Russellville is a city in Franklin County in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2020 census, the population of the city was 10,855, up from 9,830 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Franklin County.

After the War of 1812, the U.S. government appropriated money to improve a route from Nashville to New Orleans. It was named Jackson's Military Road after Andrew Jackson, and it passed through what became Russellville. (Present-day Jackson Avenue and Jackson Highway, U.S. Route 43, follow portions of the original road.)

Russellville is named after Major William Russell, an early settler in the area who helped in the construction of Jackson's Military Road. The town grew at this road's intersection with the Gaines Trace.

Russellville was incorporated on November 27, 1819.

Russellville served as the first county seat from 1818-1849 before it was removed to Frankfort (which served from 1849-1879). After the fire at the courthouse in the third county seat of Belgreen in 1890, the seat was returned to Russellville in 1891.

Russellville is located in northeastern Franklin County. U.S. Route 43 passes through the eastern side of the city, leading north 18 miles (29 km) to Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River and southwest 31 miles (50 km) to Hamilton. Alabama State Route 24 passes through the south side of the city, leading east 47 miles (76 km) to Decatur on the Tennessee River and west 26 miles (42 km) to Red Bay at the Mississippi border.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Russellville has a total area of 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²), of which 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²), or 0.79%, is water.

As of the 2020 census, Russellville had a population of 10,855. The median age was 34.1 years. 29.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.