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{{Infobox settlement | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| name | | name = Decatur, Georgia | ||
| settlement_type | | settlement_type = [[City]] | ||
| image_skyline | | image_skyline = Decatur Square.JPG | ||
| image_caption | | image_caption = Decatur Square | ||
| image_blank_emblem = Decaturlogo.png | | image_blank_emblem = Decaturlogo.png | ||
| blank_emblem_type | | blank_emblem_type = Logo | ||
| motto | | motto = {{force singular}} "A City of Homes, Schools and Places of Worship" | ||
| | | mapframe = yes | ||
| mapframe-point = none | |||
| pushpin_relief = yes | |||
| coordinates = {{coord|33|46|17|N|84|17|52|W|region:US-GA_type:city|format=dms|display=inline,title}}<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> | |||
| subdivision_type = Country | |||
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | |||
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | |||
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|County]] | |||
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagdeco|Georgia (U.S. state)}} [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] | |||
| subdivision_name2 = [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb]] | |||
| established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] | |||
| established_date = {{Start date and age|1823|12|10}} | |||
| named_for = [[Commodore (United States)|Commodore]] [[Stephen Decatur]] | |||
| government_type = [[City commission government|Commission–Manager]] | |||
| leader_title = [[City commission government|Commission]] | |||
| leader_name = Decatur City Commission | |||
| unit_pref = Imperial | |||
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref> | |||
| area_total_sq_mi = 4.60 | |||
| area_total_km2 = 11.92 | |||
| pushpin_relief | | area_land_sq_mi = 4.60 | ||
| coordinates | | area_land_km2 = 11.91 | ||
| subdivision_type | | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 | ||
| subdivision_name | | area_water_km2 = 0.01 | ||
| subdivision_type1 | | elevation_m = 318 | ||
| subdivision_type2 | | elevation_ft = 1043 | ||
| subdivision_name1 | | population_total = 24928 | ||
| subdivision_name2 | | population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] | ||
| established_title | |||
| established_date | |||
| named_for | |||
| government_type | |||
| leader_title | |||
| leader_name | |||
| unit_pref | |||
| area_footnotes | |||
| area_total_sq_mi | |||
| area_total_km2 | |||
| area_land_sq_mi | |||
| area_land_km2 | |||
| area_water_sq_mi | |||
| area_water_km2 | |||
| elevation_m | |||
| elevation_ft | |||
| population_total | |||
| population_as_of | |||
| population_footnotes = | | population_footnotes = | ||
| population_density_sq_mi = 5422.67 | | population_density_sq_mi = 5422.67 | ||
| population_density_km2 = 2093.77 | | population_density_km2 = 2093.77 | ||
| postal_code_type | | postal_code_type = [[ZIP code|ZIP code(s)]] | ||
| postal_code | | postal_code = 30030, 30032, 30033 | ||
| | | area_codes = [[Area code 404|404]], [[Area codes 678 and 470|678 and 470]] | ||
| website | | website = {{URL|https://www.decaturga.com/|decaturga.com}} | ||
| pushpin_label | | pushpin_label = Decatur | ||
| leader_title2 | | leader_title2 = [[Mayor]] | ||
| leader_name2 | | leader_name2 = Tony Powers | ||
| timezone | | timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]] | ||
| utc_offset | | utc_offset = -5 | ||
| timezone_DST | | timezone_DST = EDT | ||
| utc_offset_DST | | utc_offset_DST = -4 | ||
| blank_name | | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | ||
| blank_info | | blank_info = 13-22052 | ||
| blank1_name | | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | ||
| blank1_info | | blank1_info = 0331532<ref name="GR3-u">{{cite gnis|331532|Decatur|2026-02-23}}</ref> | ||
| blank2_name | | blank2_name = Major airport | ||
| blank2_info | | blank2_info = [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|ATL]] | ||
| pop_est_as_of | | pop_est_as_of = | ||
| pop_est_footnotes | | pop_est_footnotes = | ||
| population_est | | population_est = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Decatur''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|k|eɪ|t|ər}}) is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States, part of the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]]. With a population of 24,928 in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Decatur city, Georgia |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/decaturcitygeorgia/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref> the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear Decatur as the address. | '''Decatur''' ({{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|k|eɪ|t|ər}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States, part of the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]]. With a population of 24,928 in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Decatur city, Georgia |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/decaturcitygeorgia/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref> the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear Decatur as the address. | ||
The city is served by three [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] rail stations ([[Decatur station|Decatur]], [[East Lake station|East Lake]], and [[Avondale station (MARTA)|Avondale]]). The city is located approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0|spell=on|sp=us|abbr=off}} northeast of [[Downtown Atlanta]] and shares its western border with both the city of Atlanta (the Kirkwood and Lake Claire neighborhoods) and unincorporated DeKalb County. The [[Druid Hills, Georgia|Druid Hills]] neighborhood is to the northwest of Decatur. | The city is served by three [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] rail stations ([[Decatur station|Decatur]], [[East Lake station|East Lake]], and [[Avondale station (MARTA)|Avondale]]). The city is located approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0|spell=on|sp=us|abbr=off}} northeast of [[Downtown Atlanta]] and shares its western border with both the city of Atlanta (the Kirkwood and Lake Claire neighborhoods) and unincorporated DeKalb County. The [[Druid Hills, Georgia|Druid Hills]] neighborhood is to the northwest of Decatur. | ||
| Line 91: | Line 73: | ||
===American Civil War=== | ===American Civil War=== | ||
During the [[American Civil War]], Decatur became a strategic site in [[William Tecumseh Sherman|Sherman]]'s [[Atlanta | During the [[American Civil War]], Decatur became a strategic site in [[William Tecumseh Sherman|Sherman]]'s [[Atlanta campaign]]. In July 1864, [[Major general (United States)|Major-General]] [[James B. McPherson|James McPherson]] occupied the town to cut off the [[Confederate States Army|Confederates]]' supply line from [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]]. On July 22, during the [[Battle of Atlanta]], Confederate [[Cavalry in the American Civil War|cavalry]] under [[Major general|Major-General]] [[Joseph Wheeler]] attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A historical marker at the old courthouse marks the site of this skirmish. | ||
