Decatur, Alabama | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Downtown viewed from 2nd street | |
 Flag  Logo | |
| Nickname(s): The River City, The Chicago of the South, The Heart of the Valley | |
| Motto: "The City of Opportunity" | |
 Location in Limestone County and Morgan County, Alabama | |
| Coordinates: 34°34′23″N 86°59′25″W / 34.57306°N 86.99028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| Counties | Morgan, Limestone |
| Founded | June 16, 1820 |
| Incorporated | December 8, 1826[1] |
| Incorporated | January 11, 1834[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayoral-Council |
| • Mayor | Tab Bowling (R) |
| Area | |
• City | 61.020 sq mi (158.041 km2) |
| • Land | 54.594 sq mi (141.398 km2) |
| • Water | 6.426 sq mi (16.643 km2) |
| Elevation | 594 ft (181 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 57,938 |
• Estimate (2022)[6] | 57,922 |
| • Rank | US: 682nd AL: 10th |
| • Density | 1,061/sq mi (409.6/km2) |
| • Urban | 60,458 (US: 449th) |
| • Urban density | 1,390.8/sq mi (537.0/km2) |
| • Metro | 157,425 (US: 272nd) |
| • Metro density | 123.9/sq mi (47.85/km2) |
| • Combined | 879,315 (US: 68th) |
| • Combined density | 255.3/sq mi (98.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC–6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 35601, 35602, 35603, 35609, 35699 |
| Area code(s) | 256 and 938 |
| FIPS code | 01-20104 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404206[4] |
| Website | cityofdecatural.com |
Decatur (/dɪˈkeɪtər/[7]) is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County (with a portion also in Limestone County) in the U.S. state of Alabama.[8] Nicknamed "The River City," it is located in northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake along the Tennessee River. The population was 57,938 at the 2020 census.[5]
Decatur is the core city of the two-county large Decatur metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 157,425 in 2022. Combined with the Huntsville Metropolitan Area, the two create the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area, of which Decatur is the second-largest city.
Like many southern cities in the early 19th century, Decatur's early success was based upon its location along a river. Railroad routes and boating traffic pushed the city to the front of North Alabama's economic atmosphere. The city rapidly grew into a large economic center within the Tennessee Valley and was a hub for travelers and cargo between Nashville and Mobile, as well as Chattanooga and New Orleans. Throughout the 20th century, the city experienced steady growth but was eclipsed as the regional economic center by the fast-growing Huntsville during the space race. Decatur now finds its economy heavily based on manufacturing, mining, cargo transit, chemical, and high-tech companies such as Vulcan Materials,[9] Daikin,[10] Toray,[11] and United Launch Alliance.[12]
- ^ Act 93. "AN ACT to incorporate the town of Decatur, in Morgan county." Acts Passed at the Eighth Annual Session of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama. 1826. Printed by Grantland & Robinson, State Printers. Pages 88-89.
- ^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates" (PDF). Alabama League of Municipalities. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Decatur, Alabama
- ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
USCensusEst2022was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "How to pronounce Decatur in English - Definition of Decatur in English". Forvo. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Vulcan: Construction Materials". Vulcan Materials. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Daikin America". Daikin. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Toray Composite Materials America, INC". Toray. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ "ULA selects Blue Origin engines for Vulcan rocket in boost for Alabama". United Launch Alliance. September 27, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2019.