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Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World," was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500. According to Sperling's Best Places, Decatur's metropolitan area population is 109,309.[1] Decatur has many older restored homes and restored downtown commercial areas. In the transition from a manufacturing to a service economy, Decatur has experienced some population sprawl as new development activity grows to the outer Decatur metro area, seemingly blurring the detectable boundaries of contiguous city limits of neighboring communities Mt. Zion, Harristown, Forsyth, and Maroa. Decatur and Macon County's most notable resident was Abraham Lincoln, who settled with his family west of town in 1830 and later practiced law in the city before moving to Springfield.
GeographyDecatur is located at (39.851636, -88.944228). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 45.9 square miles (118.8 kmē), of which, 41.6 square miles (107.6 kmē) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.2 kmē) of it (9.42%) is water. Lakes include Lake Decatur, formed in 1923 by the damming of the Sangamon River. The Decatur, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area (population 125,000), includes surrounding towns of Argenta, Bement, Bethany, Boody, Blue Mound, Cerro Gordo, Clinton, Dalton City, Elwin, Findlay, Forsyth, Harristown, Illiopolis, Kirksville, La Place, Long Creek, Macon, Maroa, Monticello, Moweaqua, Mount Auburn, Mount Zion, Niantic, Oakley, Oreana, Stonington, Sullivan, and Warrensburg. DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 81,860 people, 34,086 households, and 21,099 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,969.7 people per square mile (760.5/kmē). There were 37,239 housing units at an average density of 896.0/sq mi (346.0/kmē). 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 ages 18 to 24, 26.0% from ages 25 to 44, 22.5% from ages 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 aged 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. Civics
The Decatur Transfer House in the background in downtown's Central Park Decatur was awarded the All-America City Award in 1960. The city's symbol is the Transfer House, an early-twentieth-century Victorian structure located originally 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 a sister city to Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan and to Seevetal, Lower Saxony, Germany. GovernmentMike Carrigan is the Mayor, after being selected by the City Council after the abrupt resignation of former Mayor Paul Osborne. Former City Manager Steve Garman resigned May 2, 2008[2] and Mayor Paul Osborne resigned June 1 2008 for health reasons and to pursue a career at the Decatur Tribune newspaper.[3] Mayors
Mayor Mike Carrigan, previously an elected Decatur City Councilman and Mayor-Pro Tem, became new Decatur IL Mayor by City Council appointment 2008-06-01 after the previous Mayor Osborne resigned. CultureDecatur CelebrationThe Decatur Celebration is largest free street festival in the state of Illinois. Every year over 150,000 people come to the celebration to enjoy the numerous live bands, vendors offering sales of refreshments and fun activities for the whole family. In the past few years there has been renewed community support from Decatur Memorial Hospital as a corporate sponsor, among other community sponsors amid budget concerns of the festival supporters and organizers Haunted DecaturAuthor Troy Taylor has put Decatur on the map for its high amount of haunted locations. Greenwood Cemetery, The Lincoln and Avon Theater, The Powers Mansion and a long list of others has been rumored to be haunted. The Travel Channel has recently put Greenwood Cemetery on the top 10 list of most haunted locations in the United States. NeighborhoodsDecatur is split into different neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods include the inner city area surrounding downtown Decatur, and Baker Woods is on the east side of the city and to the north of U.S. Route 36. South Shores is directly south of the downtown area across the lake following U.S. Route 51. South Wheatland Township which is on the Southside of the lake and west of Illinois Route 48. Southmoreland and Eastmoreland neighborhoods border the lake on the south east side of the city off of Lake Shore Drive. Home Park is located on the northwest side of the city. Quality of lifeWhile life in the Decatur Metro area ranks very high as a whole, the actual city continues to tolerate a crime rate somewhat above the national average. City leaders have begun efforts to fight crime, and the local newspaper, the Decatur Herald and Review,called for the decentralization of the police facility with additional satellite police stations proposed for increased police presence throughout the community. Sperling's Best Places says the city of Decatur, Illinois, on a scale of 1 to 10, has a property crime rate of 7 and a violent crime rate of 6, both of which are above the national average of 3 and is very close to the ratings given to Chicago (both 7).[4] The metro area, however, has a violent crime rating of 2 and a property crime rating of 3.[1] A few neighborhoods which had drug activity and the resulting criminal activity in the Decatur metro area are still improving after great strides were made in a federally funded "Weed and Seed" program, which made large numbers of drug arrests, cleaned up tons of trash and hauled off 72 abandoned vehicles Sperling's Best Places also reports 200 average days of sunshine for the Decatur metro area, which is near the national average of 205.[1] SportsDecatur was the original home of the Chicago Bears, from 1919 to 1920. The football team was then known as the Decatur Staleys and played at Staley Field, both named after the local food-products manufacturer. From 1900 to 1974 Decatur was the home of The Commodores, a minor-league baseball team playing at Fans Field. The USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic has been held annually since 1999. Male players from over 20 countries compete for $10,000 in prize money as well as ATP world ranking points at the Fairview Park Tennis Complex. The tournament is held for ten consecutive days at Fairview Park concluding on the first weekend in August. Starting in 2007, Decatur has hosted the Rodney T. Miller Lakeside Triathlon. This sprint-distance triathlon presently is scheduled on the first weekend each July. The MidState Soccer Club is based in Decatur. SoftballThe following Decatur men's fast pitch softball teams have won national championships: ADM
