Historic City of Decatur

Founded in 1823, Decatur is the second oldest municipality in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the seat of DeKalb County. Decatur adjoins Atlanta's city limits six miles east of Atlanta's central business district. Decatur has 18,000 residents and 8,000 households, although its daytime population swells to 24,000.

The courthouse square in downtown Decatur is located on a rise of land where two Indian trails once crossed. Historically, the courthouse square served as the community gathering place. Today it continues to be the focus of festivals and special events, and serves as the heart of the community.

Decatur was incorporated December 10, 1823, and named after Stephen Decatur, a U.S. Naval hero. It is said that early residents rejected a proposal by the Western and Atlantic Railroad to make Decatur a major stop on its new line in the 1830s. These citizens did not want the noise, smoke and confusion, and turned the railroad down. The railroad thus moved seven miles west to a small settlement called Terminus. In 1843, that settlement was renamed Marthasville, and two years later became Atlanta.

The Old Courthouse on the Square houses the DeKalb History Center and the Jim Cherry museum, where you can explore DeKalb County history and see Civil War memorabilia. Visitors to Decatur can also find helpful information at the Welcome Center located inside the front door of this beautiful old building. Historic Decatur Cemetery provides further insight into past decades.

As Decatur thrives in the 21st century, we can point with pride to our success in preserving a sense of place while incorporating new development and encouraging economic growth.

Downtown Decatur is surrounded by beautiful, historic neighborhoods reflecting a variety of architectural styles. The tree-lined streets, strong sense of community and nationally recognized public school system continue to draw young families to the City. New office buildings, built by developers sensitive to Decatur's vision of maintaining its small town character, surround a vibrant retail center and a courthouse square that provides a link to the City's history.

American LaFrance fire truck purchase by the City in 1914, shown near the square in downtown Decatur.

A History of Firefighting in Decatur
In 1909, the City of Decatur appointed a fire committee of eight men to study the purchasing of a chemical fire truck. These men were then excused from street tax (property tax) in lieu of pay as long as they served as firemen. That committee and its findings marked the beginning of a new era in fire protection for Decatur's citizens, one in which gasoline engines and other new technologies would play an increasingly important role.

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City Hall used to house the Police Department and City Jail. The Police Department moved to its current location at 420 West Trinity Place in 1982.

A History of the Decatur Police Department
The first mention of law enforcement in the City comes from written records of City Council meetings. They show that in September 1891, two watchmen, afterwards called Marshals, were given arrest powers. The Marshals were required to wear uniforms and authorized to carry pistols. A police officer was hired to assist them. At that time, Decatur's population was about 3,000. The streets were unpaved and there were no city conveniences except electric lights.

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