{{blockquote|We attacked Decatur on the 22d and took the town driving out a Brigade of Infantry and a good deal of Dismounted Cavalry. Our Brigade really took the town, tho' it was supported on both flanks by a Brigade of Cavalry dismounted. The fight lasted about two hours and was very hot for a while. The Yankees had the hills and houses on us and fought very well for a time. Our dash was made to distract attention while Hardee made the real attack on the enemy's flank. We captured over a hundred prisoners and killed and wounded about one hundred and fifty. Our loss about seventy killed and wounded.|author=[[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] W. L. Nugent|source=in a letter to his wife<ref>{{Harvnb|Cash|Howorth|1977|pp=189–190}}</ref>}} | {{blockquote|We attacked Decatur on the 22d and took the town driving out a Brigade of Infantry and a good deal of Dismounted Cavalry. Our Brigade really took the town, tho' it was supported on both flanks by a Brigade of Cavalry dismounted. The fight lasted about two hours and was very hot for a while. The Yankees had the hills and houses on us and fought very well for a time. Our dash was made to distract attention while Hardee made the real attack on the enemy's flank. We captured over a hundred prisoners and killed and wounded about one hundred and fifty. Our loss about seventy killed and wounded.|author=[[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] W. L. Nugent|source=in a letter to his wife<ref>{{Harvnb|Cash|Howorth|1977|pp=189–190}}</ref>}} | ||
===20th century=== | ===20th century=== | ||
In the second half of the twentieth century the metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]], eventually surrounding two sides of the town of Decatur. Concurrently, the area experienced [[white flight]], as many residents fled to more distant suburbs. The 1960s and 1970s witnessed dramatic drops in property values. However, more recently the city has regained economic vigor, partially thanks to several long-term downtown development plans that have come to fruition, making Decatur a trendy small [[Mixed-use development|mixed-use]] district with easy transit to downtown Atlanta. Over the past twenty years, it has gained a local and national reputation as a progressive city with a high level of citizen involvement.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} | In the second half of the twentieth century the metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]], eventually surrounding two sides of the town of Decatur. Concurrently, the area experienced [[white flight]], as many residents fled to more distant suburbs. The 1960s and 1970s witnessed dramatic drops in property values. However, more recently the city has regained economic vigor, partially thanks to several long-term downtown development plans that have come to fruition, making Decatur a trendy small [[Mixed-use development|mixed-use]] district with easy transit to downtown Atlanta. Over the past twenty years, it has gained a local and national reputation as a progressive city with a high level of citizen involvement.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} In the early 2000’s, Decatur and East Atlanta had a reputation for LGBTQ-centricity. Because of gentrification, the city has now been attracting more straight young urban professionals instead. | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
| Line 103: | Line 85: | ||
The [[Eastern Continental Divide]] bisects the city along the [[CSX]] (formerly [[Georgia Railroad]]) trackage right of way. | The [[Eastern Continental Divide]] bisects the city along the [[CSX]] (formerly [[Georgia Railroad]]) trackage right of way. | ||
=== Neighborhoods and historic districts === | ===Neighborhoods and historic districts=== | ||
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}} | {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} | ||
* [[Adair Park (Decatur)|Adair Park]] | * [[Adair Park (Decatur)|Adair Park]] | ||
* [[Chelsea Heights & Westchester Hills (Decatur)|Chelsea Heights]] | * [[Chelsea Heights & Westchester Hills (Decatur)|Chelsea Heights]] | ||
* [[Clairemont – Great Lakes (Decatur)|Clairemont - Great Lakes and Clairemont Historic District]] | * [[Clairemont – Great Lakes (Decatur)|Clairemont - Great Lakes and Clairemont Historic District]] | ||
| Line 113: | Line 94: | ||
* College Heights | * College Heights | ||
* Downtown Decatur | * Downtown Decatur | ||
* Emory Parc Manor | |||
* EverGreen Forest | * EverGreen Forest | ||
* [[Glennwood Estates (Decatur)|Glennwood Estates]] | * [[Glennwood Estates (Decatur)|Glennwood Estates]] | ||
| Line 123: | Line 105: | ||
* [[Ponce de Leon Court Historic District]] | * [[Ponce de Leon Court Historic District]] | ||
* [[Ridgeland Park]] | * [[Ridgeland Park]] | ||
* [[South Candler Street–Agnes Scott College Historic District|South Candler Street-Agnes Scott College Historic District]] | |||
* [[Sycamore Street (Decatur)|Sycamore Street]] | * [[Sycamore Street (Decatur)|Sycamore Street]] | ||
* [[Chelsea Heights & Westchester Hills (Decatur)|Westchester Hills]] | * [[Chelsea Heights & Westchester Hills (Decatur)|Westchester Hills]] | ||
| Line 128: | Line 111: | ||
* Dearborn Heights {{Div col end}} | * Dearborn Heights {{Div col end}} | ||
== Demographics == | ==Demographics== | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
|+Decatur, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small> | |||
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small> | |||
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Decatur, Georgia, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US1322052|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> | |||
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Decatur, Georgia, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=160XX00US1322052|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> | |||
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Decatur, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=160XX00US1322052|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> | |||
!% 2000 | |||
!% 2010 | |||
!{{partial|% 2020}} | |||
|- | |||
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH) | |||
|11,733 | |||
|13,806 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,796 | |||
|64.66% | |||
|71.40% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67.38% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH) | |||
|5,505 | |||
|3,858 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,839 | |||
|30.34% | |||
|19.95% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15.40% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH) | |||
|29 | |||
|36 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |36 | |||
|0.16% | |||
|0.19% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) | |||
|296 | |||
|554 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,317 | |||
|1.63% | |||
|2.87% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.28% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH) | |||
|6 | |||
|9 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12 | |||
|0.03% | |||
|0.05% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH) | |||
|56 | |||
|44 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |153 | |||
|0.31% | |||
|0.23% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.61% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH) | |||
|218 | |||
|416 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,481 | |||
|1.20% | |||
|2.15% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.94% | |||
|- | |||
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race) | |||
|304 | |||
|612 | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,294 | |||
|1.68% | |||
|3.17% | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.19% | |||
|- | |||
|'''Total''' | |||
|'''18,147''' | |||
|'''19,335''' | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''24,928''' | |||
|'''100.00%''' | |||
|'''100.00%''' | |||
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' | |||
|} | |||
{{US Census population | {{US Census population | ||
| 1840 = 530 | | 1840 = 530 | ||
| Line 148: | Line 213: | ||
| 2010 = 19335 | | 2010 = 19335 | ||
| 2020 = 24928 | | 2020 = 24928 | ||
| estyear = 2025 | |||
| estimate = 25276 | |||
| estref = {{increase}} | |||
| align-fn = center | | align-fn = center | ||
