Limestone

Formed February 6, 1818 (12^th county)

Limestone County (103,563), Athens (25,410)

A brown brick and masonry courthouse sits in Athens.  This 1916 version succeeded an 1867 structure.  It is located on a square at Washington, Jefferson, Market and Marion streets.  Washington Street is United States Highway 72 Business passing through the city.  Ben Price was the architect of this Neo-Classical style courthouse.  A Courthouse Annex was built in 2002.  An old 1933 Post Office was also renovated as a County Administration building.  The courthouse has columns and the grounds have veteran memorials.  The courthouse was under renovation in 2018.  Athens was named for Athens, Greece.  The county’s name comes from a local creek.  The county was established on February 6, 1818 from Madison County as the 12^th county.  Athens is the only county seat. 

Limestone County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 4 commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Judges, Two District Judges, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Limestone County (judicial.)  Limestone County is in far northern Alabama bordering Tennessee to its north.  The Tennessee River forms the southern border of the county.  The center of the county is in Athens .5 miles South-Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Tennessee and Madison, Morgan, Lawrence, and Lauderdale counties.  A fat Y is the overall county shape.  Athens is slightly east of the county center.  Athens is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 24.5% of the county population. 

The county has an area of 559.9 square miles.  It ranks 65 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 11 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 198.1 persons per square mile making it 8 out of 67 in the state.  Limestone County has 41.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 65 runs north to south through the county, from Tennessee to Morgan County.  Interstate Highway 565 splits off to travel northeast into Huntsville.  United States Highway 31 parallel Interstate Highway 65 from Tennessee to Morgan County.  United States Highway 72 crosses east to west from Madison County into Lauderdale County.  The county is in the Huntsville Metropolitan Statistical Area.