Decatur, Alabama is a city located in Morgan County, with a small portion in southern Limestone County, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area. Decatur sits on the southern bank of the mighty Tennessee River.
Decatur is served by the Huntsville International Airport (a part of the Port of Huntsville), as well as Pryor Field Regional Airport.
Decatur is located at 34°34'52" North, 86°59'0" West (34.580992, -86.983392).
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 is water. The total area is 10.83% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 53,929 people, 21,824 households, and 14,753 families residing in the city. The population density is 389.9/km2 (1,009.7/mi2). There are 23,950 housing units at an average density of 173.1/km2 (448.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 21,824 households out of which 31.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% are married couples living together, 13.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 28.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 2.99.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,192, and the median income for a family is $47,574. Males have a median income of $37,108 versus $22,471 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,431. 14.9% of the population and 11.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.2% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
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.
The future is bright for Decatur's economy. Being part of the Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area, 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.
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.
Kia Motors is looking at the City of Decatur as one of four sites for their first North American assembly plant. The four cities being considered are: Decatur, Chattanooga, TN, Hopkinsville, KY, and Aiken, SC. Kia originally looked at locating the plant in Meridian, MS, but lack of a large enough population pressured Kia to seek different locations. The chances that Decatur will get the plant are very high. Decatur has about 14,000 more people than Meridians's 40,000. Since Decatur is located in the Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area there is no shortage of a work force population. Delphi Corporation's recent declaration of bankruptcy means that their Decatur-Limestone County plant might close, that could mean that over 2,000 employees could be out of a job. Kia would provide 2,500 new jobs.
If Kia moves to Decatur, it would be the fifth automotive manufacturing plant in the State of Alabama. Toyota has a plant in Huntsville, Hyundai has a plant in Hope Hull, Mercedes-Benz has a plant in Vance, and Honda has a plant in Lincoln.
Initially the area was founded as Rhodes Ferry, named after the 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 it's earlist stages. Decatur was the Eastern Terminous of the Decatur-Courtland-Tuscumbia Railroad, the first railroad 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 Battle of Decatur, when Decatur was refered to as A Tough Nut To Crack, during the American Civil War. 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.
Source:
DecaturAlabama.com
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