U.S. Route 231 (US 231) in Alabama runs north–south up through the eastern half of
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
for . US 231 enters the state from
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
south of
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...
and exits into
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
,
running councurrently with
US 431 north of
Hazel Green. US 231 passes through the major cities of
Dothan Dothan is a place-name from the Hebrew Bible, identified with Tel Dothan. It may refer to:
* Dothan, Alabama, a city in Dale, Henry, and Houston counties in the U.S. state of Alabama
* Dani Dothan, lyricist and vocalist for the Israeli rock and ne ...
,
Troy
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...
,
Montgomery, and
Huntsville
Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in th ...
.
From the Florida state line to
Wetumpka
Wetumpka () is a city in and the county seat of Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,220. In the early 21st century Elmore County became one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. The city is ...
, US 231 is a major four-lane divided thoroughfare that connects
Central Alabama
Central Alabama is a region in the state of Alabama. It is sometimes considered part of North Alabama because both regions are mountainous, but in some definitions they are different regions.
The Valley and Ridge Province of the Appalachians con ...
to the Florida
Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast of the United States, also known as the Gulf South, is the coast, coastline along the Southern United States where they meet the Gulf of Mexico. The list of U.S. states and territories by coastline, coastal states that have a shor ...
and
Panama City
Panama City ( es, Ciudad de Panamá, links=no; ), also known as Panama (or Panamá in Spanish), is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is locat ...
. Between Wetumpka and
Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
, excluding its overlap with US 280 between
Sylacauga and
Harpersville as well as portions through major towns, the road is largely rural and two lanes. Between Arab and the Tennessee state line, the route returns to a four-lane divided highway; the route is upgraded to a
limited-access freeway and adjoining
frontage road
A frontage road (also known as an access road, outer road, service road, feeder road, or parallel road) is a local road running parallel to a higher-speed, limited-access road. A frontage road is often used to provide access to private drive ...
s named
Memorial Parkway within the city of Huntsville.
During its route through the state, US 231 runs concurrently with three state highways. Between the Florida state line and southern Dothan as well as between Huntsville and the Alabama state line, US 231 runs concurrent with
unsigned
Unsigned can refer to:
* An unsigned artist is a musical artist or group not attached or signed to a record label
** Unsigned Music Awards, ceremony noting achievements of unsigned artists
** Unsigned band web, online community
* Similarly, the c ...
State Route 1 (SR 1). Between northern Dothan and Huntsville, the route is overlaid with
SR 53, which is unsigned along its portion with US 231 but does have a signed segment north of Huntsville. Finally, while bypassing Dothan, US 231 is overlaid with the signed
SR 210).
Route description
In
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
, US 231 is paired with unsigned
State Route 53 (SR 53) from Huntsville to Dothan.
The route passes through mostly straight terrain between the
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
state line and
Meridianville, which is home to its junction with Bob Wade Lane, which eventually becomes
SR 255.
The route descends down a slight hill and enters
Huntsville
Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in th ...
. It becomes a freeway (
Memorial Parkway). It junctions with
US 72
U.S. Route 72 (US 72) is an east–west United States highway that travels for from southwestern Tennessee, throughout North Mississippi, North Alabama, and southeastern Tennessee. The highway's western terminus is in Memphis, Tennessee an ...
east/ Sparkman Drive. After a short concurrency with US 72, it splits off onto
University Drive
University Drive is a major east–west thoroughfare in Huntsville, Alabama, following US Route 72 into the city from the west. The highway carries on average approximately 56,000 vehicles a day at .
Route Description
From the west, US 72 enter ...
. The route almost immediately junctions with
Interstate 565
Interstate 565 (I-565) is a Interstate spur that connects I-65 in Decatur with U.S. Route 72 (US 72) in Huntsville in the US state of Alabama.
I-565 serves the cities of Decatur, Madison, and downtown Huntsville. It also pro ...
(I-565). It then junctions with a two-part interchange (Clinton Avenue/
US 431
U.S. Route 431 (US 431) is a spur of U.S. Route 31. It currently travels for approximately from US 231/Alabama State Route 210 and US 231 Business (US 231 Bus.) and US 431 Bus. in Dothan, Alabama, to Owensboro, ...
South/SR 53 North; Governors' Drive). Here, it gains SR 53 and loses US 431. The route continues south as a freeway until it reaches a specific point when it becomes a four-lane divided highway. It passes by
Redstone Arsenal Gate 3's access road, Hobbs Road. The route continues south until it reaches the
Clement C. Clay Bridge. It promptly crosses the
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other name ...
into
Morgan County.
