The college was founded in 1946 and named after John C. Calhoun, the 7th Vice President of the United States.

[2] In addition to its main 110-acre (45 ha) campus in Tanner, the college has sites at Huntsville/Cummings Research Park, the Alabama Center for the Arts in downtown Decatur, and at the Limestone Correctional Facility.

The campus sits adjacent to Pryor Field Regional Airport along Highway 31.

Over 80% of the full-time faculty possess at least a master's degree and approximately 15 percent hold a doctorate.

[3] Calhoun participates in baseball and softball in the Alabama Community College Conference.