Decatur, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat
of, DeKalb County
, Georgia
, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name. An intown suburb of Atlanta and part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Decatur's public transportation is served by three MARTA
rail stations. Decatur's official motto is "A city of homes, schools and places of worship." Prior to 2000, this motto was "A city of homes, schools, and churches."
at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford which follows today's Clairmont Road and eventually crossed near Roswell
. The town was named for naval hero Stephen Decatur
, and its early roads were named logically but soon after were renamed in a curious manner:
In the 1830s, the Western and Atlantic Railroad
wanted to make Decatur the southernmost stop on its line. The citizens of Decatur did not want the noise, pollution and growth that would come with such a major terminal, so they rejected the proposal. In response, the railroad founded a new city to the west-southwest of Decatur for the terminal. This town would later become known as Atlanta.
During the American Civil War
, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's
campaign against Atlanta. In July 1864 Union general James B. McPherson
occupied Decatur to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta, Georgia
. During the Battle of Atlanta
on July 22, Confederate cavalry under Major General Joseph Wheeler
attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A marker at the Decatur courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.
In the last half of the twentieth century the metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated DeKalb County
, eventually surrounding two sides of the incorporated town of Decatur. Concurrently many well-to-do and middle class white American
s fled the area
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, Decatur has gained a local and national reputation as a progressive city with a high level of citizen involvement that retains a small town feel despite its proximity to Atlanta.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 18,147 people, 8,051 households, and 3,856 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,343.2 people per square mile (1,676.2/km²). There were 8,497 housing units at an average density of 2,033.6 per square mile (784.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.6% White, 30.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races
, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 8,051 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.1% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 73.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.0 males. ZIP code 30030 (which includes Decatur) has one of the highest percentages of households with same sex couples in Georgia, 9.20% as of 2000.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,395, and the median income for a family was $65,064. Males had a median income of $46,817 versus $38,381 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,363. About 7.0% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education levels for Decatur are above average for the Atlanta area, with 56% of residents having obtained a bachelor's degree or higher, and 27% having obtained a graduate degree or higher.
The Decatur City School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.
List of Schools:
The district has 224 full-time teachers and over 2,519 students.
(1915), Jack Hamilton, Walter Drake, Mike Mears, Ann A. Crichton, Elizabeth Wilson, and Scott Candler, Sr. (known as Mr. DeKalb).
The Commission appoints a professional City Manager to carry out the policies, directives and day-to-day business of the city. There are also several citizen volunteer boards and commissions appointed by the City Commission including the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Historic Preservation Commission, and others.
has its headquarters in Avondale Estates
, near Decatur.
operates the Decatur Post Office in Decatur.
, but many remain privately-owned and may only be viewed from the exterior.
, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI): Boussé
, Burkina Faso
Ouahigouya
, Burkina Faso
Trujillo, Peru
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of, DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name. An intown suburb of Atlanta and part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Decatur's public transportation is served by three MARTA
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
rail stations. Decatur's official motto is "A city of homes, schools and places of worship." Prior to 2000, this motto was "A city of homes, schools, and churches."
History
In 1822 Decatur was founded at the intersection of two Native American trails: the Sandtown which led east from the Chattahoochee RiverChattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford which follows today's Clairmont Road and eventually crossed near Roswell
Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is a city located in northern Fulton County; it is a suburb of northern Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The 2010 Census population was 88,346. It is the eighth largest city in Georgia...
. The town was named for naval hero Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur...
, and its early roads were named logically but soon after were renamed in a curious manner:
In the 1830s, the Western and Atlantic Railroad
Western and Atlantic Railroad
The Western and Atlantic Railroad of the State of Georgia' is a historic railroad that operated in the southeastern United States from Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee....
wanted to make Decatur the southernmost stop on its line. The citizens of Decatur did not want the noise, pollution and growth that would come with such a major terminal, so they rejected the proposal. In response, the railroad founded a new city to the west-southwest of Decatur for the terminal. This town would later become known as Atlanta.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
campaign against Atlanta. In July 1864 Union general James B. McPherson
James B. McPherson
James Birdseye McPherson was a career United States Army officer who served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
occupied Decatur to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. During the Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply center of Atlanta, Union forces commanded by William T. Sherman overwhelmed...
on July 22, Confederate cavalry under Major General Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A marker at the Decatur courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.