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref><br />2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts" /> | | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref><br />2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts" /> | ||
<br> 2025<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2025/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2025-POP-13.xlsx Origin= |title=2025 City and town population estimates: Georgia |website=U.S. Census Bureau |date=May 14, 2026 |access-date=May 22, 2025}}</ref> | |||
| align = right | |||
}} | }} | ||
===2020 census=== | |||
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Decatur had a population of 24,928. The median age was 39.5 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 74.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A22052&in=state%3A13|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL" /> | |||
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A22052&in=state%3A13|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> | |||
There were 9,946 households in Decatur, of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.6% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP" /> | |||
There were 11,205 housing units, of which 11.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP" /> | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+ | |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A22052&in=state%3A13|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> | ||
!Race | ! Race !! Number !! Percent | ||
! | |||
! | |||
|- | |- | ||
| [[White Americans|White]] || 17,100 || 68.6% | |||
|[[White | |- | ||
| | | [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 3,896 || 15.6% | ||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[ | | [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 54 || 0.2% | ||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[ | | [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 1,323 || 5.3% | ||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[ | | [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 12 || 0.0% | ||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Some other race || 362 || 1.5% | ||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[ | | [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 2,181 || 8.7% | ||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Hispanic | | ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 1,294 || 5.2% | ||
|1,294 | |||
|5. | |||
|} | |} | ||
===Diversity trends=== | |||
In recent decades, the city of Decatur has become markedly less diverse in racial terms. In 1990, the city's population was nearly 40 percent African American. By 2010, it had dropped to 20 percent African American, and by 2020 it dropped further to just barely 15 percent African American. Between 1990 and 2020, the proportion of the town's population that was white rose from 60 to 67 percent. One exception to this trend is the fact that Decatur's Latino and Asian populations were minuscule in 1990, and though they each only represented just 5 percent of the town's population in 2020, their increases in proportional terms over the thirty-year period were significant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whisenhunt |first=Dan |date=2014-08-06 |title=Diversity report shows Decatur getting whiter |url=https://decaturish.com/2014/08/diversity-report-shows-decatur-getting-whiter/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Decaturish |language=en-US}}</ref> | In recent decades, the city of Decatur has become markedly less diverse in racial terms. In 1990, the city's population was nearly 40 percent African American. By 2010, it had dropped to 20 percent African American, and by 2020 it dropped further to just barely 15 percent African American. Between 1990 and 2020, the proportion of the town's population that was white rose from 60 to 67 percent. One exception to this trend is the fact that Decatur's Latino and Asian populations were minuscule in 1990, and though they each only represented just 5 percent of the town's population in 2020, their increases in proportional terms over the thirty-year period were significant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whisenhunt |first=Dan |date=2014-08-06 |title=Diversity report shows Decatur getting whiter |url=https://decaturish.com/2014/08/diversity-report-shows-decatur-getting-whiter/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Decaturish |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
== Education == | ==Education== | ||
===Primary and secondary schools=== | ===Primary and secondary schools=== | ||
[[Image:DecaturHSfromFlickr.jpg|thumb|[[Decatur High School (Georgia)|Decatur High School]]]] | [[Image:DecaturHSfromFlickr.jpg|thumb|[[Decatur High School (Georgia)|Decatur High School]]]] | ||
[[City Schools of Decatur]], which serves only students within the city limits, holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of a pre-K early childhood learning center, five lower elementary schools, two upper elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.<ref>[http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=773&T=0&FY=2009 Georgia Board of Education]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> [[Decatur High School (Georgia)|Decatur High School]] is the district's sole high school. The Decatur City district has 224 full-time teachers<ref>[http://www.school-stats.com/GA/DE_KALB/DECATUR_CITY.html School Stats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308203836/http://www.school-stats.com/GA/DE_KALB/DECATUR_CITY.html |date=March 8, 2012 }}, Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> and over | [[City Schools of Decatur]], which serves only students within the city limits, holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of a pre-K early childhood learning center, five lower elementary schools, two upper elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.<ref>[http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=773&T=0&FY=2009 Georgia Board of Education]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> [[Decatur High School (Georgia)|Decatur High School]] is the district's sole high school. The Decatur City district has 224 full-time teachers<ref>[http://www.school-stats.com/GA/DE_KALB/DECATUR_CITY.html School Stats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308203836/http://www.school-stats.com/GA/DE_KALB/DECATUR_CITY.html |date=March 8, 2012 }}, Retrieved June 8, 2010.</ref> and over 5,700 students from pre-K through grade 12.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Total Student Enrollment Dashboard - City Schools of Decatur |url=https://www.csdecatur.net/our-district-5f/overview/district-data/total-student-enrollment-dashboard |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.csdecatur.net |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
The [[DeKalb County School District]] serves unincorporated DeKalb County. | The [[DeKalb County School District]] serves unincorporated DeKalb County. | ||
The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta]] operates | The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta]] operates Saint Thomas More Catholic School in Decatur; it opened on September 1, 1950. At first it only had elementary grades and its initial enrollment was 150. A dedicated elementary building opened in 1955, and an addition for kindergarten classes with two rooms was placed in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.stmga.org/about/?tab=137#tool_539429 |access-date=2020-05-08 |publisher=St. Thomas More}}</ref> St. Peter Claver Regional School has a Decatur mailing address but is in nearby [[Candler-McAfee, Georgia|Candler-McAfee CDP]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spc-school.org/|title=Home|publisher=St. Peter Claver Regional School|access-date=2020-05-07|quote=2560 Tilson Road Decatur, GA 30032}} - Despite the Decatur address it is not in the city limits. Compare with the Candler-McAfee CDP limits map.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st13_ga/place/p1312834_candler-mcafee/DC10BLK_P1312834_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Candler-McAfee CDP, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2020-05-07}} - Compare with the Claver address.</ref> | ||
