Limestone County, Alabama

Limestone County, Alabama

Limestone County Courthouse in Athens
Map of Alabama highlighting Limestone County
Location in the U.S. 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.)
 • (2015) 91,663
 • Density 162/sq mi (63/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website limestonecounty-al.gov

Footnotes:  

  • County Number 44 on Alabama Licence Plates

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

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.[5] It is the third smallest county in Alabama by land area.

River

Adjacent counties

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. 201591,663[6]10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2015[2]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[11] 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.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[12] there were 82,782 people, 31,446 households, and 22,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 57.1/km2 (147.8/sq mi). There were 34,977 housing units at an average density of 24.1/km2 (62.5/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 80.3% White, 12.6% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 5.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,446 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.

The median household income in the county was $46,682, and the median income for a family was $55,518. Males had a median income of $46,071 versus $31,609 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,007. About 10.3% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

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.[13]

Limestone County vote
by party in presidential elections [14]
Year GOP DNC Others
2016 72.2% 28,824 23.4% 9,340 4.4% 1,735
2012 71.4% 25,263 27.7% 9,809 0.9% 334
2008 70.3% 23,598 28.4% 9,536 1.3% 417
2004 67.8% 19,702 31.4% 9,126 0.8% 245
2000 60.1% 14,204 38.0% 8,992 1.9% 438

Education

Transportation

Major highways

Rail

Recreation

[19]

GOLF

FISHING

HUNTING

FESTIVALS

[20] [21]

Points of interest

MUSEUMS

POINTS OF INTEREST

[21]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 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 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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  13. ↑ Election. Limestone County, Alabama. Election Central Judge of Probate Office. November 2, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  15. ↑
  16. 1 2 Alabama Railway Map. 2008. Alabama Department of Transportation. Accessed 2010-12-10.
  17. 1 2 2010 NRT designations. National Recreation Trails. 2010-06-02. U.S. Department of Interior. Accessed 2012-03-15.
  18. ↑ Richard Martin Trail National Recreation Trails Database. American Trails. Last Updated 06/09/2011.
  19. ↑ Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, 100 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL 35611
  20. ↑ Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association
  21. 1 2 http://www.VisitAthensAL.com
 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 / 34.81111; -86.98417

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