Named for naval hero Stephen Decatur, the city is the County Seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia with a population of 18,147 as of the 2000 census. However, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger because there are multiple zip codes within the unincorporated parts of DeKalb County which are also called “Decatur”.
In the 1830s, the Western and Atlantic Railroad wanted to make Decatur the southernmost stop for its rail service. However, the citizens of Decatur which had become a very prosperous town did not want the noise or  pollution or the spontaneous growth that would come with having such a major terminal in their town, so they rejected the proposal. The railroad responded by founded a new city to the west-southwest of Decatur for the terminal which later became known as Atlanta, Georgia.
As a significant Civil War reference, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's campaign to overtake Atlanta. Decatur was successfully used by the Union army to cut off the Confederate's supply line from Augusta, Georgia. A marker at the Decatur courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.
Today, you'll find a traditional small-town atmosphere in Decatur, and the sophistication and excitement of a college town, but with the benefits of living within a major metropolitan area. Decatur bills itself as a “mall-ternative” because you can park, dine, and shop at over 200 shops, restaurants, galleries, and salons and most destinations are within easy walking distance. However, if you need the big mall experience, MARTA is convenient for a run into metro Atlanta.
Decatur Homes offer friendly neighbors, tree-shaded streets, great schools and colleges, libraries, parks and playing fields, and various businesses as a wonderful place to live – just minutes from downtown Atlanta and minutes from Stone Mountain. The MARTA rail station located beneath the downtown square makes getting around a breeze.
Some of the available Decatur homes for sale are steeped in the character of the Old South as revealed in its three historic districts, the MAK Historic District, the Clairemont Historic District, and the Ponce de Leon Court Historic District. Most of the grandeur of Decatur homes is still preserved in these areas and some of the other historic buildings while more contemporary aesthetics can be found in the newer areas of other single-family homes as well as high-rise condos and apartments.
The city's motto as inscribed on the city seal says it all. Decatur is "a city of homes, churches, and schools," and is just waiting for you to make it your home.
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