===Colleges and universities=== | ===Colleges and universities=== | ||
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The [[DeKalb County Public Library]] system operates the Decatur Branch and is also the Dekalb County Library Headquarters.<ref name="Loc">"[http://www.dekalblibrary.org/media/locations.pdf Library Locations & Hours]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[DeKalb County Public Library]]. Retrieved on April 11, 2016.</ref> | The [[DeKalb County Public Library]] system operates the Decatur Branch and is also the Dekalb County Library Headquarters.<ref name="Loc">"[http://www.dekalblibrary.org/media/locations.pdf Library Locations & Hours]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[DeKalb County Public Library]]. Retrieved on April 11, 2016.</ref> | ||
== Government == | ==Government== | ||
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff;|title=Presidential election results}} | {{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff;|title=Presidential election results}} | ||
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{{Hidden end}} | {{Hidden end}} | ||
Decatur has operated under a Commission-Manager form of government since 1920. The Charter of the City of Decatur establishes the City Commission as the governing and legislative authority of the City government. A five-member City Commission is elected for four-year terms on two-year cycles. Two members are elected from the south side of the city, two from the north side and one is elected at-large. At their organizational meeting each January, the Commissioners elect a mayor and mayor-pro-tem from among their own membership for a one-year term. The mayor is not a separate elected office. The current mayor is | Decatur has operated under a Commission-Manager form of government since 1920. The Charter of the City of Decatur establishes the City Commission as the governing and legislative authority of the City government. A five-member City Commission is elected for four-year terms on two-year cycles. Two members are elected from the south side of the city, two from the north side and one is elected at-large. At their organizational meeting each January, the Commissioners elect a mayor and mayor-pro-tem from among their own membership for a one-year term. The mayor is not a separate elected office. The current mayor is Tony Powers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Commission {{!}} Decatur GA |url=https://www.decaturga.com/citycommission |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=www.decaturga.com |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Previous mayors have included [[Leslie Jasper Steele]] (1915). | ||
The Commission appoints a professional City Manager to carry out the policies, directives and day-to-day business of the city. The current city manager is Andrea Arnold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.decaturga.com/directory-listing/andrea-arnold|title=Andrea Arnold|website=City of Decatur, GA|language=en|access-date=2019-08-07}}</ref> There are also several citizen volunteer boards and commissions appointed by the City Commission, including the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Historic Preservation Commission. | The Commission appoints a professional City Manager to carry out the policies, directives and day-to-day business of the city. The current city manager is Andrea Arnold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.decaturga.com/directory-listing/andrea-arnold|title=Andrea Arnold|website=City of Decatur, GA|language=en|access-date=2019-08-07}}</ref> There are also several citizen volunteer boards and commissions appointed by the City Commission, including the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Historic Preservation Commission. | ||
===State representation=== | ===State representation=== | ||
The [[Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice]] has its headquarters in [[Avondale Estates, Georgia|Avondale Estates]], near Decatur.<ref>"[http://www.djj.state.ga.us/DjjContact/djjcontact.shtml Contact]." Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.avondaleestates.org/resources/pdfs/Official%20Zoning%20Map%20Feb%207%202009.pdf Official Zoning Map]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Avondale Estates, Georgia|City of Avondale Estates]]. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref><!--The map of Avondale Estates indicates pink commercial zoning for the DJJ HQ. The HQ is along Covington Highway, bound by a line west of Memorial Dr, a line north of Covington/Memorial, Covington Highway to the west, and a line south of Kensington Road--> The [[Georgia Bureau of Investigation]] has its headquarters near Decatur, in an unincorporated area.<ref>"[ | The [[Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice]] has its headquarters in [[Avondale Estates, Georgia|Avondale Estates]], near Decatur.<ref>"[http://www.djj.state.ga.us/DjjContact/djjcontact.shtml Contact]." Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.avondaleestates.org/resources/pdfs/Official%20Zoning%20Map%20Feb%207%202009.pdf Official Zoning Map]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Avondale Estates, Georgia|City of Avondale Estates]]. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref><!--The map of Avondale Estates indicates pink commercial zoning for the DJJ HQ. The HQ is along Covington Highway, bound by a line west of Memorial Dr, a line north of Covington/Memorial, Covington Highway to the west, and a line south of Kensington Road--> The [[Georgia Bureau of Investigation]] has its headquarters near Decatur, in an unincorporated area.<ref>"[https://gbi.georgia.gov/directions Directions]." [[Georgia Bureau of Investigation]]. Retrieved on March 4, 2014. "The GBI Headquarters is located at: 3121 Panthersville Road Decatur GA, 30034"</ref> | ||
===Federal representation=== | ===Federal representation=== | ||
The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Decatur Post Office.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/decatur-520-w-ponce-de-leon-ave-decatur-ga-1360474 Post Office Location - DECATUR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727185316/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/decatur-520-w-ponce-de-leon-ave-decatur-ga-1360474 |date=July 27, 2010 }}." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref> | The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Decatur Post Office.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/decatur-520-w-ponce-de-leon-ave-decatur-ga-1360474 Post Office Location - DECATUR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727185316/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/decatur-520-w-ponce-de-leon-ave-decatur-ga-1360474 |date=July 27, 2010 }}." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref> | ||
== Culture == | ==Culture== | ||
=== Festivals, special events and arts === | ===Festivals, special events and arts=== | ||
Decatur has a thriving art and festival scene. The Decatur Arts Alliance hosts the Decatur Arts Festival each May, in addition to installing public art around the city, providing gallery space for local artists, producing YEA!, which is an event for young emerging artists, and supporting arts and arts education throughout the city.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} | Decatur has a thriving art and festival scene. The Decatur Arts Alliance hosts the Decatur Arts Festival each May, in addition to installing public art around the city, providing gallery space for local artists, producing YEA!, which is an event for young emerging artists, and supporting arts and arts education throughout the city.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} | ||