In the last half of the twentieth century the metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
, eventually surrounding two sides of the incorporated town of Decatur. Concurrently many well-to-do and middle class white American
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
s fled the area
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
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
Mixed-use development
Mixed-use development is the use of a building, set of buildings, or neighborhood for more than one purpose. Since the 1920s, zoning in some countries has required uses to be separated. However, when jobs, housing, and commercial activities are located close together, a community's transportation...
district with easy transit to downtown Atlanta. Over the past twenty years, Decatur has gained a local and national reputation as a progressive city with a high level of citizen involvement that retains a small town feel despite its proximity to Atlanta.
Geography
Decatur is located at 33°46′17"N 84°17′52"W (33.771355, -84.297732).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,147 people, 8,051 households, and 3,856 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,343.2 people per square mile (1,676.2/km²). There were 8,497 housing units at an average density of 2,033.6 per square mile (784.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.6% White, 30.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 8,051 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.1% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 73.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.0 males. ZIP code 30030 (which includes Decatur) has one of the highest percentages of households with same sex couples in Georgia, 9.20% as of 2000.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,395, and the median income for a family was $65,064. Males had a median income of $46,817 versus $38,381 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $29,363. About 7.0% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education levels for Decatur are above average for the Atlanta area, with 56% of residents having obtained a bachelor's degree or higher, and 27% having obtained a graduate degree or higher.
Decatur City School District
List of Schools:
- Decatur High School
- Carl G. Renfroe Middle School
- The 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue
- Glennwood Elementary School
- Clairemont Elementary School
- Oakhurst Elementary
- Winnona Park Elementary
The district has 224 full-time teachers and over 2,519 students.
Colleges and universities
- Agnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....
- Columbia Theological SeminaryColumbia Theological SeminaryColumbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:...
- Emory UniversityEmory UniversityEmory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
is located northeast of Decatur, in nearby unincorporated DeKalb County
Government
Decatur has a Commission - Manager form of 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 William F. Floyd. Previous mayors have included Leslie Jasper SteeleLeslie Jasper Steele
Leslie Jasper Steele was an American politician and lawyer.-Biography:Steele was born in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia to Michael A. and Martha Lucinda Smith Steele, Georgia, and graduated from Oxford College of Emory University in 1893...
(1915), Jack Hamilton, Walter Drake, Mike Mears, Ann A. Crichton, Elizabeth Wilson, and Scott Candler, Sr. (known as Mr. DeKalb).
The Commission appoints a professional City Manager to carry out the policies, directives and day-to-day business of the city. There are also several citizen volunteer boards and commissions appointed by the City Commission including the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Historic Preservation Commission, and others.
State representation
The Georgia Department of Juvenile JusticeGeorgia Department of Juvenile Justice
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is a state agency of Georgia, headquartered in Avondale Estates, near Decatur. The agency operates juvenile correctional facilities.In 2009 the U.S...
has its headquarters in Avondale Estates
Avondale Estates, Georgia
Avondale Estates is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2010 census.Avondale Estates was founded in 1924 by George Francis Willis, who purchased the entire village of Ingleside to create a planned community. The city was named after Stratford-upon-Avon,...
, near Decatur.
Federal representation
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Decatur Post Office in Decatur.
Neighborhoods and historic districts
- Adair ParkAdair Park (Decatur)Adair Park is a historic and contemporary community in the west section of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It is one of Decatur’s most diverse communities in terms of building types, and includes several individual neighborhoods...
- South Candler Street-Agnes Scott College Historic DistrictAgnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....
