Limestone County, Alabama

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Limestone County, Alabama
Limestone County Courthouse in Athens, Alabama
Map of Alabama highlighting Limestone County
Location in the state of Alabama
Map of the United States highlighting Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded February 6[1], 1818[1]
Seat Athens
Largest city Athens
Area
 • Total 607.08 sq mi (1,572 km2)
 • Land 568.05 sq mi (1,471 km2)
 • Water 39.03 sq mi (101 km2), (6.43%)
Population (Est.)
 • (2012) 87,654
 • Density 146/sq mi (56/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website limestonecounty.net

Limestone County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Huntsville Metropolitan Area.

It is also included in the merged Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area. Its name comes from Limestone Creek, a local stream. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 82,782.[2] Its county seat is Athens.

History

See also: History of Athens, Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, and National Register of Historic Places

Limestone County was established by the Alabama Territorial legislature on February 6, 1818.[1] On November 27, 1821, the Alabama State legislature passed an Act that altered the boundary of Limestone County include the area east of the mouth of the Elk River with the Tennessee River. At the time, that area was a part of Lauderdale County.[3]

Historical marker on the northwest side of the courthouse

Local government

Limestone County comprises the Thirty-Ninth Judicial Circuit of Alabama. The Thirty-Ninth Judicial Circuit was created in the early 1980s when Limestone County broke away from Morgan County to form its own circuit.

The Thirty-Ninth Judicial Circuit has two circuit judges and two district judges. The two circuit judges are Judge James W. Woodroof and Judge Robert M. Baker. The two district judges are Judge Jeanne W. Anderson and Judge Jerry L. Batts.

The current District Attorney is Brian C.T. Jones.

The current Sheriff of Limestone County is Mike Blakely, who has been sheriff for 7 terms (since 1982). The term for sheriff is 4 years, and there is no term limit.

Stanley Menefee (R) is the Chairman of the County Commission.[4]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 607.08 square miles (1,572.3 km2), of which 568.05 square miles (1,471.2 km2) (or 93.57%) is land and 39.03 square miles (101.1 km2) (or 6.43%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Rail

River

Adjacent counties

 Giles County, Tennessee Lincoln County, Tennessee
Lauderdale County Madison County
   Limestone County, Alabama  
Lawrence County Morgan County

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18209,871
—
183014,80750.0%
184014,374−2.9%
185016,48314.7%
186015,306−7.1%
187015,017−1.9%
188021,60043.8%
189021,201−1.8%
190022,3875.6%
191026,88020.1%
192031,34116.6%
193036,62916.9%
194035,642−2.7%
195035,7660.3%
196036,5132.1%
197041,69914.2%
198046,00510.3%
199054,13517.7%
200065,67621.3%
201082,78226.0%
Est. 201287,6545.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
2012 Estimate[8]

As of the 2000 census, there were 65,676 people, 24,688 households, and 18,219 families residing in the county. The population density was 45/km2 (116/sq mi). There were 26,897 housing units at an average density of 18/km2 (47/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 78.79% White, 15.33% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 2.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the census of 2000, the largest ancestry groups in Limestone County were English 66.31%, Scots-Irish 15.12%, and African 13.33%

As of the 2010 census Limestone County was 80.3% White or European American, 12.6% Black or African American and 5.5% Hispanic.[9]

There were 24,688 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.80 males.

The median household income in the county was $37,405, and the median income for a family was $45,146. Males had a median income of $35,743 versus $23,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,782. About 9.80% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Limestone County is home to Swan Creek Wildlife Management area, part of the Tennessee River, and a section of the Elk River. Athens is home to the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, an annual event that takes place each October, on the Athens State University campus.

Cities and towns

Incorporated

Unincorporated

Education

Recreation

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 A digest of the laws of the State of Alabama: containing the statutes and resolutions in force at the end of the General Assembly in January, 1823. Published by Ginn & Curtis, J. & J. Harper, Printers, New-York, 1828. Title 10. Chapter XII. Page 85. An Act to establish the western and southern Boundaries of Madison County, and to establish the Counties of Limestone and Lauderdale--Passed February 6, 1818.
  2. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 24 May 2012. 
  3. ↑ A digest of the laws of the State of Alabama: containing the statutes and resolutions in force at the end of the General Assembly in January, 1823. Published by Ginn & Curtis, J. & J. Harper, Printers, New-York, 1828. Title 10. Chapter XXXII. Page 99. An Act to alter and extend the Boundaries of Limestone County--Passed November 27, 1821.
  4. ↑ Election. Limestone County, Alabama. Election Central Judge of Probate Office. November 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Alabama Railway Map. 2008. Alabama Department of Transportation. Accessed 2010-12-10.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 30, 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved June 30, 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Limestone County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved 2013-07-10. 
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 2010 NRT designations. National Recreation Trails. 2010-06-02. U.S. Department of Interior. Accessed 2012-03-15.
  12. ↑ Richard Martin Trail National Recreation Trails Database. American Trails. Last Updated 06/09/2011.

External links

Municipalities and communities of Limestone County, Alabama, United States
Cities
Towns
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Communities of the Huntsville-Decatur Area
Population over 100,000
Population over 50,000
Population over 20,000
Population over 10,000
Population over 5,000
Population over 2,000
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Population under 200
Unincorporated areas
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Montgomery (capital)
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Flora and fauna
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Coordinates: 34°48′40″N 86°59′03″W / 34.81111°N 86.98417°W / 34.81111; -86.98417

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