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Decatur is known for its frequent festivals, which include the annual Decatur Arts Festival, Summer In The city, Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival, the Decatur Book Festival, the Decatur Maker's Faire, The Decatur Craft Beer Festival and the Decatur Wine Festival. Other events throughout the year include parades, Concerts on the Square, wine crawls, art walks, runs, and races.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} | Decatur is known for its frequent festivals, which include the annual Decatur Arts Festival, Summer In The city, Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival, the Decatur Book Festival, the Decatur Maker's Faire, The Decatur Craft Beer Festival and the Decatur Wine Festival. Other events throughout the year include parades, Concerts on the Square, wine crawls, art walks, runs, and races.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} | ||
Public art in Decatur includes Celebration (artist Gary Price), Valentine (artist [[George Lundeen]] | Public art in Decatur includes Celebration (artist Gary Price), Valentine (artist [[George Lundeen]]), Commodore Stephen Decatur (artist unknown), Roy A. Blount Plaza, and Living Walls Murals (various artists).{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} | ||
=== Dining, breweries and distilleries === | ===Dining, breweries and distilleries=== | ||
Decatur is known for its food scene and was named one of the South's "Tastiest Towns" in 2012. In 2016, the New York Times called it "Atlanta's gastronomic equivalent of Berkeley or Brooklyn".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-16 |title=Atlanta Pulls a Chair to the Table for Culinary Greats (Published 2016) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/dining/atlanta-restaurants.html |archive-url= | Decatur is known for its food scene and was named one of the South's "Tastiest Towns" in 2012. In 2016, the New York Times called it "Atlanta's gastronomic equivalent of Berkeley or Brooklyn".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-16 |title=Atlanta Pulls a Chair to the Table for Culinary Greats (Published 2016) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/dining/atlanta-restaurants.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003002658/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/dining/atlanta-restaurants.html |archive-date=2023-10-03 |access-date=2024-12-30 |language=en |last1=Severson |first1=Kim }}</ref> | ||
=== Points of interest === | ===Points of interest=== | ||
[[Image:Decatur GA Gazebo.JPG|thumb|300 px| The Decatur Square gazebo from the old courthouse steps, prior to the removal of the Confederate monument]] | [[Image:Decatur GA Gazebo.JPG|thumb|300 px| The Decatur Square gazebo from the old courthouse steps, prior to the removal of the Confederate monument]] | ||
Decatur's downtown area and residential neighborhoods are filled with historic structures and sites of interest. This list primarily consists of structures on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], but many remain privately owned and may only be viewed from the exterior. | Decatur's downtown area and residential neighborhoods are filled with historic structures and sites of interest. This list primarily consists of structures on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], but many remain privately owned and may only be viewed from the exterior. | ||
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* [[Decatur Cemetery]], 229 Bell Street. This historic cemetery was founded in the early 19th century and is located northeast of Decatur Square. | * [[Decatur Cemetery]], 229 Bell Street. This historic cemetery was founded in the early 19th century and is located northeast of Decatur Square. | ||
* [[Glenwood Elementary School (Georgia)|Glenwood Elementary]], the oldest school in the city | * [[Glenwood Elementary School (Georgia)|Glenwood Elementary]], the oldest school in the city | ||
* Historic DeKalb County Courthouse, located in the original Decatur Square. | |||
* [[Oakhurst, Georgia|Historic Oakhurst]], in southwest Decatur. An early 20th century town annexed by Decatur, Oakhurst still has its own business district surrounded by bungalows. | * [[Oakhurst, Georgia|Historic Oakhurst]], in southwest Decatur. An early 20th century town annexed by Decatur, Oakhurst still has its own business district surrounded by bungalows. | ||
* [[MAK Historic District]], McDonough, Adams and Kings Highway. Decatur's first local historic district is full of early 20th century American Craftsman-style homes and has been used by Hollywood for films. | * [[MAK Historic District]], McDonough, Adams and Kings Highway. Decatur's first local historic district is full of early 20th century American Craftsman-style homes and has been used by Hollywood for films. | ||
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{{div col}} | {{div col}} | ||
*[[Lloyd (singer)|Lloyd]] - singer | |||
*[[B.o.B.]] - rapper, singer, songwriter | *[[B.o.B.]] - rapper, singer, songwriter | ||
*[[James Banks III]] (born 1998) - basketball player | *[[James Banks III]] (born 1998) - basketball player | ||
*[[Jarren Benton]] - rapper | *[[Jarren Benton]] - rapper | ||
*[[Frank Broyles]] - Coach and athletic director at University of Arkansas | |||
*[[Harrison Butker]] - [[NFL]] [[placekicker]] for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] | *[[Harrison Butker]] - [[NFL]] [[placekicker]] for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] | ||
*[[Jason Carter (politician)|Jason Carter]] - politician | *[[Jason Carter (politician)|Jason Carter]] - politician | ||
*[[Mark David Chapman]] - killed [[John Lennon]] | *[[Mark David Chapman]] - killed [[John Lennon]] | ||
*[[Paul Delaney (basketball)|Paul Delaney]] (born 1986) - basketball player in the [[Liga Leumit (basketball)|Israeli National League]] | *[[Paul Delaney (basketball)|Paul Delaney]] (born 1986) - basketball player in the [[Liga Leumit (basketball)|Israeli National League]] | ||
*[[Sania Feagin]] - [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] player | |||
*[[Rebecca Latimer Felton]] - first woman Senator | *[[Rebecca Latimer Felton]] - first woman Senator | ||
*[[Ian Garrison]] - professional cyclist | *[[Ian Garrison]] - professional cyclist | ||
| Line 320: | Line 391: | ||
*[[Sierra McClain]] - actress, singer | *[[Sierra McClain]] - actress, singer | ||
*[[S.P. Miskowski]] - author | *[[S.P. Miskowski]] - author | ||
*[[Jason Moore (soccer)|Jason Moore]] - soccer player<ref>{{cite web |title=Jason Moore |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jason-moore/ |website=[[Major League Soccer]] |access-date=February 3, 2026}}</ref> | |||
*[[Efrain Morales]] - soccer player for [[Atlanta United]] | *[[Efrain Morales]] - soccer player for [[Atlanta United]] | ||
*[[Matthew O'Brien]] - author and activist | |||
*[[Amy Ray]] (born 1964) - singer, songwriter, [[Indigo Girls]] | *[[Amy Ray]] (born 1964) - singer, songwriter, [[Indigo Girls]] | ||
*[[Will Reilly]] (born 2002) - soccer player<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jasper |first1=Adam |title=Will Reilly, Decatur's finest, shines in first MLS start |url=https://www.atlutd.com/news/will-reilly-shines-in-first-mls-start-atlanta-united-2025 |website=[[Atlanta United FC|Atlanta United]] |access-date=July 22, 2025 |date=March 26, 2025}}</ref> | |||
*[[Joey Rosskopf]] - professional cyclist | *[[Joey Rosskopf]] - professional cyclist | ||