- Chelsea HeightsChelsea Heights & Westchester Hills (Decatur)Chelsea Heights and Westchester Hills are adjacent neighborhoods, separated by a municipal park, in the northwest corner of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. Chelsea Heights straddles the east and west sides of the CSX railroad tracks, falling within the City of Decatur and unincorporated...
- Clairemont - Great Lakes & Clairemont Historic District
- Clairemont Gateway Association
- Decatur HeightsDecatur HeightsDecatur Heights is an historic community located in the northeast corner of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It includes residences, churches and a nature preserve. During much of the 20th Century, this community primarily consisted modest homes. However, in the 1990s it became a...
- Downtown Decatur
- EverGreen ForestEvergreen forestAn temperate evergreen forest is a forest consisting entirely or mainly of evergreen trees that retain green foliage all year round. Such forests exist in the tropics primarily as broadleaf evergreens, and in temperate and boreal latitudes primarily as coniferous evergreens.-Tropical evergreen...
- Glennwood EstatesGlennwood Estates (Decatur)Glennwood Estates is an historic neighborhood located in the northeast section of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It includes residences, a nature preserve and an adjoining city park. It is known for its spacious single-family homes and lots, which were comparatively large for the 1920’s....
- MAK Historic DistrictMAK Historic District (Decatur)The MAK Historic District is the first locally designated historic district in Decatur, Georgia.. It is named for the three main streets it encompasses and covers ten city blocks of varying sizes. The district is located immediately west of Agnes Scott College, and south of College Avenue...
- Midway WoodsMidway Woods (Decatur)Midway Woods is a neighborhood in Decatur, Georgia that has zip code 30030. It has 750 neighbors. A relatively small number of homes within the neighborhood have been annexed by The City of Decatur, though the majority are currently part of unincorporated Dekalb County. It is between Memorial...
- OakhurstOakhurst, GeorgiaOakhurst is a historic neighborhood in the southwest corner of Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. It is located south of downtown Decatur and approximately six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Oakhurst primarily consists of residences built in early 20th Century and neighborhood...
- ParkwoodParkwood (Decatur)Parkwood is a small neighborhood in the west section of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur and unincorporated DeKalb County. It primarily includes single family residences constructed in the 20th Century. The neighborhood is located between the Adair Park community and Melrose Ave. to the...
- Ponce de Leon HeightsPonce de Leon Heights (Decatur)Ponce de Leon Heights is a historic neighborhood in the west section of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It includes single family residences and a church, primarily built in the early 1900’s. The neighborhood is located between Scott Blvd. to the northwest, Ponce de Leon Avenue to the...
- Ponce de Leon Court Historic DistrictPonce de Leon Court Historic DistrictThe Ponce de Leon Court Historic District consists of a single cul-de-sac located immediately east of downtown Decatur, Georgia. The street is accessed off of East Ponce de Leon Avenue, a historic road that runs east from Atlanta, Georgia through Decatur...
- Sycamore StreetSycamore Street (Decatur)Sycamore Street is both a street and a historic neighborhood located in the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. The street is known for its homes, which are some of the largest historic homes in Decatur. It is also "book-ended” by MARTA stations, and the MARTA track runs underneath the western end...
- Westchester HillsChelsea Heights & Westchester Hills (Decatur)Chelsea Heights and Westchester Hills are adjacent neighborhoods, separated by a municipal park, in the northwest corner of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. Chelsea Heights straddles the east and west sides of the CSX railroad tracks, falling within the City of Decatur and unincorporated...
- Winnona Park Historic DistrictWinnona Park Historic DistrictWinnona Park is a historic neighborhood in the southeast corner of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places,...
Notable people
- B.o.BB.o.BBobby Ray Simmons, Jr. , better known by his stage name B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. His debut single "Nothin' on You" reached number one in both...
, rapper, singer, guitarist and producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Roy Blount, Jr.Roy Blount, Jr.Roy Alton Blount, Jr. is an American writer. Best known as a humorist, Blount is also a reporter, actor, and musician with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band composed entirely of writers. He is also a former president of the Authors Guild....
