
- Athens (county seat)
- Decatur (mostly in Morgan County)
- Huntsville (mostly in Madison County)
- Madison (mostly in Madison County)
Towns
Unincorporated Communities
- Belle Mina
- Burgreen Gin
- Capshaw
- Coxey
- French Mill
- Good Springs
- Greenbrier
- Holland Gin
- Oakland (near Athens)
- Oakland (near Madison)
- Pettusville
- Scarce Grease
- Tanner
- Thach
- Veto
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Limestone (Alabama) para niños