*[[A. E. Stallings]] - poet and critic, first American [[Professor of Poetry]] at the [[University of Oxford]] | *[[A. E. Stallings]] - poet and critic, first American [[Professor of Poetry]] at the [[University of Oxford]] | ||
*[[Michael Stipe]] - lead vocalist, [[R.E.M.]] | *[[Michael Stipe]] - lead vocalist, [[R.E.M.]] | ||
*[[Baby Tate (rapper)|Baby Tate]] - rapper, singer | *[[Baby Tate (rapper)|Baby Tate]] - rapper, singer | ||
*[[Seth Tepfer]] - dance caller and writer | |||
*[[Gwen Torrence]] - sprinter and three-time Olympic gold medalist | |||
*[[Andrew Toles]] - outfielder for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] | *[[Andrew Toles]] - outfielder for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] | ||
*[[Rock Ya-Sin]] - NFL cornerback for the [[Baltimore Ravens]] | *[[Rock Ya-Sin]] - NFL cornerback for the [[Baltimore Ravens]] | ||
*[[Jordan Walker (baseball)|Jordan Walker]] - MLB outfielder for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] | *[[Jordan Walker (baseball)|Jordan Walker]] - MLB outfielder for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] | ||
*[[Devonte Wyatt]] - NFL defensive tackle for the [[Green Bay Packers]] | *[[Devonte Wyatt]] - NFL defensive tackle for the [[Green Bay Packers]] | ||
{{div col end}} | {{div col end}} | ||
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{{Sister project links|wikt=Decatur|commonscat=yes|n=no|q=no|s=no|author=Little Rock|b=no|voy=Decatur (Georgia)|v=no|d=n}} | {{Sister project links|wikt=Decatur|commonscat=yes|n=no|q=no|s=no|author=Little Rock|b=no|voy=Decatur (Georgia)|v=no|d=n}} | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
======= | |||
WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS. Only a limited number of new links | WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS. Only a limited number of new links | ||
should be added to this article. PLEASE DO NOT ADD external links to sites with | should be added to this article. PLEASE DO NOT ADD external links to sites with | ||
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See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for further details | See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for further details | ||
========= | |||
--> | --> | ||
; Government | ; Government | ||
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* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Decatur-Georgia.html Decatur, Georgia] at [[City-Data|City-Data.com]] | * [http://www.city-data.com/city/Decatur-Georgia.html Decatur, Georgia] at [[City-Data|City-Data.com]] | ||
* [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/decatur Decatur, Georgia] at ''[[New Georgia Encyclopedia]]'' | * [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/counties-cities-neighborhoods/decatur Decatur, Georgia] at ''[[New Georgia Encyclopedia]]'' | ||
* {{ | * {{OSM relation|119289}} | ||
<!--Please: Follow the [[WP:EL]] guideline where possible and consider discussing on the talk page--> | <!--Please: Follow the [[WP:EL]] guideline where possible and consider discussing on the talk page--> | ||
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[[Category:Decatur, Georgia| ]] | [[Category:Decatur, Georgia| ]] | ||
[[Category:1823 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]] | [[Category:1823 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]] | ||
[[Category:Cities in | [[Category:Cities in Metro Atlanta]] | ||
[[Category:Cities in DeKalb County, Georgia]] | [[Category:Cities in DeKalb County, Georgia]] | ||
[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]] | [[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]] | ||
[[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]] | [[Category:County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)]] | ||
[[Category:Planned communities in the United States]] | [[Category:Planned communities in the United States]] | ||
[[Category:Populated places established in 1823]] | [[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1823]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:23, 22 May 2026
Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator Decatur (Script error: No such module "IPAc-en".) is a city in and the county seat of DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 24,928 in the 2020 census,[2] the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear Decatur as the address.
The city is served by three MARTA rail stations (Decatur, East Lake, and Avondale). The city is located approximately Script error: No such module "convert". northeast of Downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with both the city of Atlanta (the Kirkwood and Lake Claire neighborhoods) and unincorporated DeKalb County. The Druid Hills neighborhood is to the northwest of Decatur.
History
Early history
Prior to European settlement, the Decatur area was largely forested (a remnant of old-growth forest near Decatur is preserved as Fernbank Forest). Decatur was established at the intersection of two Native American trails: the Sandtown, which led east from the Chattahoochee River at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford, which follows today's Clairmont Road, and eventually crossed near Roswell. A site for the DeKalb County courthouse was designated in 1822 in what would become downtown Decatur; the city of Decatur was incorporated on December 10, 1823. It was named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur.
The first settler in the area were farmers or skilled tradesmen of English, Scottish and Irish descent.[3]
American Civil War
During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's Atlanta campaign. In July 1864, Major-General James McPherson occupied the town to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta. On July 22, during the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate cavalry under Major-General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A historical marker at the old courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
We attacked Decatur on the 22d and took the town driving out a Brigade of Infantry and a good deal of Dismounted Cavalry. Our Brigade really took the town, tho' it was supported on both flanks by a Brigade of Cavalry dismounted. The fight lasted about two hours and was very hot for a while. The Yankees had the hills and houses on us and fought very well for a time. Our dash was made to distract attention while Hardee made the real attack on the enemy's flank. We captured over a hundred prisoners and killed and wounded about one hundred and fifty. Our loss about seventy killed and wounded.
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20th century
In the second half of the twentieth century the metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated DeKalb County, eventually surrounding two sides of the town of Decatur. Concurrently, the area experienced white flight, as many residents fled to more distant suburbs. The 1960s and 1970s witnessed dramatic drops in property values. However, more recently the city has regained economic vigor, partially thanks to several long-term downtown development plans that have come to fruition, making Decatur a trendy small mixed-use district with easy transit to downtown Atlanta. Over the past twenty years, it has gained a local and national reputation as a progressive city with a high level of citizen involvement.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In the early 2000’s, Decatur and East Atlanta had a reputation for LGBTQ-centricity. Because of gentrification, the city has now been attracting more straight young urban professionals instead.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., all land. Decatur is bordered by Avondale Estates to the southeast and Atlanta to the southwest, and unincorporated DeKalb County elsewhere.
The Eastern Continental Divide bisects the city along the CSX (formerly Georgia Railroad) trackage right of way.
