Decatur, Alabama

Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEC : Decatur, Alabama

**Decatur, Alabama**
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City nickname: "The River City"
Location in Morgan County and Alabama
County	Morgan County Limestone County
Area - Total - Water	155.1 km²; (6.5 mi²) 16.8 km² (149.9 mi²) 10.83%
Population - Total (2000) - Metropolitan	53,929 149,629
Time zone	Central: UTC–6
Mayor	Don Kyle
[City website]

Decatur, Alabama is a city in Morgan County, Alabama, with a small portion in southern Limestone County, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area, and the Decatur Metropolitan Area. Decatur sits on the southern bank of the Tennessee River. Decatur currently has an estimated population of 54,528.

Decatur is served by the Huntsville International Airport (a part of the Port of Huntsville), as well as Pryor Field Regional Airport.

Contents

History

Initially the area was known as Rhodes Ferry, named after a ferry that crossed the Tennessee River in the 1810s, and was incorporated as Albany in the year 1821.

Decatur was a very important point in North Alabama during its earliest days. Decatur was the Eastern Terminous of the Decatur-Courtland-Tuscumbia Railroad, the first railway built west of the Appalachian Mountains .

The city is named after naval hero Stephen Decatur, Jr. New Decatur was a city founded just north of Decatur in 1887 and incorporated in 1889.

Because of its location on the strategic Memphis & Charleston Railroad, Decatur was the site of several encounters during the American Civil War. All but three buildings were burned down during the 1864 Battle of Decatur, when Decatur was referred to as A Tough Nut To Crack. The three that remained are the Old State Bank, Dancy-Polk House, and the McEntire House.

The Old State Bank, on the edge of downtown, is the oldest bank building in the State of Alabama, at the age of 172 years. The first Wave Pool in the United States was built here, and is still in operation at the Point Mallard Aquatic Center. Decatur is also home to the largest Victorian Era Home District in the State of Alabama. Decatur is also home to the oldest Opera House in the State of Alabama (Cotaco Opera House), the building still exists on Johnston Street.

In the past, its industries included repair shops of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, car works, engine works, engine works, tannery, bottling plants, and manufactures of lumber, sashes and blinds, fertilizers, cigars, flour, cottonseed oil, and various other products.

Historical Timeline

Area founded as Rhodes Ferry in 1810s.
Rhodes Ferry incorporated as Albany in 1821.
Dancy-Polk House erected in 1829.
Old State Bank erected on July 29, 1833.
McEntire House built in 1836.
Also in 1836, Decatur became the home to the first railroad ever built west of the Appalachian Mountains Decatur-Courtland-Tuscumbia Railroad.
Battle of Decatur takes place during the American Civil War in November, 1864.
Decatur's Victorian Era Home District built between 1870 and 1910
New Decatur founded in 1887, incorporated in 1889.
Princess Theatre built in 1919.
Albany Decatur, and New Decatur merge in 1927.
TVA brings new business to Decatur through the military, and energy management in the 1930s.
Modern History begins

Demographics

As of the census^{[Geographic references#2GR2]} of 2000, there were 53,929 people, 21,824 households, and 14,753 families residing in the city. The population density was 389.9/km² (1,009.7/mi²). There were 23,950 housing units at an average density of 173.1/km² (448.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.50% White, 19.56% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 5.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,824 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,192, and the median income for a family was $47,574. Males had a median income of $37,108 versus $22,471 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,431. About 11.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Population

In 1890, 2,765 people lived in Decatur, Alabama; in 1900, 3,114; in 1910, 4,228; and in 1940, 16,604#redirect [[Template:Fact]]. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 53,929. As of the 2004 census estimation, the population was 54,528. The city is the county seat of Morgan County^{[Geographic references#6GR6]}. In 1900, 4,457 people lived in New Decatur, Alabama; in 1910, 6,118. The two cities have melded.

Economy

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Decatur has grown to be the busiest river port on the Tennessee River. Having the largest/busiest port on the Tennessee River, Port of Decatur, the city sees large amounts of barge traffic from up and down the Tennessee River. This traffic has brought 20 Fortune 500 companies to open up plants in the city.

Decatur is also known as "The Home of Meow Mix", after the company bought a 200,000 square foot facility in town, and utilizes its river front property to ship the finished product up and down the Tennessee River.

The future is bright for Decatur's economy. Being part of the Huntsville-Decatur CSA, the city lies within the region that has the most engineers per person in the nation. This makes for one of, if not the most, educated regions in the Alabama, thus stimulating the economy and growth of the city/region.

A recent BRAC Base Realignment will bring a (conservative) population estimated at 5,000-10,000 people (not including and their families) to the area surrounding the Redstone Arsenal. Having the largest/busiest port on the Tennessee River, Port of Decatur, the city sees large amounts of barge traffic from up and down the Tennessee River.

Delta IV Medium launch carrying DSCS III-B6

The city is also the site for one of the largest one roof buildings on earth, owned by Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems, which builds the Delta IV rockets to send satellites into space in the city, utilizing the Tennessee River to send them to Cape Canaveral,Florida to send satalites into orbit. A proposition by the government could combine Lockheed-Martin, and Boeing's rocket manufacturing contracts and send then to Decatur. If this goes through, all satellite launching rockets used by the US Government could be built in Decatur.

In 2002, the City of Decatur was recognized as on of the top 50 cities in the United States for manufacturing expansion.

