Decatur, incorporated in 1836, is a city located in Macon County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 81,860, but a 2003 estimate showed the population dipped to 79,285. It is the county seat of Macon County. 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 and 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. There is currently an effort, led by Mayor Paul Osborne, to return the Transfer House to its original location.
Decatur is the location of Millikin University, founded by James Millikin. The city is largely industrial in character, with production facilities for Caterpillar, Archer Daniels Midland, and A. E. Staley. The Firestone factory in Decatur closed at the end of 2001 after the dispute with Ford Motor Company. In the transition from a manufacturing to a service economy, Decatur has experienced significant population loss (in 1980, the population was 94,081).
Decatur is located at 39°51'6"N, 88°56'39"W (39.851636, -88.944228).
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 is water. The total area is 9.42% water. Lakes include Lake Decatur, formed by the damming of the Sangamon River, and Lake Tokorozawa.
As of the census of 2000, there are 81,860 people, 34,086 households, and 21,099 families residing in the city. The population density is 760.5/km2 (1,969.7/mi2). There are 37,239 housing units at an average density of 346.0/km2 (896.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 1.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 34,086 households out of which 27.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% are married couples living together, 14.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% are non-families. 32.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $33,111, and the median income for a family is $42,379. Males have a median income of $36,920 versus $22,359 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,009. 16.5% of the population and 12.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Decatur was the first home in Illinois of Abraham Lincoln. 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 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.
Source:
DecaturIllinois.com
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