Neighborhoods and historic districts
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
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- Adair Park
- Chelsea Heights
- Clairemont - Great Lakes and Clairemont Historic District
- Clairemont Gateway Association
- Decatur Heights
- College Heights
- Downtown Decatur
- Emory Parc Manor
- EverGreen Forest
- Glennwood Estates
- Lenox Place
- MAK Historic District
- Midway Woods
- Oakhurst
- Parkwood
- Ponce de Leon Heights
- Ponce de Leon Court Historic District
- Ridgeland Park
- South Candler Street-Agnes Scott College Historic District
- Sycamore Street
- Westchester Hills
- Winnona Park Historic District
- Dearborn Heights
Demographics
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[5] | Pop 2010[6] | Pop 2020[7] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 11,733 | 13,806 | 16,796 | 64.66% | 71.40% | 67.38% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,505 | 3,858 | 3,839 | 30.34% | 19.95% | 15.40% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 29 | 36 | 36 | 0.16% | 0.19% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 296 | 554 | 1,317 | 1.63% | 2.87% | 5.28% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 9 | 12 | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 56 | 44 | 153 | 0.31% | 0.23% | 0.61% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 218 | 416 | 1,481 | 1.20% | 2.15% | 5.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 304 | 612 | 1,294 | 1.68% | 3.17% | 5.19% |
| Total | 18,147 | 19,335 | 24,928 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
<templatestyles src="US Census population/styles.css"/>
| Census | Pop. | Template:Sronly | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 530 | — | |
| 1850 | 744 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1870 | 401 | — | |
| 1880 | 639 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1890 | 1,013 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1900 | 1,418 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1910 | 2,466 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1920 | 6,150 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1930 | 13,276 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1940 | 16,561 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1950 | 21,635 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1960 | 22,026 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1970 | 21,943 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1980 | 18,404 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 1990 | 17,304 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2000 | 18,147 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2010 | 19,335 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2020 | 24,928 | Script error: No such module "String".% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 25,276 | Increase | Script error: No such module "String".% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2010–2020[2] 2025[9] | |||
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Decatur had a population of 24,928. The median age was 39.5 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 74.6 males age 18 and over.[10][11]
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 9,946 households in Decatur, of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.6% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 11,205 housing units, of which 11.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.2%.[10]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 17,100 | 68.6% |
| Black or African American | 3,896 | 15.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 54 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 1,323 | 5.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 12 | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 362 | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 2,181 | 8.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 1,294 | 5.2% |
Diversity trends
In recent decades, the city of Decatur has become markedly less diverse in racial terms. In 1990, the city's population was nearly 40 percent African American. By 2010, it had dropped to 20 percent African American, and by 2020 it dropped further to just barely 15 percent African American. Between 1990 and 2020, the proportion of the town's population that was white rose from 60 to 67 percent. One exception to this trend is the fact that Decatur's Latino and Asian populations were minuscule in 1990, and though they each only represented just 5 percent of the town's population in 2020, their increases in proportional terms over the thirty-year period were significant.[13]
Education
Primary and secondary schools
City Schools of Decatur, which serves only students within the city limits, holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of a pre-K early childhood learning center, five lower elementary schools, two upper elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.[14] Decatur High School is the district's sole high school. The Decatur City district has 224 full-time teachers[15] and over 5,700 students from pre-K through grade 12.[16]
The DeKalb County School District serves unincorporated DeKalb County.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta operates Saint Thomas More Catholic School in Decatur; it opened on September 1, 1950. At first it only had elementary grades and its initial enrollment was 150. A dedicated elementary building opened in 1955, and an addition for kindergarten classes with two rooms was placed in 1994.[17] St. Peter Claver Regional School has a Decatur mailing address but is in nearby Candler-McAfee CDP.[18][19]
Colleges and universities
- Agnes Scott College[20]
- Columbia Theological Seminary[21]
- Georgia State University's Perimeter College[22]
- DeVry University[23]
- Emory University, northwest of Decatur, was located in unincorporated DeKalb County before being annexed by the City of Atlanta in 2017.[24]
Public libraries
The DeKalb County Public Library system operates the Decatur Branch and is also the Dekalb County Library Headquarters.[25]
Government
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Presidential election results
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2020 | style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|88.6% 14,095 | style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|10.3% 1,633 | 1.2% 184 |
| style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2016 | style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|85.0% 11,036 | style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|11.4% 1,476 | 3.7% 474 |
Decatur has operated under a Commission-Manager form of government since 1920. The Charter of the City of Decatur establishes the City Commission as the governing and legislative authority of the City government. A five-member City Commission is elected for four-year terms on two-year cycles. Two members are elected from the south side of the city, two from the north side and one is elected at-large. At their organizational meeting each January, the Commissioners elect a mayor and mayor-pro-tem from among their own membership for a one-year term. The mayor is not a separate elected office. The current mayor is Tony Powers.[27] Previous mayors have included Leslie Jasper Steele (1915).
The Commission appoints a professional City Manager to carry out the policies, directives and day-to-day business of the city. The current city manager is Andrea Arnold.[28] There are also several citizen volunteer boards and commissions appointed by the City Commission, including the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Historic Preservation Commission.
State representation
The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice has its headquarters in Avondale Estates, near Decatur.[29][30] The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has its headquarters near Decatur, in an unincorporated area.[31]
Federal representation
The United States Postal Service operates the Decatur Post Office.[32]
Culture
Festivals, special events and arts
Decatur has a thriving art and festival scene. The Decatur Arts Alliance hosts the Decatur Arts Festival each May, in addition to installing public art around the city, providing gallery space for local artists, producing YEA!, which is an event for young emerging artists, and supporting arts and arts education throughout the city.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Decatur holds the annual AJC Decatur Book Festival, which claims to be one of the largest independent book festivals in the United States. It has featured thousands of famous authors, book signings, speeches, and attracted upwards of 85,000 people in 2019.[33]
Decatur is home to Eddie's Attic, which is a live music venue hosting shows almost every night.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Decatur is known for its frequent festivals, which include the annual Decatur Arts Festival, Summer In The city, Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival, the Decatur Book Festival, the Decatur Maker's Faire, The Decatur Craft Beer Festival and the Decatur Wine Festival. Other events throughout the year include parades, Concerts on the Square, wine crawls, art walks, runs, and races.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Public art in Decatur includes Celebration (artist Gary Price), Valentine (artist George Lundeen), Commodore Stephen Decatur (artist unknown), Roy A. Blount Plaza, and Living Walls Murals (various artists).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Dining, breweries and distilleries
Decatur is known for its food scene and was named one of the South's "Tastiest Towns" in 2012. In 2016, the New York Times called it "Atlanta's gastronomic equivalent of Berkeley or Brooklyn".[34]
Points of interest
Decatur's downtown area and residential neighborhoods are filled with historic structures and sites of interest. This list primarily consists of structures on the National Register of Historic Places, but many remain privately owned and may only be viewed from the exterior.