Major Employers in Decatur

Tourism

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View of Balloons Inflating At The Alabama Jubilee

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View of Old State Bank

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Tourism is a major part of Decatur's economy. Hundreds of thousands of people from Decatur, Alabama, the U.S., and many other countries and territories flock to Decatur for some of the best festivals around.

The Alabama Jubilee is the oldest hot air balloon race in the south. With visiting populations rising into 75,000, people crowd around numerous 7 story tall inflating balloons. Because of the Alabama Jubilee, Decatur has been named "The Ballooning Capital of Alabama" by the Alabama State Legislature.

The Spirit of America Festival is one of the largest, free, 4th of July festivals in the south. More than 65,000 people arrive in Decatur to watch annual celebrations, and the Miss Point Mallard Beauty Pageant.

Riverfest is another great celebration sponsored by the Decatur Jaycees. Set at Rhodes Ferry Park, along the beautiful Tennessee River. Barbecuers come from all over the country to try their luck at beating Big Bob Gibson's Barbecue, the numerous World Champion Winner.

Also a very big celebration in Decatur, and North Alabama. The Racking Horse World Celebration attracts numerous horses from around the world to come compete in the largest Racking Horse Celebration. Set in the Racking Horse World Celebration Arena in Decatur, AL, drawing up to 75,000 fans and competitors each year.

"Home of America's first Wave Pool"

Festivals and Celebrations

Alabama Jubilee

Spirit of America Festival

Riverfest

Racking Horse World Celebration and Arena

Infrastructure

Transportation

"Steamboat Bill" Hudson Memorial Bridge

Decatur, being only a midsized city, has not yet seen the conveniences of a drastically controlled access highway passing through the city limits.

Decatur's main thoroughfares are 6th Avenue (US 31) and The Beltline (Alabama 67). 6th Avenue begins as both Alabama 20, Alternate U.S. 72, and US 31 split after being carried by the twin-span "Steamboat Bill" Hudson Memorial Bridge that crosses Tennessee River at the north central part of town. Alabama 20/Alternate U.S. 72 continues west towards The Shoals, after the Beltline begins in the vicinity of the Solutia plant. 6th Avenue continues southward where it eventually intersects with Beltline. After that intersection, 6th Avenue continues southward to Birmingham as Decatur Highway.

The Beltline was built as a western bypass to relieve congestion on 6th Avenue. In doing so, however, this created another problem as sprawl quickly developed along the new arterial. Plans are currently underway to widen the road from four to six lanes with the project expected to be completed by 2007.

Planned Roads

Plans are also underway to construct a controlled access beltway from Interstate 65 south of the city to Alternate U.S. 72 in Lawrence County, known as Veteran's Parkway.

Also, plans not as stationary are going through much faster to transform Alabama Highway 20/Alternate US 72 into an extension of Interstate 565 into the city. Governor Bob Riley has said that he will make sure plans for the road will be put on the fast track, since more than 75 wrecks occur on the 1.5 mile stretch of dangerous highway each year.

Education

The Decatur City School System is considered to be one of the top in the nation. Both high schools (Decatur HS, and Austin HS) have been awarded the Safe Schools Award for the past two years that it has been presented in the State of Alabama. Decatur, and Austin High Schools are the only schools in the state to have won this award both years.

High test scores, and well educated parents provide for a highly educated and college bound student population. The only institution of higher education located within the Decatur city limits is [Calhoun Community College]. Calhoun Community College has three campuses, the main campus being in Decatur.

Local Higher Education

Nicknames

The River City - Because of the Tennessee River that flows on the northern edge of town, and inspires festivals and culture in the city.
The Chicago of the South - Given to Decatur after Delano Park was created after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Decatur after the creation of TVA, because the city was to be, and is, a hub for the commercial activity that followed TVA's introduction to the Tennessee Valley.
"Ballooning Capital of Alabama" - Bestowed by the Alabama Legislature because of the Alabama Jubilee being held each year in the city that brings over 70 Hot Air Balloons to Point Mallard Park.
The Heart of the Valley - Because of Decatur's location at the very center of the Alabama portion of the Tennessee River and Tennessee Valley.
"Home of America's First Wave Pool" - Decatur is home to the first wave pool ever built in the United States at the popular Point Mallard Aquatic Center.

Geography

Decatur is located at [34°34′52″N, 86°59′0″W] (34.580992, -86.983392)^{[Geographic references#1GR1]}.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 155.1 km² (59.9 mi²). 138.3 km² (53.4 mi²) of it is land and 16.8 km² (6.5 mi²) of it (10.83%) is water.

Wheeler Lake
Tennessee River

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Famous Decaturites

James Byron Huggins, writer.
Mae C. Jemison, first African American woman in space.
Dean Jones, actor.
Lucas Black, actor.
Phillip Rivers, football player.
Charles Redding Pitt, US & State Attorney, Politician
Kris McInnis, TapesandSticks.com

External links

Websites

HDMSA	Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
Core Metro Areas:	Decatur Metropolitan Area \| Huntsville Metropolitan Area
Core Cities:	Decatur \| Huntsville
Smaller Major Cities:	Albertville \| Athens \| Hartselle \| Madison \| Scottsboro
Other Important Areas of Population:	Arab \| Boaz \| Guntersville \| Moulton \| Redstone Arsenal
Counties in Metro Area:	Jackson \| Lawrence \| Limestone \| Marshall \| Madison \| Morgan

	State of Alabama History \| People \| Governors \| Metropolitan Areas

Capital

Montgomery

Regions

Cities

Counties

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