Muscle Shoals, AL Demographics

A map of Muscle Shoals's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	13,107	11,788	77.3%	72.4%
Black	2,599	2,802	15.3%	17.2%
Hispanic	519	602	3.1%	3.7%
Multiracial	450	677	2.7%	4.2%
Asian	235	284	1.4%	1.7%
Native American/Other	41	122	0.2%	0.7%

Muscle Shoals, Alabama has an estimated population of 16,951, an increase from the 16,275 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 77.3% White, 15.3% Black, 3.1% Hispanic, 2.7% Multiracial, 1.4% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Muscle Shoals, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Muscle Shoals has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Alabama overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Muscle Shoals, that probability was 44.2% in 2020 and 37.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Muscle Shoals is ranked the 40th most populous place in Alabama, out of 594 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Muscle Shoals was ranked the 42nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Muscle Shoals's White Population

13,107 residents of Muscle Shoals, or 77.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Muscle Shoals is considerably higher than in Alabama overall, where 63.4% of the population is White. Muscle Shoals ranks 322nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Muscle Shoals's White population has grown by an estimated 11.2%. White residents' share of Muscle Shoals's population has increased from 72.4% to 77.3%.

Muscle Shoals is more White than neighboring Sheffield (67.8% White), Tuscumbia (66.5% White), Florence (70.8% White), and Leighton (40% White). Muscle Shoals is less White than neighboring St. Florian (87.8% White).

Muscle Shoals's Black Population

2,599 residents of Muscle Shoals, or 15.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Muscle Shoals is considerably lower than in Alabama overall, where 25.6% of the population is Black. Muscle Shoals ranks 260th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Muscle Shoals's Black population has declined by an estimated 7.2%. Black residents' share of Muscle Shoals's population has decreased from 17.2% to 15.3%.

Muscle Shoals is more Black than neighboring St. Florian (0.6% Black). Muscle Shoals is less Black than neighboring Sheffield (23.7% Black), Tuscumbia (24.6% Black), Florence (15.7% Black), and Leighton (46.2% Black).

Muscle Shoals's Asian Population

235 residents of Muscle Shoals, or 1.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Muscle Shoals is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Muscle Shoals ranks 45th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Muscle Shoals's Asian population has declined by an estimated 17.3%. Asian residents' share of Muscle Shoals's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.4%.

Muscle Shoals is more Asian than neighboring Sheffield (0.1% Asian), Tuscumbia (0% Asian), Florence (0.9% Asian), and Leighton (0% Asian). Muscle Shoals is less Asian than neighboring St. Florian (3.7% Asian).

Muscle Shoals's Hispanic Population

519 residents of Muscle Shoals, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Muscle Shoals is slightly lower than in Alabama overall, where 5.6% of the population is Hispanic. Muscle Shoals ranks 196th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Muscle Shoals's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 13.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Muscle Shoals's population has decreased from 3.7% to 3.1%.

Muscle Shoals is more Hispanic than neighboring Sheffield (2.8% Hispanic). Muscle Shoals is less Hispanic than neighboring Tuscumbia (6.5% Hispanic), Florence (5.9% Hispanic), Leighton (6.2% Hispanic), and St. Florian (4% Hispanic).

Muscle Shoals's Native American/Other Population

41 residents of Muscle Shoals, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Muscle Shoals is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Muscle Shoals ranks 220th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Muscle Shoals's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 66.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Muscle Shoals's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Muscle Shoals is more Native American/Other than neighboring Tuscumbia (0% Native American/Other), and Leighton (0% Native American/Other). Muscle Shoals is less Native American/Other than neighboring Sheffield (1.2% Native American/Other), Florence (0.8% Native American/Other), and St. Florian (0.3% Native American/Other).

Muscle Shoals's Multiracial Population

450 residents of Muscle Shoals, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Muscle Shoals is comparable to the share in Alabama overall, where 3.3% of the population is Multiracial. Muscle Shoals ranks 206th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 594 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Muscle Shoals's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 33.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Muscle Shoals's population has decreased from 4.2% to 2.7%.

Muscle Shoals is more Multiracial than neighboring Tuscumbia (2.5% Multiracial). Muscle Shoals is less Multiracial than neighboring Sheffield (4.4% Multiracial), Florence (5.9% Multiracial), Leighton (7.6% Multiracial), and St. Florian (3.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.