kids encyclopedia robot

Limestone County, Alabama facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Limestone County
Limestone County Courthouse in Athens
Limestone County Courthouse in Athens
Official seal of Limestone County
Seal
Official logo of Limestone County
Logo
Map of Alabama highlighting Limestone County
Location within the U.S. state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Alabama
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)
 • Total 103,570
 • Estimate 
(2023)
114,654 Increase
 • Density 170.63/sq mi (65.88/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 5th
  • County Number 44 on Alabama Licence Plates

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.

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.

Limestone County (Alabama) Historical Marker
Historical marker on the northwest side of the courthouse

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

Neighboring Counties

Limestone County shares borders with several other counties:

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
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

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:

Transportation Routes

Limestone County has important roads and railways. These help people and goods move around.

Major Highways

  • I-65 (AL).svg Interstate 65
  • I-565 (AL).svg Interstate 565
  • US 31.svg U.S. Highway 31
  • US 72.svg U.S. Highway 72
  • Alternate plate.svg
    US 72.svgAlabama 20.svg Alternate U.S. Highway 72/State Route 20
  • Alabama 53.svg State Route 53
  • Alabama 99.svg State Route 99
  • Alabama 127.svg State Route 127
  • Alabama 251.svg State Route 251

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

Historic buildings in Elkmont, Alabama LCCN2010640878
Historic buildings in Elkmont

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

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Limestone (Alabama) para niños

kids search engine
Limestone County, Alabama Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.