- South Candler Street-Agnes Scott College Historic District, 141 East College Avenue. This district is on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes both the college campus and surrounding historic homes, and is book-ended by the Winnona Park Historic District to the east and the MAK Historic District to the west.
- Clairemont Historic District, north of Decatur Square
- Columbia Theological Seminary, 701 Columbia Drive. This tree-lined, brick and limestone campus lies within Decatur's Winnona Park neighborhood.
- Decatur Cemetery, 229 Bell Street. This historic cemetery was founded in the early 19th century and is located northeast of Decatur Square.
- Glenwood Elementary, the oldest school in the city
- Historic DeKalb County Courthouse, located in the original Decatur Square.
- Historic Oakhurst, in southwest Decatur. An early 20th century town annexed by Decatur, Oakhurst still has its own business district surrounded by bungalows.
- MAK Historic District, McDonough, Adams and Kings Highway. Decatur's first local historic district is full of early 20th century American Craftsman-style homes and has been used by Hollywood for films.
- Methodist Chapel, Commerce Avenue and Sycamore Street. A granite chapel on historic Sycamore Street owned by Decatur First United Methodist Church.
- Old Scottish Rite Hospital, 321 West Hill Street (Oakhurst neighborhood). The historic Shriners' hospital has had an adaptive reuse and now houses restaurants and an art gallery.
- Ponce de Leon Court Historic District. A single street of bungalows and palm trees east of Decatur Square (off Ponce de Leon Avenue).
- Winnona Park Historic District, in southeast Decatur. This district is on the National Register of Historic Places for its residences and is also the home of Columbia Theological Seminary.
- Woodlands Garden, 932 Scott Boulevard. Seven acres, mostly wooded with a focus on native plants, and open to the public.
Transportation
Major roads and expressways
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Decatur is 'inside the perimeter' (I-285) and north of I-20.
Mass transit
Pedestrians and cycling
PATH Foundation trails
- Stone Mountain Trail
- Decatur PATH
- East Decatur Greenway
Notable people
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- Lloyd - singer
- B.o.B. - rapper, singer, songwriter
- James Banks III (born 1998) - basketball player
- Jarren Benton - rapper
- Frank Broyles - Coach and athletic director at University of Arkansas
- Harrison Butker - NFL placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Jason Carter - politician
- Mark David Chapman - killed John Lennon
- Paul Delaney (born 1986) - basketball player in the Israeli National League
- Sania Feagin - WNBA player
- Rebecca Latimer Felton - first woman Senator
- Ian Garrison - professional cyclist
- Ghetto Mafia - hip hop group
- Omari Hardwick - actor
- Keri Hilson - singer, actress
- Kiera Hogan - professional wrestler
- Jan Hooks (1957–2014) - actor and comedian
- Chris Horton (born 1994) - basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Joshilyn Jackson - author
- Emily Jacobson (born 1985) - saber fencer
- Jacquees - singer, songwriter
- DeForest Kelley - actor, screenwriter, poet, and singer
- Alec Kann - professional soccer player
- LightSkinKeisha - rapper
- McClain - girl group
- China Anne McClain - actress, singer
- Sierra McClain - actress, singer
- S.P. Miskowski - author
- Jason Moore - soccer player[35]
- Efrain Morales - soccer player for Atlanta United
- Matthew O'Brien - author and activist
- Amy Ray (born 1964) - singer, songwriter, Indigo Girls
- Will Reilly (born 2002) - soccer player[36]
- Joey Rosskopf - professional cyclist
- A. E. Stallings - poet and critic, first American Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford
- Michael Stipe - lead vocalist, R.E.M.
- Baby Tate - rapper, singer
- Seth Tepfer - dance caller and writer
- Gwen Torrence - sprinter and three-time Olympic gold medalist
- Andrew Toles - outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Rock Ya-Sin - NFL cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens
- Jordan Walker - MLB outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Devonte Wyatt - NFL defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers
Sister cities
Decatur has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):[37][38]
- Template:Flagicon Boussé, Burkina Faso
- Template:Flagicon Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
- Template:Flagicon Trujillo, Peru
See also
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- List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in DeKalb County, Georgia
Notes
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- ↑ Georgia Board of EducationScript error: No such module "Unsubst"., Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ↑ School Stats Script error: No such module "webarchive"., Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". - Despite the Decatur address it is not in the city limits. Compare with the Candler-McAfee CDP limits map.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". - Compare with the Claver address.
- ↑ Agnes Scott College, Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ↑ Columbia Theological Seminary, Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ↑ Georgia Perimeter College, Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
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- ↑ "Library Locations & HoursScript error: No such module "Unsubst".." DeKalb County Public Library. Retrieved on April 11, 2016.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ "Contact." Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.
- ↑ "Official Zoning MapScript error: No such module "Unsubst".." City of Avondale Estates. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.
- ↑ "Directions." Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved on March 4, 2014. "The GBI Headquarters is located at: 3121 Panthersville Road Decatur GA, 30034"
- ↑ "Post Office Location - DECATUR Script error: No such module "webarchive".." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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References
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- Clarke, Caroline McKinney. The story of Decatur, 1823–1899. Dekalb Historical Society (1996).
- Gay, Mary. Life in Dixie During the War, Mercer University Press (2001).
- Kaufman, David R. Peachtree Creek: A Natural and Unnatural History of Atlanta's Watershed, University of Georgia Press (2007).
- Mason, Herman Jr. African-American Life in DeKalb County, GA, 1823–1970 (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing (1998).
- Owens, Sue Ellen. DeKalb County In Vintage Postcards. DeKalb Historical Society/Arcadia Publishing (2001).
- Price, Vivian. Historic DeKalb County: An Illustrated History (Georgia Heritage Series). Historical Publishing Network (2007).
- Willard, Levi. Early History of Decatur.
Further reading
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External links
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- Government
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- General information
- Bus schedules at Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
- Decatur Library at DeKalb County Public Library
- Decatur, Georgia at City-Data.com
- Decatur, Georgia at New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Template:OSM relation
Template:Decatur, Georgia Script error: No such module "navboxes". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Atlanta Metro Template:Georgia county seatsScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Authority control".
Categories:
- Pages with script errors
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- Pages with broken file links
- Decatur, Georgia
- 1823 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Cities in Metro Atlanta
- Cities in DeKalb County, Georgia
- Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)
- County seats in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Planned communities in the United States
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