Athens, Alabama | |
|---|---|
| City of Athens | |
 Limestone County Courthouse in Athens | |
 Flag  Logo | |
 Location of Athens in Limestone County, Alabama | |
  Athens Location in Alabama Show map of Alabama Athens Athens (the United States) Show map of the United States Athens Athens (North America) Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:34°47′23″N86°58′10″W / 34.78972°N 86.96944°W /34.78972; -86.96944[1] | |
| Roman |  United States |
| State |  Alabama |
| County | Limestone |
| Incorporated | November 19, 1818[2] |
| Named after | Athens,Greece |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor Council |
| • Mayor | William "Ronnie" Marks[3] |
| • City Council | Members' List[4]
|
| Area | |
• Total | 40.87 sq mi (105.85 km2) |
| • Land | 40.60 sq mi (105.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0.26 sq mi (0.68 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,406 |
• Estimate (2023) | 30,904 |
| • Density | 625.7/sq mi (241.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 35611–35614–35613 |
| Area codes | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-02956 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403123[6] |
| Website | www |
Athens is a city in and thecounty seat ofLimestone County, in the U.S. state ofAlabama; it is included in theHuntsville–Decatur–Albertville combined statistical area. As of the2020 census, the population of the city is 25,407.
Founded in 1818 by John Coffee, Robert Beaty, John D. Carroll, and John Read, Athens is one of the oldest incorporated cities in the state, having been incorporated one year prior to the state'sadmittance to the Union in 1819. Limestone County was also created by an act of theAlabama Territorial Legislature in 1818.[2][7] The town was first called Athenson, but was incorporated as Athens after theancient city in Greece. The town's first mayor was Samuel Tanner, and theTanner area, south of Athens, was named on his behalf.[8]
The Athens area was the home ofWilliam Wyatt Bibb, the first governor of Alabama, and its second governor, his brotherThomas Bibb, who succeeded him in office when he died in a fall from his horse.[9]
In 1822, local residents purchased 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land and constructed a building to house the Athens Female Academy. The school became affiliated with the Methodist church in 1842, and was eventually renamed Athens Female College. After becoming coeducational in 1932, the school changed its name again to Athens College. After being taken over by the State of Alabama in 1974, the college was converted to a "reverse junior college", offering the last two years of instruction for graduates of area community colleges. It is today known asAthens State University.[10]
Many homes in the central part of modern Athens date to the antebellum period, and are part of historic preservation districts.[11]
On May 2, 1862, during theCivil War, Athens was seized by Union forces under the command of Col.John Basil Turchin.[12] After occupying the town on May 2, 1862, Turchin assembled his men and reportedly told them: "I shut my eyes for two hours. I see nothing".[citation needed] He did, in fact, leave the town to reconnoiter defensive positions, during which time his men ransacked the town. Turchin was later court-martialed over his treatment of Athens.[13] The incident was controversial, andLost Cause supporters vilified Turchin.
Athens was the home of GovernorGeorge S. Houston, Alabama's first post-Reconstruction Democratic governor, who served from 1874 through 1878. Houston was noted for reducing the debts incurred to benefit private railroad speculators and others by his Reconstruction Republican predecessors.[14] During Reconstruction, Athens was the home of the Trinity School, a school founded for the children of former slaves byMary Fletcher Wells and funded by theAmerican Missionary Association.[15]
Athens was traditionally acotton andrailroad town, but since the localaerospace boom of the 1950s and 1960s, it has increasingly entered the orbit of nearby industry centerHuntsville as the area's cotton production has steadily declined.
