County facts · Population growth · October 23, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in Alabama, 2020 to 2025
Alabama's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in Alabama? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, Alabama went from about 5,025,437 to 5,193,088 residents, a change of +167,651 (+3.3%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Limestone County (+18.7%), while Madison County added the most people (+45,358, +11.7%).
Every row below links to the county's Platbookmapper page and straight to its official parcel viewer, handy if growth is why you are looking at land there.
Alabama growth at a glance
- County: 67
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +167,651 residents (+3.3%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +30,033 (+0.6%)
- Grew: 33 of 67 · Lost residents: 34
- Fastest growing by percent: Limestone County (+18.7%); most people added: Madison County (+45,358)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 57 of 67
The 10 fastest growing Alabama counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limestone County | 103,563 | 122,928 | +19,365 | +18.7% | KCS GIS |
| 2 | Baldwin County | 231,778 | 267,761 | +35,983 | +15.5% | KCS GIS |
| 3 | Madison County | 388,158 | 433,516 | +45,358 | +11.7% | KCS GIS |
| 4 | Lee County | 174,337 | 189,881 | +15,544 | +8.9% | FlagshipGIS |
| 5 | St. Clair County | 91,504 | 98,206 | +6,702 | +7.3% | KCS GIS |
| 6 | Henry County | 17,144 | 18,394 | +1,250 | +7.3% | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
| 7 | Cullman County | 87,848 | 94,009 | +6,161 | +7.0% | KCS GIS |
| 8 | Shelby County | 223,031 | 238,552 | +15,521 | +7.0% | county web map |
| 9 | Coffee County | 53,467 | 56,953 | +3,486 | +6.5% | FlagshipGIS |
| 10 | Cleburne County | 15,052 | 15,970 | +918 | +6.1% | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
These 10 added about 150,288 people combined. The median county changed by −0.1%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison County | +45,358 | +11.7% | 433,516 | KCS GIS |
| 2 | Baldwin County | +35,983 | +15.5% | 267,761 | KCS GIS |
| 3 | Limestone County | +19,365 | +18.7% | 122,928 | KCS GIS |
| 4 | Lee County | +15,544 | +8.9% | 189,881 | FlagshipGIS |
| 5 | Shelby County | +15,521 | +7.0% | 238,552 | county web map |
| 6 | Tuscaloosa County | +13,235 | +5.8% | 241,368 | FlagshipGIS |
| 7 | St. Clair County | +6,702 | +7.3% | 98,206 | KCS GIS |
| 8 | Cullman County | +6,161 | +7.0% | 94,009 | KCS GIS |
| 9 | Marshall County | +5,932 | +6.1% | 103,537 | KCS GIS |
| 10 | Elmore County | +3,601 | +4.1% | 91,577 | KCS GIS |
The top 10 account for about 82% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone County | +632 | +17,742 | +887 | +19,365 |
| Baldwin County | −1,926 | +34,523 | +3,245 | +35,983 |
| Madison County | +2,779 | +36,161 | +6,334 | +45,358 |
| Lee County | +2,752 | +8,057 | +4,579 | +15,544 |
| St. Clair County | −940 | +7,443 | +136 | +6,702 |
In all 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Limestone County: +3.3% (+3,877)
- Madison County: +2.5% (+10,445)
- Baldwin County: +2.3% (+6,109)
- Pike County: +1.5% (+489)
- Cullman County: +1.3% (+1,238)
4 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
34 of Alabama's 67 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- Perry County: −12.8% (−1,087, now about 7,425)
- Lowndes County: −9.3% (−957, now about 9,359)
- Wilcox County: −8.8% (−936, now about 9,666)
- Dallas County: −8.6% (−3,325, now about 35,140)
- Greene County: −8.6% (−665, now about 7,067)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in Alabama
- Alabama county GIS websites by viewer
- Alabama plat maps
- Alabama landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All Alabama counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 23, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.