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City Profile
Decatur, Ala., is a great place to live, work and visit By JULIE YOUNG | The Municipal
(Above photo provided by Decatur Morgan County Tourism)
Located along the Tennessee River and nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountain range, Decatur, Ala., is an ecologically diverse “River City” that 60,000 residents call home. Besides being only a stone’s throw from the city of Huntsville, Decatur is also centrally located to Nashville, Memphis and Atlanta, while being a convenient distance from other major metropolitan hubs of the southeast. A growing community As one of the 10 largest cities in the state, Decatur is known for both its rich history and record-breaking development. In fact, Decatur has evolved into something of a “rocket city” thanks to the out-ofthis-world strides made by the local industry. “Decatur’s business climate is as progressive as it is diverse,” said Emily Stewart, communications specialist for the city of Decatur. “United Launch Alliance and RUAG Space, both call the area home, and just recently, (the latter) launched the first fully U.S.-made (payload) fairing into space.” With the entirety of north Alabama developing thanks to the region’s $1 billion FBI expansion and the relocation of the United States Space Force, Decatur has experienced significant residential
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growth. Since 2019, Decatur has added over 600 new lots and experienced a 13% increase in housing demand. In response to this influx of young professionals and families settling in the area, Decatur works hard to offer something for everyone. Decatur residents enjoy the amenities of a large city with all the comforts of a close-knit community. In addition to a nationally recognized school system known for its award-winning robotics team, the city has expanded its public arts scene to go along with its thriving performing arts enclave and other cultural offerings. It also offers a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge — a 35,000-acre site that was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. Stewart said throughout the year, Decatur offers several special events that bring residents together and attract visitors from all over