The route eventually junctions with
SR 36. It climbs up Brindlee Mountain into
Union Hill. While climbing, the route makes a slight curve from the southwest to the southeast that is easily noticeable on road maps. It then passes through
Morgan City and enters
Marshall County. The route heads through mountainous terrain to
Arab
The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
, which is home to its junction with
SR 69. This junction is a diamond interchange and is directly above the line with
Cullman County.
There are no major junctions in Cullman County.
It eventually crosses the line into
Blount County. The road turns to the southwest and junctions with
SR 67. It quickly junctions with
US 278
U.S. Route 278 (US 278) is a parallel route of US 78. It currently runs for from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Wickes, Arkansas at US 71/ US 59, passing through five states in the process. Landmarks along its route includ ...
. Eventually, the route reaches
Blountsville, and past Blountsville, the route junctions with
SR 79 North. It reaches Cleveland and splits off from SR 79, which continues on its right of way to
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
. US 231 then junctions with
SR 160 West, which continues on its next right-of-way. It passes through mountains until it reaches
Oneonta, which is home to its junction with
SR 75. The route climbs up a high hill and descends it, now crossing into
St. Clair County.
The route eventually junctions with
US 11
{{Infobox road
, country=USA
, type=US
, route=11
, map={{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, frame-height=330, type=line, from=U.S. Route 11.map
, map_custom=yes
, map_notes=US 11 in red, US 11E in blue, US 11W in ...
and then
I-59
Interstate 59 (I-59) is an Interstate Highway located in the southeastern United States. It is a north–south route that spans from a junction with I-10 and I-12 at Slidell, Louisiana, to a junction with I-24 near Wildwood, Georgia.
...
. It enters
Ashville Ashville or Asheville may refer to:
Places United States
* Ashville, Alabama
* Ashville, Louisville, Kentucky
* Ashville, New York
* Asheville, North Carolina
** Asheville metropolitan area
** Asheville School
** Asheville High School
** Ashe ...
. It junctions with
SR 23 and
US 411/
SR 25 North. After a moderate concurrency with the two routes, US 411 and SR 25 turn southwest towards
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popula ...
. US 231 heads directly south towards
Pell City
Pell City is a city in and one of the county seats of St. Clair County, Alabama, United States, other seat being Ashville. At the 2020 census, the population was 12,939. At the 2010 census, the city-limit population jumped to 12,695.
It was hom ...
. The route heads through extremely hilly terrain as a two-lane and three-lane road. It reaches
Coal City and junctions with
SR 144. It continues down through the same terrain to
I-20. It reaches
US 78
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
and then
SR 34.
US 231 reaches
Shelby County. It parallels the
Coosa River as it reaches
Vincent
Vincent ( la, Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, which is derived from the Latin word (''to conquer'').
People with the given name Artists
*Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor
*Vincent van Gogh ...
, which is home to its next junction with SR 25. They continue south to
Harpersville. SR 25 junctions with US 231 for the last time here as US 231 turns onto
US 280
U.S. Route 280 (US 280) is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles (631 km) from Blichton, Georgia at US 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/I-59. For much of its route, US 280 travels through rural areas and smaller cities ...
.
The routes then cross into
Talladega County. After a long journey to
Sylacauga, the route turns off of US 280 at its junction with
SR 21, which is a Diamond Interchange. The route enters
Coosa County near this point.
In Coosa County, the route junctions with
SR 22 in
Rockford. It then enters
Elmore County after a long journey south.
In Elmore County, there are no major junctions until it reaches
SR 9. This point is the line with the city of
Wetumpka
Wetumpka () is a city in and the county seat of Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,220. In the early 21st century Elmore County became one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. The city is ...
. The route junctions with
SR 14 and
SR 170 north of the city. Within the city, the routes (SR 9, US 231, and SR 21) junction with
SR 111. The routes then enter
Montgomery County.
The routes junction with
SR 152/Northern Boulevard, a half-beltway around
Montgomery. The routes join the half-beltway. SR 152 ends at this point, though. The routes turn from east to south and junction with Atlanta Highway. The routes junction with
I-85
Interstate 85 (I-85) is a major Interstate Highway in the Southeastern United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus is an interchange with I-95 in Petersburg, Virginia, ...
and gain
US 80
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. The routes turn to the west. US 231 and
US 82
U.S. Route 82 (US 82) is an east–west United States highway in the Southern United States. Created on July 1, 1931 across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas, US 82 eventually became a 1,625-mile (2,615 km) route extending from ...
turn to the south. SR 21, US 80, and SR 9 continue onward with US 82 west to
I-65
Interstate 65 (I-65) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates ending in 5, it is a major crosscountry, north–south route, connecting between the Great Lakes and the Gulf ...
