There has been much discussion regarding the location of Athens/Liberty Hill ( Dallas County Al). JOhn Gwins website has accuratley pinpointed the area of Athens. Recent research from the Postal Archives locates Liberty Hill post office as follows, the north west corner of Township 15 range 7 section 4. It further states it is located by another name, Athens. Liberty Hill is listed on most maps from the early 1800s until about 1887. Liberty Hill has always been located at the crossroads of the Old Cahaba to Mc Kinley Road, where it intersects with the old Cambridge to Uniontown road. Todays location is just to the right of Hwy 5 and on the north side of County Road 109 ( At Blalock). During the 1830s-40s Athens strived( it is shown on a 1844 Map) but with the coming of the railroad the population and trade routes shifted. Liberty Hill remained as a post office until sometime around 1880. ( In 1869 the postmaster was Hamilton White, B. Ohio. Remember this was during the heighth of reconstrution,post Civil War.probably a govt appointee ie;carpetbagger *) but Athens died out as a town but remained as a voting district. After the Civil War the new railroad line ended at Martins Station (dead ended) It remained that way until about 1890. With the extention of the N.O and S railline and the new construction of the Southern rail line by 1888 the population and trade again shifted to Safford, where the Southern Rail Line had a stop (also the county construction of a new school). After this Liberty Hill died out and became extinct along with Athens.
sources: US Archives "Postal Location Records"
Maps, University of Alabama
Church records, Sanford University, Birmingham
* my personal speculation not supported by record.