BlockMuscle Shoals, Alabama
18 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1924 and the latest in 1986. It stands in the Tri-Cities census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35661. The Survey maps it on the Tuscumbia quadrangle. 16,275 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 499 feet above sea level.
On record in Muscle Shoals
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
Surveyed buildings and structures 7 records
- United States Nitrate Plant No. 2, Reservation Road, Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 74 photographs
- Wilson Dam & Hydroelectric Plant, Navigation Lock, Spanning Tennessee River at Wilson Dam Road (Route 133), Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 7 photographs
- Wilson Dam & Hydroelectric Plant, Oilostatic Transmission System, Spanning Tennessee River at Wilson Dam Road (Route 133), Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 2 photographs
- Wilson Dam & Hydroelectric Plant, Spanning Tennessee River at Wilson Dam Road (Route 133), Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 52 photographs
- Wilson Dam & Hydroelectric Plant, Stoney Spillway Gate, Spanning Tennessee River at Wilson Dam Road (Route 133), Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 1 photograph
- Wilson Dam & Hydroelectric Plant, Three Phase Tri Level Circuit Breaker, Spanning Tennessee River at Wilson Dam Road (Route 133), Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 2 photographs
- Wilson Dam & Hydroelectric Plant, Turbine & Generator Unit, Spanning Tennessee River at Wilson Dam Road (Route 133), Muscle Shoalsfederal building survey, 7 photographs
Population over time
2 figuresMuscle Shoals grew from 13,146 to 16,275 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13,146 | |
| 2020 | 16,275 | +3,129 (+24%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
11 surveys from 18 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1924 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:48000
- 1924 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:62500
- 1926 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1936 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:24000
- 1952 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:24000
- 1956 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1963 USGS Gadsden quadrangle1:250000
- 1971 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:24000
- 1986 USGS Tuscumbia quadrangle1:100000, 3 printings
Fires near this place
55 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 55 fires within 5 miles of Muscle Shoals between 1994 and 2020, burning about 305 acres in total. None started naturally. 8 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 23 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 9 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 8 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 2 |
| Smoking | 2 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2002 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 28 September 2000 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 27 September 1999 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.5 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 22 September 1999 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 2 September 2011 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 673 CR 72, AL |
| 18 September 2010 | Equipment and vehicle use | 24 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 August 2007 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 28 August 2013 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | NOR-20130828-001 |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
2 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Muscle Shoals: 1 producer, 1 plant. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silica, Aluminum. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colbert County Hwy. Dept. Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Lister Hill Reduction Plant | Silica, Aluminum | Plant |
Storms near this place
60 of 99 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Muscle Shoals in 99 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 61 thunderstorm wind, 15 hail, 13 flash flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | 1 hurt, $3,000 | no account filed |
| August 2012 | Lightning | Muscle Shoals | 1 hurt | A female was struck by lightning. Condition was unknown. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000,000 | A large tree was blown down on a house in the Muscle Shoals community on 2nd street. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000,000 | A powerline was blown down on a truck on Midland Avenue in the Muscle Shoals community. |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $300,000 | An apparent wet microburst damaged 20 to 25 houses, a shopping center, and several businesses in an area along Avalon Drive between US 43 and SR 133. Most houses sustained minor roof damage but a few were more seriously damaged. A couple of the businesses sustained major roof damage along with a portion of the Southgate shopping center. Additional damage was caused to some structures by rain coming into the buildings. Power was also disrupted in the area. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $58,000 | A tree was knocked down onto a house at 1521 Ridge Drive. |
| November 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $50,000 | Several trees were blown down due to thunderstorm winds. At least two trees were blown onto homes resulting in roof damage. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $47,000 | A tree was knocked down onto a home at 815 Sterling Boulevard in Sheffield. |
| April 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $38,000 | High winds and hail swept across the northeast section of Colbert County destroying a mobile home and damaging a barber shop in the Brick-Hatton area. Hail ranged in size from one to one and one-half inches. There were numerous reports of minor damage to trees in the area. |
| June 1999 | Flash Flood | Muscle Shoals | $35,000 | Several roads and businesses were flooded from heavy rainfall of two to four inches of rain. |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $18,000 | Several large trees were reported down in Muscle Shoals along with one that fell on a house. Power lines were reported down on Highway 20. |