,
US 331
U.S. Route 331 (US 331) is a spur of U.S. Route 31. It currently runs for from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida east of Fort Walton Beach at US 98 to Montgomery, Alabama at US 80 and US 82. Unlike US 131, US 231, and US ...
, and
US 31
U.S. Route 31 or U.S. Highway 31 (US 31) is a major north–south U.S. highway connecting southern Alabama to northern Michigan. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with US 90/ US 98 in Spanish Fort, Alabama. It ...
. US 82 and US 231 continue onward to
Pike Road, which is not a road, but a town. South of here, US 82 turns off of US 231 and US 231 continues onward on a four-lane divided highway into
Pike County.
There are no major junctions in Pike County until US 231 reaches
Troy
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...
. Here, the route junctions with
US 29
U.S. Route 29 (US 29) is a north–south United States highway that runs for from Pensacola, Florida to the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland in the Southern United States, connecting the Florida Panhandle to the Baltimore-Washington ...
,
SR 10 west, and
SR 87. US 231 continues southeast to
Brundidge, which is home to its junctions with SR 10 east,
SR 93, and
SR 125. The route then cuts a corner of
Coffee County.
There are no major junctions in Coffee County.
The route then enters into
Dale County. The route junctions with
SR 123 and
SR 51 in the far-vicinity of
Ariton, Alabama. The route reaches
Ozark
The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover a significant porti ...
, which is home to its junctions with
SR 27,
SR 249, and once again SR 123. In
Midland City, the route junctions with
SR 134 and
SR 605. The route has officially entered the
Dothan Metropolitan Area
The Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of Geneva, Henry, and Houston counties in southeastern Alabama, anchored by the city of Dothan, county seat of Houston County. As of t ...
.
In
Houston County, the route has no major junctions until it reaches the
Ross Clark Circle
State Route 210 (SR 210), also known as Ross Clark Circle or simply "The Circle" to locals, is a route overlaid by US 84, US 231, and US 431 encircling Dothan, Alabama in Houston County. For many years, the SR 210 designation appeared on state ...
, which is
US 84
U.S. Route 84 (US 84) is an east–west U.S. Highway that started as a short Georgia–Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme. Later, in 1941, it had been extended all the way to Colorado. The highway's eastern terminus is a short dist ...
and
SR 210. This same junction is the junction with
US 231 Bus. and the point where SR 53 ultimately leaves its state-wide concurrency with US 231. The route turns south onto the Ross Clark Circle and heads to the junction with
US 84 Bus. East/US 84 West. Here, US 84 leaves the Ross Clark Circle. It then continues southeast until it reaches
SR 52. SR 52 does not have a business route, unlike US 231 and US 84. The route turns to the full east and junctions with US 431 once again, for the first time since Huntsville, Alabama, alongside
US 431 Bus. This junction marks the southern terminus of US 431. The route turns south off of the Ross Clark Circle with
SR 1. It then heads south for the
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
state line. The route junctions with
SR 109 in
Hodgesville and SR 605 once again in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...
, before finally crossing the state line into
Campbellton, Florida
Campbellton is a town in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 230 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Campbellton is located in northwestern Jackson County at (30.948587, –85.396472). It sits on a small hill at the junction ...
.
History
When US 231 was first assigned along with the rest of the
United States Numbered Highway System
The United States Numbered Highway System (often called U.S. Routes or U.S. Highways) is an integrated network of roads and highways numbered within a nationwide grid in the contiguous United States. As the designation and numbering of these h ...
in 1926, the route ran only as far north as
Montgomery. In 1952, the route was extended through the rest of the state and on to
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
.
The section of US 231 in
Huntsville
Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in th ...
was built as a
bypass around the downtown area. The original route ran up what is now
Whitesburg Drive on the south side of the city, and
Meridian Street in the north.
A portion on the north side of Brindlee Mountain, south of Huntsville, was damaged by a landslide in 2020. It was replaced by an elevated section.
Major intersections
References
{{State detail page browse, type=US, route=231, statebefore=Florida, state=Alabama, stateafter=Tennessee
Alabama
231
Year 231 ( CCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Claudius and Sallustus (or, less frequently, year 984 '' Ab urbe ...
Transportation in Houston County, Alabama
Transportation in Dale County, Alabama
Transportation in Coffee County, Alabama
Transportation in Pike County, Alabama
Transportation in Montgomery County, Alabama
Transportation in Elmore County, Alabama
Transportation in Coosa County, Alabama
Transportation in Talladega County, Alabama
Transportation in Shelby County, Alabama
Transportation in St. Clair County, Alabama
Transportation in Blount County, Alabama
Transportation in Cullman County, Alabama
Transportation in Marshall County, Alabama
Transportation in Morgan County, Alabama
Transportation in Madison County, Alabama
31-2