Limestone County, Alabama

Limestone County, Alabama
Limestone County Courthouse in Athens
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]
Named for Limestone Creek
Seat Athens
Largest city Athens
Area
 • Total 607 sq mi (1,572 km2)
 • Land 560 sq mi (1,450 km2)
 • Water 47 sq mi (122 km2), (7.8%)
Population (Est.)
 • (2014) 90,787
 • Density 148/sq mi (57/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. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 82,782.[2] Its county seat is Athens.[3] Its name comes from Limestone Creek, a local stream.

Limestone County is included in the Huntsville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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.[4]

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.

Mark Yarbrough (R) is the Chairman of the County Commission.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 607 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 560 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (7.8%) is water.[6] It is the third smallest county in Alabama by land area.

River

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

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. 201490,7879.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2014[2]

As of the 2000 census,[12] 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%

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.

As of the 2010 census Limestone County was 80.3% White or European American, 12.6% Black or African American and 5.5% Hispanic.[13]

Education

Recreation

[17]

GOLF

FISHING

HUNTING

FESTIVALS

[18] [19]

Points of interest

MUSEUMS

POINTS OF INTEREST

[19]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Election. Limestone County, Alabama. Election Central Judge of Probate Office. November 2, 2010.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Alabama Railway Map. 2008. Alabama Department of Transportation. Accessed 2010-12-10.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ↑ "Limestone County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 2010 NRT designations. National Recreation Trails. 2010-06-02. U.S. Department of Interior. Accessed 2012-03-15.
  16. ↑ Richard Martin Trail National Recreation Trails Database. American Trails. Last Updated 06/09/2011.
  17. ↑ Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, 100 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL 35611
  18. ↑ Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 http://www.VisitAthensAL.com

External links

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

Coordinates: 34°48′40″N 86°59′03″W / 34.81111°N 86.98417°W