Athens is the home ofBrowns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant, a Tennessee Valley Authority installation first operated in 1974, that was once the world's largestnuclear plant. It provides many jobs to the area and most of the electricity for theHuntsville-Decatur Metro Area. On March 22, 1975, the Browns Ferry plant became the scene of what was, with the exception of theThree Mile Island accident, the most seriousnuclear accident in United States history. A worker using a candle to check for air leaks started a fire among control wires, causing a temporary threat to operational control of the reactor (seeBrowns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant article on Unit One Fire).[16]
On December 28, 2024,a high-end EF1 tornado struck downtown Athens causing significant damage to the Limestone Courthouse square and caused roof damage to many businesses in downtown Athens and several trees were uprooted including one outside the courthouse.[17][18]
Athens is midway between Nashville and Birmingham onInterstate 65. Athens shares a boundary with Huntsville.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.4 square miles (102 km2), of which 39.3 square miles (102 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.23%) is water.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool winters. According to theKöppen climate classification system, Athens has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[19]
| Climate data for Athens, Alabama (1991–2020, extremes 1991–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 84 (29) | 87 (31) | 91 (33) | 94 (34) | 104 (40) | 102 (39) | 104 (40) | 100 (38) | 102 (39) | 87 (31) | 78 (26) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 68.9 (20.5) | 73.5 (23.1) | 81.2 (27.3) | 85.7 (29.8) | 90.3 (32.4) | 95.1 (35.1) | 96.0 (35.6) | 96.7 (35.9) | 93.8 (34.3) | 88.6 (31.4) | 77.2 (25.1) | 72.3 (22.4) | 98.8 (37.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 51.3 (10.7) | 55.9 (13.3) | 64.5 (18.1) | 73.3 (22.9) | 80.4 (26.9) | 87.1 (30.6) | 89.9 (32.2) | 89.8 (32.1) | 84.9 (29.4) | 74.7 (23.7) | 63.0 (17.2) | 54.2 (12.3) | 72.4 (22.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.4 (5.8) | 46.3 (7.9) | 54.0 (12.2) | 62.3 (16.8) | 70.4 (21.3) | 77.8 (25.4) | 81.0 (27.2) | 80.3 (26.8) | 74.7 (23.7) | 63.7 (17.6) | 52.4 (11.3) | 45.4 (7.4) | 62.6 (17.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.5 (0.8) | 36.7 (2.6) | 43.5 (6.4) | 51.3 (10.7) | 60.4 (15.8) | 68.4 (20.2) | 72.1 (22.3) | 70.9 (21.6) | 64.5 (18.1) | 52.6 (11.4) | 41.9 (5.5) | 36.5 (2.5) | 52.7 (11.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 34.5 (1.4) | 44.4 (6.9) | 57.7 (14.3) | 62.7 (17.1) | 62.3 (16.8) | 50.9 (10.5) | 35.7 (2.1) | 24.9 (−3.9) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 12.9 (−10.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 0 (−18) | −1 (−18) | 12 (−11) | 23 (−5) | 37 (3) | 47 (8) | 57 (14) | 50 (10) | 39 (4) | 28 (−2) | 16 (−9) | 3 (−16) | −1 (−18) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.52 (140) | 5.43 (138) | 5.59 (142) | 5.40 (137) | 4.85 (123) | 4.76 (121) | 4.89 (124) | 3.93 (100) | 3.77 (96) | 4.02 (102) | 4.61 (117) | 6.29 (160) | 59.06 (1,500) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.3 (3.3) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.9 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 9.8 | 8.2 | 9.2 | 10.4 | 12.0 | 127.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| Source:NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)[20][21] | |||||||||||||
Athens first appeared on the 1850 U.S. Census as an incorporated place.[22] It did not appear on the 1860 census, but returned again in 1870 and every census to date. Athens was one of the fastest growing areas in Alabama in the 2023 census estimates with 30,904 people recorded in the estimates.[23]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 991 | — | |
| 1870 | 887 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,011 | 14.0% | |
| 1890 | 940 | −7.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,010 | 7.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,715 | 69.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,323 | 93.8% | |
| 1930 | 4,238 | 27.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,342 | 2.5% | |
| 1950 | 6,309 | 45.3% | |
| 1960 | 9,330 | 47.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,360 | 53.9% | |
| 1980 | 14,558 | 1.4% | |
| 1990 | 16,901 | 16.1% | |
| 2000 | 18,967 | 12.2% | |
| 2010 | 21,897 | 15.4% | |
