Decatur, Alabama

Decatur, Alabama
Downtown viewed from 2nd street
Downtown viewed from 2nd street
Flag of Decatur, Alabama
Official logo of Decatur, Alabama
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
Location in Limestone County and Morgan County, Alabama
Coordinates: 34°34′23″N 86°59′25″W / 34.57306°N 86.99028°W / 34.57306; -86.99028
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountiesMorgan, Limestone
FoundedJune 16, 1820
IncorporatedDecember 8, 1826[1]
IncorporatedJanuary 11, 1834[2]
Government
 • TypeMayoral-Council
 • MayorTab Bowling (R)
Area
 • City61.020 sq mi (158.041 km2)
 • Land54.594 sq mi (141.398 km2)
 • Water6.426 sq mi (16.643 km2)
Elevation594 ft (181 m)
Population
 • City57,938
 • Estimate 
(2022)[6]
57,922
 • RankUS: 682nd
AL: 10th
 • Density1,061/sq mi (409.6/km2)
 • Urban
60,458 (US: 449th)
 • Urban density1,390.8/sq mi (537.0/km2)
 • Metro
157,425 (US: 272nd)
 • Metro density123.9/sq mi (47.85/km2)
 • Combined
879,315 (US: 68th)
 • Combined density255.3/sq mi (98.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
35601, 35602, 35603, 35609, 35699
Area code(s)256 and 938
FIPS code01-20104
GNIS feature ID2404206[4]
Websitecityofdecatural.com

Decatur (/dɪˈktər/[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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Municipalities of Alabama Incorporation Dates" (PDF). Alabama League of Municipalities. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Decatur, Alabama
  5. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "How to pronounce Decatur in English - Definition of Decatur in English". Forvo. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  9. ^ "Vulcan: Construction Materials". Vulcan Materials. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  10. ^ "Daikin America". Daikin. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  11. ^ "Toray Composite Materials America, INC". Toray. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "ULA selects Blue Origin engines for Vulcan rocket in boost for Alabama". United Launch Alliance. September 27, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2019.