Decatur, Illinois
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- For other uses, see Decatur.
Decatur, Illinois, USA (2006 population approximately 85,000) was founded in 1836, is the county seat as well as the business and employment center of Macon County (pop. over 100,000). The city is located along the Sangamon River which meets Lake Decatur, a 2800 acre reservoir and recreation spot and site of many homes. The downtown has undergone much revitalization and improvement including new storefronts, upper story lofts and the Central Park fountains.
With its central Illinois location it forms center of the Decatur, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, (population 125,000) which includes surrounding towns of Argenta, Bement, Bethany, Blue Mound, Cerro Gordo, Clinton, Dalton City, Elwin, Findlay, Forsyth, Harristown, Illiopolis, Kirksville, La Place, Macon, Maroa, Monticello, Moweaqua, Mt. Auburn, Mt. Zion, Niantic, Oakley, Oreana, Stonington, Sullivan, and Warrensburg.
This town is named after War of 1812 naval hero Stephen Decatur, Jr.
The city's motto is "Decatur, We Like it Here". The old motto was "The Pride of the Prairie". "The Soybean Capital of the World" is the unofficial motto. The city symbol is the Transfer House, an early 20th century Victorian structure originally located in the center of town where the city's mass transit lines met. The Transfer House was moved in 1963 to save it from destruction as roads were being built for the increasing automobile traffic.
Decatur is the location of Millikin University (enrollment 2400), founded by James Millikin, and Richland Community College (enrollment 7600). Decatur has many tree-lined streets, older restored homes, and historic residential districts and restored downtown commercial areas. Decatur is well known for its industrial, agricultural processing and manufacturing strengths, with vast production facilities for Caterpillar, Archer Daniels Midland, and Tate & Lyle (previously A. E. Staley). The corporate world headquarters for ADM, the leading agricultural processor and ethanol producer is in Decatur. A large former Firestone factory awaits a new occupant. In the transition from a manufacturing to a service economy, Decatur has experienced some population shifting outward in the area as decentralization has led much of the area's new homebuilding activity to the surrounding areas.
Decatur's Municipal Airport, served by American Airlines and Mesa Airlines and offers 8 daily commercial flights to and from St. Louis, a regional hub which can connect flyers directly to anywhere in North America and 6 daily commercial flights to and from Chicago Midway Airport (starting February 1, 2007). Flights between Decatur and Chicago Midway Airport can be booked at Mesa Airlines. The airport facility has hosted notable visitors Presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Vice-President Dan Quayle and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev (at the invitation of his longtime friend, Dwayne Andreas, former CEO of Archer Daniels Midland).
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[edit] Geography
Decatur is located at (39.851636, -88.944228)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 118.8 km² (45.9 mi²). 107.6 km² (41.6 mi²) of it is land and 11.2 km² (4.3 mi²) of it (9.42%) is water. Lakes include Lake Decatur, formed in 1923 by the damming of the Sangamon River
[edit] History
Decatur was the first home in Illinois of Abraham Lincoln, who settled just west of Decatur with his family in 1831. On May 6, 1860 the Illinois Republican Convention was held in Decatur. At this convention Lincoln received his first endorsement for president of the United States.
Post No. 1 of the Grand Army of the Republic was founded by Civil War veterans in Decatur on April 6, 1866.
The Edward P. Irving House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1911, is located at #2 Millikin Place, Decatur.
[edit] Sports
Decatur was the original home of the Chicago Bears, from 1919-1920. The football team was known as the Decatur Staleys and played at Staley Field, both named after the local food product manufacturer.
[edit] Jesse Jackson protest
In November 1999, Decatur was brought into the national news when the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition protested the expulsion and treatment of several African American students who had been involved in a serious fight. Jackson was arrested and detained briefly; however, charges were later dropped.[2]
[edit] Transportation
Decatur Airport provides an air link to Decatur. Interstate 72, U.S. Route 51, U.S. Route 36, Illinois Route 48, Illinois Route 105, and Illinois Route 121 are key highway links for the area as well. A bus trolley system operates in the downtown and college campus areas.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 81,860 people, 34,086 households, and 21,099 families residing in the city. The population density was 760.5/km² (1,969.7/mi²). There were 37,239 housing units at an average density of 346.0/km² (896.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.59% White, 19.47% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.
There were 34,086 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,111, and the median income for a family was $42,379. Males had a median income of $36,920 versus $22,359 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,009. About 12.1% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Sister cities
Decatur is a sister city to Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, and to Seevetal, Lower Saxony, Germany.
[edit] Partial list of mayors
- Charles M. Borchers (1909-1911;1919-1923)
- Robert A. Grohne (1959-1963)
- Terry M. Howley (1995-2003)
- Paul Osborne (2003-)
[edit] People from Decatur
- Stephen Ambrose - Author, historian, and presidential biographer
- Walter Boom-Boom Beck Former Major League Baseball player
- Charles E. Boles - famed western outlaw Black Bart and a former Decatur resident
- Jenny Lou Carson - (nee: Virginia Lucille Overstake) American country singer/songwriter, sister of Judy Martin
- June Christy - 1950's popular jazz singer
- Dale Connelly - Co-host of Minnesota Public Radio's Morning Show
- Brian Culbertson - Jazz Musician
- John Doe - Founder of the seminal L.A. punk band X
- Chuck Dressen - Former Major League Baseball player, manager and coach.