| 2020 | 25,406 | 16.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 30,904 | 21.6% | |
| Sources: 1850;[24] 1870 and 1880;[25] 1900, 1910, and 1920;[26] 1930, 1940, and 1950;[27] 1960, 1970, and 1980;[28] 1990;[1] 2000 and 2010[29] | |||
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 18,967 people, 7,742 households, and 5,140 families residing in the city. The population density was 482.3 inhabitants per square mile (186.2/km2). There were 8,449 housing units at an average density of 214.8 per square mile (82.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.72%White, 18.26%Black orAfrican American, 0.40%Native American, 0.71%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.92% fromother races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 4.86% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 7,742 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city of Athens was $33,980, and the median income for a family was $44,544. Males had a median income of $37,191 versus $22,748 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,315. About 13.7% of families and 16.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 45 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 21,897 people, 9,038 households, and 5,881 families residing in the city. The population density was 557.2 inhabitants per square mile (215.1/km2). There were 9,862 housing units at an average density of 250.9 per square mile (96.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.0%White, 17.5%Black orAfrican American, 0.6%Native American, 0.9%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 5.9% fromother races, and 1.9% from two or more races. 8.8% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,038 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city of Athens was $42,127, and the median income for a family was $54,013. Males had a median income of $43,672 versus $31,601 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $26,136. About 15.5% of families and 17.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 45 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 17,160 | 67.54% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,275 | 16.83% |
| Native American | 74 | 0.29% |
| Asian | 240 | 0.94% |
| Pacific Islander | 34 | 0.13% |
| Other/mixed | 1,208 | 4.75% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 2,415 | 9.51% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 25,406 people, 9,397 households, and 6,080 families residing in the city.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 2,618 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,099 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,333 | 7.6% | |
| 1910 | 4,811 | 44.3% | |
| 1920 | 6,848 | 42.3% | |
| 1930 | 9,342 | 36.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,247 | −1.0% | |
| 1950 | 11,137 | 20.4% | |
| 1960 | 15,180 | 36.3% | |
| 1970 | 14,607 | −3.8% | |
| 1980 | 40,056 | 174.2% | |
| 1990 | 47,930 | 19.7% | |
| 2000 | 57,830 | 20.7% | |
| 2010 | 69,761 | 20.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[31] | |||
Athens, the 1st Beat/Precinct of Limestone County first reported on the 1870 U.S. Census.[32] This included both the town/city of Athens and the surrounding area. It did not report a figure for 1880, but returned in 1890 and every census to date. In 1870, when racial demographics were reported, it had a Black majority in that beat. In 1960, Athens precinct was changed to a census division as part of a general reorganization of counties.[33]
I-65
US 31
US 72
Pryor Field Regional Airport (regional/municipal airport)Intercity bus service is provided byGreyhound Lines.[34]
Athens was the primary filming location ofBrittany Howard's "Stay High" music video. The video starsTerry Crews as ablue-collar man driving home from a job at a nearbyDecatur plant. The video also stars several Athens citizens and members of Howards' family. Howard, an Athens native and member ofAlabama Shakes, wrote in a press release that "Terry Crews plays a man who isn't out to change the world, he plays a man who just wants to come home to those who understand and love him best". The video features Crews singing along to theGrammy-winning "Stay High" while visiting local landmarks and establishments, such as Decatur'sUS-72 ALT Bridge, and Athens's Hometown Grocery, Dub's Burgers, and historic Kreme Delite. The video was dedicated to Howard's father, K.J. Howard.[1][2][3]
.jpg)
Municipalities and communities ofLimestone County, Alabama,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
