LOCATION
Historic Decatur adjoins Atlanta's city limits six miles east of Atlanta's central business district and as the DeKalb County seat, is just over 2 miles from Avondale Estates, Scottdale, and Belvedere Park. Easily available to Interstates I-20, I-75 and I-85, Decatur is also ringed by the I-285.
TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
MARTA runs a convenient and inexpensive service throughout the wider Atlanta area. Dekalb-Peachtree National Airport is 7 miles from Decatur, while the Hartsfield Atlanta International is about 13 miles.
BRIEF HISTORY
The City of Decatur was founded in 1823. DeKalb County had been formed a year earlier and its five commissioners were charged to select a public site for a courthouse and a jail, and to establish a town to serve as the County Seat. The commissioners named it after Stephen Decatur, a popular US Naval hero of the day. Decatur was incorporated in December of that year. In the 1830's, the early residents rejected a proposal by the Western and Atlantic Railroad to make Decatur a major stop on its new line, so the railroad moved seven miles west to the small settlement that later became Atlanta. Inhabitants of Decatur still uphold small-town virtues while encouraging economic growth, and protect the quieter pace of their hometown while taking full advantage of its proximity to the amenities offered by Atlanta.
POPULATION
Decatur has 18,000 residents and 8,000 households, although its daytime population swells to 24,000.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Decatur is a historic town with a strong sense of community. The Old Courthouse on the Square stands on a rise of land where two Indian trails once crossed. Historically, the square served as the community gathering place, and it still serves as the heart of the community today, the focus of festivals and special events. The Old Courthouse accommodates an interesting museum covering DeKalb County history and Civil War memorabilia. Downtown Decatur's vibrant shopping area and sensitively designed offices are surrounded by beautiful, historic neighborhoods and tree-lined streets.
HEALTHCARE
Decatur is served by several hospitals, clinics and specialized healthcare facilities. The DeKalb Medical Centre has specialists in almost every area (patients travel to nearby Atlanta for open heart surgery). This non-profit hospital is a leader in community based healthcare, with numerous outpatient wellness programs and an impressive level of voluntary support. The Center has been recognized by the Georgia Hospital Association through its CARE Quality Awards for improvements in performance and quality of patient care, particularly regarding childbirth and pneumonia.
EDUCATION
With a history of nationally high test scores, Decatur's commitment to small neighborhood schools and small teacher-student ratios pays off time and again. The city school system has six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Strong parent and community involvement supports students in academics, athletics, and other curricular and extracurricular activities. All schools have numerous Partners-In-Education from the Decatur business community.
Waldorf and Montessori private schools offer specialized approaches to education. Georgia Perimeter College is one of the largest colleges in the state, offering a diverse higher education program. DeKalb Tech is the largest vocational technical institute in Georgia with a wide range of degree programs. Prestigious private colleges include the Agnes Scott College undergraduate school for women and the Columbia Theological Seminary.
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