| September 2012 | Lightning | Muscle Shoals | $15,000 | Lightning struck a house just southwest of Muscle Shoals and produced minor damage. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $15,000 | EMA reported trees and powerlines down in Muscle Shoals. Hail reportedly covered the ground though no size was available. |
| March 1996 | Hail | Muscle Shoals | $12,000 | no account filed |
| October 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $10,000 | Numerous trees and powerlines down across Muscle Shoals and Tuscumbia area. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $10,000 | Portions of the Big Lots roof were blown off the building and across the roadways for blocks. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $8,000 | Power pole was knocked down. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Muscle Shoals | $8,000 | Golf ball size hail fell in Muscle Shoals. |
| September 1996 | Hail | Muscle Shoals | $7,000 | no account filed |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $6,000 | A tree and some power lines were blown down on 10th Avenue. |
| February 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $5,000 | A social media report indicated fencing damage on John R Street. Time estimated by radar. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $5,000 | The roof blown off a building on 2nd Street in Sheffield due to thunderstorm winds. The time was estimated from radar. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $5,000 | A few trees and power lines were downed on Memphis Street and a tree was downed by thunderstorm winds on second street in Muscle Shoals. |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $5,000 | A gust to 64 mph was recorded by the ASOS at the Muscle Shoals Airport. |
| December 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $4,000 | Thunderstorm winds partially collapsed an aluminum porch canopy in the Muscle Shoals area on Highland Avenue. Trees were blown down nearby. |
| June 2000 | Lightning | Muscle Shoals | $4,000 | Lightning struck a tree and a house on Mill Stream Road near Muscle Shoals. The home received minor roof damage, and several electrical items in the home were damaged. There was no fire, and no injuries were reported. |
| July 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $4,000 | Large trees were blown down across County Road 63 about three miles east of Muscle Shoals. |
| June 2010 | Lightning | Muscle Shoals | $3,000 | Lightning struck a home on Broadway Street in Sheffield. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $3,000 | A tree was blown down on Harding Avenue. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $3,000 | A tree was blown down on Ford Avenue. |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F0) | Muscle Shoals | $3,000 | several trees and power lines down and shingles blown off of several homes. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $2,000 | Trees were knocked down in the Sheffield area. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $2,000 | A tree was blown down onto power lines near Michigan Avenue. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $2,000 | Power lines were knocked down. Pea to dime sized hail was reported. |
| April 1998 | Hail | Muscle Shoals | $2,000 | Quarter size hail was reported just east of Muscle Shoals. |
| April 1998 | Hail | Muscle Shoals | $2,000 | Quarter size hail was reported just inside Colbert County near the county line. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down at 2002 Oak Drive. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down at 901 Broadway Street. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was knocked down at 2002 Oak Drive. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was knocked down into gas line at 1706 Hillcrest Avenue. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down at 101 Caroline Way. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down at 311 Ford Street. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down at the intersection of Ashe Blvd and Box Street. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down near 700 Broadway Street. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down near 540 Mt. Pleasant Drive. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down near 1601 Southern Blvd. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down at 1617 Southern Blvd. Time was estimated from radar data. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down near the 500 block of 17th street SE. Time was estimated from radar. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was reported down on Southern Blvd. at this location. Time was estimated from radar. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was knocked down onto a residence at 906 Highland Avenue. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A tree was knocked down onto a house in Muscle Shoals. Time was estimated by radar. |
| August 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A power pole was knocked down in Sheffield. |
| June 2013 | Lightning | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | Lightning struck a tree and caught it on fire. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down on a power line. |
| July 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $1,000 | A few trees and power lines were knocked down in and around Muscle Shoals. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $500 | A tree was knocked down near the intersection of Avalon Avenue and Cox Blvd. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $500 | A tree was knocked down onto a vehicle. Time was estimated by radar. |
| June 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $500 | A large tree was blown down in the back yard of a home in Muscle Shoals. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $200 | A tree was knocked down on Ashe Blvd. near the railroad bridge. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Muscle Shoals | $200 | A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Garage Road and Reservation Road. |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Haven | 0.4 miles | 18 | |
| Highland Park | 0.8 miles | 18 | |
| Washington Park | 0.9 miles | 19 | |
| Sherill Gardens | 0.9 miles | 19 | |
| Olland | 1.1 miles | 19 | |
| Woodlawn Heights | 1.2 miles | 19 | |
| Jackson Heights | 1.3 miles | 18 | |
| Sheffield Heights | 1.4 miles | 19 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Muscle Shoals | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79245 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 152574. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.