, author - Frank BroylesFrank BroylesJohn Franklin Broyles is a former American football player and coach, athletics administrator, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach the University of Missouri in 1957 and at the University of Arkansas from 1958 to 1976...
, University of ArkansasUniversity of ArkansasThe University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and athletic director - Mark David ChapmanMark David ChapmanMark David Chapman is an American prison inmate who murdered former Beatles member John Lennon on December 8, 1980. He committed the crime as Lennon and Yoko Ono were outside of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Chapman aimed five shots at Lennon, hitting him four times in his back...
, murdered John Lennon - CiaraCiaraCiara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, recording artist, actress, and fashion model - Cully CobbCully CobbCully Alton Cobb, Sr. , was an agricultural pioneer, educator, printer, journalist, and philanthropist in the American South who with his second wife, Lois Dowdle Cobb , co-founded the Cobb Institute of Archaeology on the campus of Mississippi State University at Starkville, Mississippi.-Early...
, Southern agricultural pioneer and publisher - Dolla, rapper
- Rebecca Latimer FeltonRebecca Latimer FeltonRebecca Ann Latimer Felton was an American writer, lecturer, reformer, and politician who became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate...
, first woman U.S. SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... - Gale HaroldGale HaroldGale Morgan Harold III is an American actor widely known for his roles on Queer as Folk, Desperate Housewives and Hellcats.-Early life:...
, actor - Keri HilsonKeri HilsonKeri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
, Grammy-nominated singer - Jan HooksJan HooksJanet V. "Jan" Hooks is an American actress and comedienne best known for her work on NBC's Saturday Night Live , on which she appeared from 1986 to 1991...
, actress - DeForest KelleyDeForest KelleyJackson DeForest Kelley was an American actor known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek.-Early life:...
, Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
actor - Gucci ManeGucci ManeRadric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
, rapper - China Anne McClain, A.N.T. FarmA.N.T. FarmA.N.T. Farm is a Disney Channel television sitcom that premiered on May 6, 2011 as a special preview and continued as a regular series on June 17, 2011. The pilot episode, "TransplANTed" aired after the series finale of The Suite Life on Deck...
actress - Mark MowersMark MowersMark Mowers is a professional ice hockey forward who last played for the Fribourg-Gotteron in the Swiss National League A during the 2010-11 season...
, ice hockey forward for the Fribourg-GottéronFribourg-GottéronHC Fribourg-Gottéron is a professional ice hockey team based in Fribourg, Switzerland, which competes in National League A. The team is the fourth most attended team in Switzerland for the 2010/11 season with 6,764 spectators. -History:... - Lloyd Polite, singer
- Amy RayAmy RayAmy Elizabeth Ray is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls. She also pursues a solo career and has released four albums under her own name, and founded a record company, Daemon Records....
, musician, part of the Indigo GirlsIndigo GirlsThe Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area... - Michael StipeMichael StipeJohn Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, musician, lead singer of R.E.M.R.E.M.R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's... - Gwen TorrenceGwen TorrenceGwen Torrence is a retired American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist. She was born in Decatur, GA. She attended Columbia High School and the University of Georgia....
, Olympic champion in women's 200 meters - Chris TuckerChris TuckerChristopher "Chris" Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series.-Early life:...
, actor - YCYung ChrisChristopher Miller , better known by his stage name Yung Chris , is an American rapper from Decatur, Georgia. He is currently signed to the record label Universal Republic....
, rapper
Points of interest
Decatur's downtown area and residential neighborhoods are filled with historic structures. This list primarily consists of structures on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, but many remain privately-owned and may only be viewed from the exterior.
- South Candler Street--Agnes Scott College Historic DistrictAgnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....
, 141 East College Ave. 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 DistrictClairemont - Great Lakes (Decatur)Clairemont - Great Lakes is a historic neighborhood in the north central section of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It primarily consists of residences and churches. However, there are businesses on West Ponce de Leon Avenue, in the southernmost section of the neighborhood...