Decatur Pride
MediaNewspapers
Magazines
TelevisionAM radio
FM radio
InfrastructureCommerceDecatur is well known for its industrial, agricultural processing, and manufacturing strengths, with vast production facilities for Caterpillar Inc., Archer Daniels Midland, Mueller Co., 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 is currently being used as storage space for Caterpillar Inc.. In 1877 Henry Bachrach opened his first men's clothing store in Decatur. By 2007 Bachrach's operated more than 34 stores in 13 states. EducationColleges
Public schoolsK-12 public education in the Decatur area is provided by the Decatur Public School District #61. Decatur Eisenhower High School
Notable students
Decatur MacArthur High School
Notable students
Private schools
ParksLocal Macon County park resources include Lake Decatur, Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial, Rock Springs Conservation Area, Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Sand Creek Recreation Area, Griswold Conservation Area, Friends Creek Regional Park, and Spitler Woods State Natural Area. TransportationDecatur International Airport is served by three daily commercial flights on Beech 1900s to and from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on Great Lakes Airlines. The airport facility has hosted notable visitors Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, Vice-President Dan Quayle, and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev (at the invitation of his long-time friend, Dwayne Andreas, former CEO of Archer Daniels Midland). 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. 
Trolley transfer station in its original location at the intersection of Main and Main streets; from a postcard sent in 1906 HistoryThe city is named after War of 1812 naval hero Stephen Decatur, Jr. Decatur has become an affiliate of the U.S. Main Street program, in conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 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. Abraham LincolnDecatur was the first home in Illinois of Abraham Lincoln, who settled just west of Decatur with his family in 1830. Lincoln gave his first political speech in Decatur about the importance of Sangamon River navigation that caught the attention of Illinois political leaders. As a lawyer on the 8th Judicial Circuit, Lincoln made frequent stops in Decatur, and argued five cases in the log courthouse that stood on the corner of Main & Main Streets. The original courthouse is now on the grounds of the Macon County Historical Museum on North Fork Road. A popular local restaurant in Decatur is the Lincoln Square Lounge, which was built on the site where he gave a speech to the people in Decatur while campaigning for President. Statues of Lincoln are located at Lincoln Square and at the front of the courthouse. On May 9 and 10, 1860, the Illinois Republican State Convention was held in Decatur. At this convention Lincoln received his first endorsement for President of the United States as "The Railsplitter Candidate." In commemoration of Lincoln's bicentennial the Illinois Republican State Convention was held in Decatur at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel on June 6 & 7, 2008[5]. ADM price-fixing caseIn early November, 1992, the high-ranking Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) executive Mark Whitacre confessed to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent that ADM executives, including Whitacre himself, had routinely met with competitors to fix the price of lysine, a food additive. The lysine conspirators, including ADM, ultimately settled federal charges for more than $100 million. ADM also paid hundreds of millions of dollars [$400 million alone on the high fructose corn syrup Class Action case] to plaintiffs/customers that it stole from during the price-fixing schemes.[6][7][8][9] Furthermore, several Asian and European lysine and citric acid producers, that conspired to fix prices with ADM, paid criminal fines in the tens of millions of dollars to the U.S. government.[10] Several executives, including the Vice Chairman of ADM, did federal prison time. The investigation and prosecution of ADM and some of its executives has been reported to be one of the "best documented corporate crimes in American history".[11] The events were the basis of a book named The Informant as well as a film, also named The Informant. Jesse Jackson protestIn 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 at an Eisenhower High School football game. Jackson was arrested and detained briefly; however, charges were later dropped.[12] Firestone Tire problemsIn May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Firestone Tire about the high incidence of tire failure on Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers, and Mazda Navajos fitted with Firestone tires. Investigators found that several models of 15" Firestone tires (ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT) had very high failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's Decatur plant. This was one of the leading factors to the closing of the Decatur plant. FameNotable people
Inventions in Decatur
References in popular cultureMusic
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ReferencesExternal links
ar:???????, ?????? bn:???????, ?????? de:Decatur (Illinois) eo:Dekaturo (Ilinojo) fr:Decatur (Illinois) io:Decatur, Illinois ht:Decatur, Ilinwa nl:Decatur (Illinois) pl:Decatur (Illinois) pt:Decatur (Illinois) simple:Decatur, Illinois sv:Decatur, Illinois uk:???????? (????????) vo:Decatur (Illinois) Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
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