Decatur, Georgia

Decatur is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 18,147 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of DeKalb County. Decatur is part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area and public transportation is served by MARTA.

The city's motto, inscribed on the city seal, reads "A city of homes, churches, and schools."

Georgia also has a county named Decatur in the southwest corner of the state.

History

In 1823 Decatur was founded at the intersection of two Native American trails. The town was named for naval hero Stephen Decatur. In the 1830s, the Western and Atlantic Railroad wanted to make Decatur the southernmost stop on its railroad. 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, Georgia.

During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. In July of 1864 Union general James B. McPherson occupied Decatur to cut off the Confederate's 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, metropolitan area of Atlanta expanded into unincorporated DeKalb County, eventually surrounding on all sides the incorporated town of Decatur. Concurently many well-to-do and middle class white people fled the area to more distant suburbs. The 1960s and 1970s witnessed dramatic drops in property values. However, in recent times, the city has regained economic vigor.

To prepare for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the downtown area of Decatur underwent a major renovation, with a particular focus on the courthouse square area. The city served as the headquarters to the Olympic Irish delegation. In subsequent years, the environs of downtown Decatur have become trendy, serving as a small mixed use district with easy transit to downtown Atlanta.

Geography

Decatur is located at (33.771355, -84.297732).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.8 km² (4.2 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,147 people, 8,051 households, and 3,856 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,676.2/km² (4,343.2/mi²). There were 8,497 housing units at an average density of 784.9/km² (2,033.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.61% White, 30.48% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.64% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% 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.

Decatur also has a large gay and lesbian population who were attracted by the city's liberal values and close in location to Atlanta. In fact, according to the 2000 Census, ZIP code 30030 (which includes Decatur) has one of the highest percentage of households with same sex couples in Georgia. Dekalb County has one of the largest concentrations of same sex couples in the nation.

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.

Primary and secondary schools

Decatur has one of the highest property tax rates in Georgia, much of which goes to support the high cost of maintaining a school system with one of the lowest student/teacher ratios in the State.