Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city of 16,951 people in Colbert County, Alabama, founded in April 24, 1923.
Why visit Muscle Shoals
Townapedia lists 40 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 67 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Memphis & Charleston Railroad Bridge, University of North Alabama, Chambers-Robinson House and Cherry Street Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 29°F.
Weather in Muscle Shoals
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals is the largest city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is located on the left bank of the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state and, as of the 2020 census, Muscle Shoals had a population of 16,275. The estimated population in 2019 was 14,575.
From the Wikipedia article Muscle Shoals, Alabama (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Memphis & Charleston Railroad Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic structure in Sheffield, Alabama, United States
University of North Alabama
School · 5.3 mi
University in Florence, Alabama, USA
Museums and landmarks40
Chambers-Robinson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic house in Alabama, United States
Cherry Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Alabama
Coffee High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.1 mi
High school in Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama
Colbert County Courthouse Square Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic district in Alabama, United States
Downtown Florence Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Historic district in Alabama, United States
E.H. Darby Lustron House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Historic house in Alabama, United States
E.L. Newman Lustron House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in Alabama, United States
FAME Studios
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic site in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Felix Grundy Norman House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historic house in Alabama, United States
George Coulter House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Historic house in Florence, Alabama
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Ivy Green
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
House in Tuscumbia, Alabama; childhood home of Helen Keller
John and Archibald Christian House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Historic house in Alabama, United States
28 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Restaurants and cafes67
Alabama Bliss Coffee Bistro & Boutique
Diner · American · 2.0 mi
1202 Woodward Avenue, Muscle Shoals
Cajun's Seafood Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 3.0 mi
4301 North Jackson Highway, Sheffield
China Gourmet
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.1 mi
500 West Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals
Donna and Friends
Restaurant · Regional · 1.0 mi
1325 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals
55 more on the map.
History
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as Europeans entered the area in greater number, it became a center of historic land disputes. The new state of Georgia had ambitions to anchor its western claims (to the Mississippi River) by encouraging development here, but that project did not succeed.
Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration during the Great Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority was established to create infrastructure and jobs, resulting in electrification of a large rural area along the river. The Ford Motor Company built and operated a plant for many years in the Listerhill community, three miles east of Muscle Shoals; it closed in 1982 as part of industrial restructuring when jobs moved out of the country.
The area of Muscle Shoals was a part of the historic Cherokee hunting grounds dating to at least the early eighteenth century, if not earlier. In the early 18th century, Muscle Shoals was the site of a French trading post. In 1783, six prominent North Carolinians (William Blount, Richard Caswell, Griffith Rutherford, John Donelson, Joseph Martin, John Sevier) formed a company for the purposes of establishing a colony at Muscle Shoals.
From the History section of Muscle Shoals, Alabama on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Comfort Inn & Suites Tuscumbia-Muscle Shoals
Motel and hotel · 2.7 mi
5101 Highway 43 South, Tuscumbia
Clarion Inn Sheffield Muscle Shoals
Motel and hotel · 2.4 mi
4900 Hatch Boulevard, Sheffield
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
Motel and hotel · 3.0 mi
1852 US-72 East, Tuscumbia
Churches and places of worship41
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging13
Schools, colleges and libraries34
Healthcare5
Map of Muscle Shoals
227 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 29°F | 5.2 in |
| Feb | 55°F | 32°F | 5.3 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 40°F | 5.4 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 48°F | 5.4 in |
| May | 80°F | 57°F | 4.7 in |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 5.2 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.8 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 62°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 49°F | 3.9 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 38°F | 4.1 in |
| Dec | 54°F | 32°F | 6.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Muscle Shoals Wtp (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Colbert County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2023-05-05: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-09-14: Hurricane Sally (Hurricane)
- 2020-05-21: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-29: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Sheffield 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Tuscumbia 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Florence 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Leighton 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Russellville 17 mi south, about 28 min by car
- Decatur 38 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Athens 39 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Hartselle 45 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Madison 50 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Huntsville 55 mi east, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Greetings from Muscle Shoals, Florence, Alabama - Large Letter Postcard (7843676554), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sheffield Residential Historic District 2012-09-29 17-20-31, themidnite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chambers-Robinson House 2012-09-29 17-19-50, themidnite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tuscaloosa west of Pine in Florence, Nyttend, Public domain
- Karsner-Carroll House 2012-09-29 16-40-46, themidnite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- William Winston House, North Commons Street, Tuscumbia (Colbert County, Alabama), W. N. Manning, Photographer, Public domain
- Downtown Florence Historic District cropped, themidnite (original), Yassie (derivative work, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 521 & 525 N Seminary St Florence Apr 2017, Spyder_Monkey, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poplar from Tuscaloosa in Florence, Nyttend, Public domain
- John Daniel Rather House, 209 South Cave Street, Tuscumbia (Colbert County, Alabama), W. N. Manning, Photographer, Public domain
- Felix Grundy Norman House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Wilson Dam, Tennessee Valley Authority, Public domain
- 136 & 134 Norris Cir Sheffield Apr 2017, Spyder_Monkey, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 518 & 510 N Cherry St Florence Apr 2017, Spyder_Monkey, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Oaks, Ricks Lane, Leighton (Colbert County, Alabama), Alex Bush, Photographer, Public domain
- Sheffield Downtown Commercial Historic District 2012-09-30 12-35-17, SistahFee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Southall Drugs in Florence, Nyttend, Public domain
- FAME Recording Studios Muscle Shoals, Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
- Old Railroad Bridge Florence 2025a, Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3614 Jackson Highway September 2007, Dailynetworks, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Coby-hall, The original uploader was Burkeanwhig at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
- Mary McFarland House (Florence, Alabama), W. N. Manning, HABS photographer, Public domain
- E. H. Darby Lustron House Apr 2017 01, Spyder_Monkey, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rogers Department Store in Florence, Nyttend, Public domain
- Ivy Green, Jennifer Lee from Alabama, United States, CC BY 2.0
- E- L- Newman Lustron House 2012-09-29 17-12-07, themidnite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wilson Park Houses 2012-09-29 16-36-06, themidnite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Colbert County Courthouse, Dailynetworks, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Baptist Church of Tuscumbia, former building, Nyttend, Public domain
- Courtview 2010, Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.