Decatur, incorporated in 1836, is a city located in Macon County, Illinois.It is the county seat of Macon County. Decatur is located 38 miles east of Springfield and 46 miles south of Bloomington. 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.
Decatur is a city of contrasting beauty, from its rolling green parks to its iron river of rails, from its scenic lakeshore to its old industrial skyline. It is diverse and friendly, and it exudes a Midwestern hometown charm that will linger in your memory.
Decatur , Illinois and Forsyth , Illinois are in the Heart of Illinois and the ideal hub from which to explore all of central Illinois – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield to the west; Illinois Amish Country to the east; dozens of other Abraham Lincoln historic sites within a 360-degree radius.
The Decatur/Forsyth area offers a wonderful cultural tourism experience as well: quaint shops in a charming historic downtown business district, galleries exhibiting all mediums of art and a wide variety of unique, quality restaurants. Over 300 events and festivals take place in our area each year encompassing arts, crafts, music, dance, fun fairs, sports and just about anything else you can think of.
The city has a manufacturing- and agriculture-based economy. Leading soybean and corn processing companies are headquartered here. A central location within the state makes Decatur a popular stopping point for travelers and site for conventions and meetings.
Housing Cost
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $71,900
Demographics
Estimated population in July 2006: 77,047. Decatur covers 41.6 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 670 feet above sea level.
Weather
Decatur, IL climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 87.80 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 17.10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 23 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 18 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Decatur is 39.74 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is July with an average rainfall of 4.54 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
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.