- Steve Fairchild - Offensive Coordinator, NFL Buffalo Bills
- Jeff Innis - Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Alison Krauss — bluegrass artist — born in Decatur in 1971
- James W. Loewen - Author, historian, and sociology professor.
- Bill Madlock - Former Major League Baseball player
- Nan Martin - Movie and Television actress
- Stephen Mason — guitar player: member of Jars of Clay — born in Joliet[1]; moved to Decatur and attended Warrensburg-Latham schools from 3rd grade[2]
- Richard James Oglesby - Former U.S. Soldier, U.S. Senator, and Governor of Illinois
- Richard Peck — children's author: 2001 Newbery Medal winner — born in Decatur in 1934.
- Kevin Roberson - Former Major League Baseball player
- Brian Ross (journalist) - ABC News Investigative Reporter.
- Del Unser - Former Major League Professional baseball player
[edit] Invented In Decatur
- Spiral Screwdriver Decatur Coffin Companies' Early Spiral Screwdriver
- Photo Timer Robert Faries' Pneumatic Photo Timer
- Ice cream scooper invented by W. Ross Lloyd, The Lloyd Disher Co.[citation needed]
- Flyswatter invented by Dr. Samuel Crumbine
- Radar Gun Law enforcement radar invented by Bryce K. Brown of Decatur Electronics
[edit] In Music
- "Decatur, Or, Round of Applause For Your Step Mother!" is a song by Sufjan Stevens on his album Illinois. The song refers to several locations and events associated with Decatur, including the Scovill Zoo, Caterpillar factory, Greenwood cemetery, strong historical ties to Abraham Lincoln, and the Sangamon River, (which is mispronounced as "Sang-a-man.")
- V Shape Mind - heavy pop band who recorded an album on Universal Records. Toured with Mudvayne.
[edit] Media
[edit] Print Newspapers
Herald & Review – Daily
Decatur Tribune - Weekly
[edit] AM Radio
- WDZ – 1050 AM – Urban Contemporary
- WSOY – 1340 AM – News/Talk
[edit] FM Radio
- WNLD (WBGL)– 88.1 FM – Christian Contemporary
- W203BD (KLOV) – 88.5 FM – Christian Contemporary
- WJMU – 89.5 FM – Millikin University - Alternative
- W213BI (KAWZ) – 90.5 FM - Religious
- WYDS – 93.1 FM – Top-40
- WDZQ – 95.1FM – Country
- W252AR (WEJT) – 98.3 FM – Adult Contemporary
- W261CQ (WLUJ) – 100.1 – Religious
- WSOY - 102.9 FM – Top-40
[edit] Television
[edit] References
- ^ Kot, Greg: "Bridges to Babylon". Guitar World Acoustic, No. 25. Retrieved from http://www.jarchives.com/vault039.htm on 2006-05-13.
- ^ Mannlein, Arelene: "Relatives of Jars of Clay member - and many, many more - plan to gather". Herald & Review, Decatur, Illinois, Thursday, August 4, 2005, 5:10 PM CDT. Retrieved from [1] on 2006-05-13.
[edit] External links
- Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County
- City of Decatur Webpage
- Decatur Celebration official webpage
- Macon County Circuit Clerk
- Haunted Decatur
[edit] See also
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
WNLD - 88.1 | WJMU - 89.5 | WILL - 90.9 | WUIS - 91.9 | WYDS - 93.1 | WDZQ - 95.1 | WHOW - 95.9 | WXFM - 99.3 | WZUS - 100.9 | WSOY - 102.9 | WEJT - 105.1 | WZNX - 106.7 | WDKR - 107.3 | WINU - 870 | WDZ - 1050 | WSOY - 1340 | WHOW - 1520
Bloomington | Champaign | Chicago (FM) (AM) | Decatur | LaSalle-Peru | Marion-Carbondale | Peoria (FM) (AM) | Quincy/Hannibal | Quad Cities | Rockford | Springfield (FM) (AM)
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Municipalities and Communities of Macon County, Illinois (County Seat: Decatur) |
|---|---|
| Cities, Towns and Villages | Argenta | Blue Mound | Decatur | Forsyth | Harristown | Long Creek | Macon | Maroa | Mount Zion | Niantic | Oreana | Warrensburg |
| Townships | Austin | Blue Mound | Decatur | Friends Creek | Harristown | Hickory Point | Illini | Long Creek | Maroa | Milam | Mt. Zion | Niantic | Oakley | Pleasant View | South Macon | South Wheatland | Whitmore |
| Airports | Decatur Airport |
