Brittany Howard's "Stay High" music video filmed in Athens with guest start Terry Crews - 2019
Athens is Classic. Southern. Character.
We’ve been a classic since 1818 when Athens incorporated as a city before Alabama became a state. In 1819, voters made our city the county seat of Limestone County.
Settlement & Development
Since settlers first came to the area in the early 1800s for rich farm dirt, the city has grown into a commercial and industrial hub of 26,000 residents. We have the commercial growth on our interstate and highway corridors, the quaint mom-and-pop stores on The Square, and the job growth at our industrial parks. We consistently receive high rankings in categories such as safe city, best suburb, best place to retire, and best public high school. As our city has grown, it has still maintained its charm.
Quality of Life & "The Square"
We’re still Southern. That is most evident in downtown Athens and around The Square. In Athens, going to "The Square" is an experience we often take for granted. Our lives have been spent grabbing an ice cream cone, strolling the sidewalks, or resting on a bench under the dogwood trees. It's the place to find the perfect outfit or become mesmerized by the toy train winding through a window display at the hardware store. The historic Limestone County Courthouse is the backdrop for parades, high school pep rallies, storytelling, and art events and is surrounded by a retail area to shop for the unique and dine on divine cuisine.
Unique Stores, Festivals, History
When you visit or land here, you'll see that our city offers Character and is full of Characters. We host events unique to Athens such as the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Athens Grease Festival and Athens Storytelling Festival. You’ll find unique stories, such as the choosing of the Golden Eagle for the Athens High mascot and the legend of whether the president of Athens State University saved the college during the Civil War with a letter from President Abraham Lincoln.
When you visit Athens, we invite you to stroll our sidewalks and hear our stories. Discover for yourself why our city is Classic. Southern. Character.
Mercedes Benz Tour commercial for Alabama Shakes filmed in Athens and Limestone County