Is Center Star safe?
Florence, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Center Star as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Center Star
“Go. Center Star is a quiet, low-crime rural and exurban community in eastern Lauderdale County with virtually no street crime risks for visitors. Standard awareness is sufficient, though having your own vehicle is mandatory.”
About the area
Situated east of Killen and Florence along the Highway 72 corridor, Center Star is an unincorporated agricultural and residential area characterized by open pastures, single-family homesteads, and small local businesses. It serves primarily as a peaceful bedroom community for the wider Shoals metropolitan area.
- Rural / Agricultural
- Quiet & Peaceful
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Oriented
Walking and biking in Center Star
Walk score: 8/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There is no bike-share program and no dedicated bike lanes or multi-use trails; cycling along Highway 72 is risky due to high vehicular speeds and narrow shoulders.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low compared to state and national benchmarks.
- Strong homeownership rates exceeding 80% contribute to stable, well-kept residential properties.
- Quiet, low-density rural setting with minimal through-traffic off the main highway.
Cons
- Complete lack of sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and street lighting along fast-moving rural roads.
- Heavily reliant on county sheriff patrols, which can mean longer emergency response times than in Florence proper.
- Limited local commercial amenities requiring travel to Killen or Florence for medical and retail services.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in Center Star, with no encampments or panhandling; social and shelter services are centralized in downtown Florence.
What Center Star is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Crisp and peaceful with local farm trucks and commuters heading westward toward Florence and Muscle Shoals.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe, with light traffic along Highway 72 and quiet surrounding residential roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Very quiet as businesses close early; safety remains high but roads become pitch black.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Completely dark and silent with minimal activity; safe from crime but hazardous for roadside walking due to unlit high-speed roads.
Transit, parking and getting around
There is no fixed-route public transit in Center Star; public transit options are limited to demand-response rural van services operated by NACOLG (Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments).
Parking is abundant and free everywhere in Center Star, primarily in private surface gravel or paved lots attached to businesses and churches.
Things to do in Center Star
- Take a scenic drive through the rolling farmland and historic homesteads of eastern Lauderdale County.
- Access nearby Wilson Lake and Shoals Creek boat ramps for premier bass fishing and paddling.
- Stop at local roadside agricultural stands and community markets along Highway 72 during peak harvest seasons.
Local favorites
- Los Arrieros Mexican Grill · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (430)A casual local favorite serving classic Mexican plates, fajitas, and margaritas right along Highway 72.
- Brooks BBQ & Catering · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (360)Beloved Shoals-area barbecue joint offering smoked pork, ribs, and traditional Southern sides.
- Stephano's Southland Restaurant · Southern Restaurant · 4.5★ (410)Longtime highway diner known for homestyle breakfast plates, country-fried steak, and friendly service.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.