, north of Decatur Square. - Columbia Theological SeminaryColumbia Theological SeminaryColumbia Theological Seminary is one of the ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . It is located in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Stephen A. Hayner is the seminary's president.-Description:...
, 701 Columbia Dr. This tree-lined, brick and limestone campus lies within Decatur's Winnona Park neighborhood. - Cora Beck Hampton Schoolhouse and House, 213 Hillyer Pl. These structures are on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Decatur CemeteryDecatur Cemetery- History :The Decatur Cemetery is the oldest burial ground in the Metro Atlanta Area, and is believed to have been used even before Decatur's 1823 incorporation. In 1852, an act by the local legislature created “Commissioners for the Decatur Burial Ground.” Numerous Civil War veterans were buried...
, 229 Bell St. Historic cemetery founded in the early 19th Century and locNE of Decatur Square. - Decatur Railway Depot, 301 East Howard St. Decatur's renovated Railway Depot is now a restaurant known as "Farmstead 303".
- Old DeKalb County Courthouse, 101 East Court Sq. The historic courthouse sits in Decatur Square, and contains a small history museum.
- Fraser House, Church St. & Bell St. A modest 19th Century structure at the entrance to Decatur Cemetery.
- Glenwood ElementaryGlenwood ElementaryGlennwood is the oldest school in the City of Decatur and one of the oldestin the Atlanta, Georgia area.- History :Glennwood Elementary opened in 1913 on property the City acquired fromthe heirs of Thomas Glenn...
, the oldest school in the city - High House, North Candler St. and Sycamore St. This antebellum structure is believed to be the oldest 2-story structure in Decatur.
- Historic House Complex, 716 & 720 West Trinity Pl. Three antebellum homes relocated to Adair Park.
- Historic OakhurstOakhurst, GeorgiaOakhurst is a historic neighborhood in the southwest corner of Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. It is located south of downtown Decatur and approximately six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Oakhurst primarily consists of residences built in early 20th Century and neighborhood...
, 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 Ave. & Sycamore St. A beautiful granite chapel on historic Sycamore Street that is owned by First Methodist Church, Decatur.
- Old Scottish Rite HospitalOld Scottish Rite HospitalFounded as the Scottish Rite Convalescent Home for Crippled Children, the Old Scottish Rite Hospital served indigent children, either crippled, or recovering from surgery at Piedmont Hospital or Wesley Memorial Hospital . Michael Hoke, M.D., was named the first Medical Director...
, 321 West Hill St. (Oakhurst neighborhood). The historic Shriner's hospital has had an adaptive reuse and now houses restaurants and an art gallery. - Pythagoras Masonic Lodge, 108 East Ponce de Leon Ave. A 1924 building designed by architect William Sayward.
- Ponce de Leon Court Historic DistrictPonce de Leon Court Historic DistrictThe Ponce de Leon Court Historic District consists of a single cul-de-sac located immediately east of downtown Decatur, Georgia. The street is accessed off of East Ponce de Leon Avenue, a historic road that runs east from Atlanta, Georgia through Decatur...
. A single street of bungalows and palm trees east of Decatur Square (off Ponce de Leon Ave.). - Historic Sycamore St. Some of Decatur's largest historic residences line this street.
- Old U.S. Post Office, 141 Trinity Place. Marble-encased former federal building on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 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.
Sister cities
Decatur has three sister citiesTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI): Boussé
Boussé
Boussé is a town located in the province of Kourwéogo in Burkina Faso. It is the capital of Kourwéogo Province.-References:...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
Ouahigouya
Ouahigouya
Ouahigouya is the most important town in northern Burkina Faso. It is the capital of the Yatenga Province and one of its subdivisions the Ouahigouya Department. It is also the biggest town in the Nord Region. It is the third largest city in the country with a population of 122,677. It is situated ...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
Trujillo, Peru
Trujillo, Peru
Trujillo, in northwestern Peru, is the capital of the La Libertad Region, and the third largest city in Peru. The urban area has 811,979 inhabitants and is an economic hub in northern Peru...