Decatur, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Decatur
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Decatur downtown in 2006.
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Location of Decatur in Adams County
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Adams |
| Township | Root, Washington |
| Named for | Stephen Decatur |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.11 sq mi (15.81 km2) |
| • Land | 6.10 sq mi (15.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 801 ft (244 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,913 |
| • Density | 1,625.08/sq mi (627.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46733
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| Area code(s) | 260 |
| FIPS code | 18-17074 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394480 |
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 231 | — | |
| 1860 | 532 | 130.3% | |
| 1870 | 858 | 61.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,905 | 122.0% | |
| 1890 | 3,142 | 64.9% | |
| 1900 | 4,148 | 32.0% | |
| 1910 | 4,471 | 7.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,762 | 6.5% | |
| 1930 | 5,156 | 8.3% | |
| 1940 | 5,861 | 13.7% | |
| 1950 | 7,271 | 24.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,327 | 14.5% | |
| 1970 | 8,445 | 1.4% | |
| 1980 | 8,649 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 8,644 | −0.1% | |
| 2000 | 9,528 | 10.2% | |
| 2010 | 9,405 | −1.3% | |
| 2020 | 9,913 | 5.4% | |
| US Decennial Census | |||
Decatur is a city located in Adams County, Indiana, United States. It is the biggest community and the main city of Adams County. Decatur is known for Adams Memorial Hospital. This hospital was named one of the "Top 100" Critical Access Hospitals in the country.
In 2020, about 9,913 people lived in Decatur. This was an increase from 9,405 people in 2010.
Contents
History
How Decatur Started
The first settlers who were not Native Americans arrived in the Decatur area in 1835. They came after the Black Hawk War ended and the Erie Canal was finished. These settlers were from New England. They were mostly descendants of the English Puritans who had settled New England a long time ago.
Many of them belonged to the Congregational Church. Some had also become Methodists or Baptists before moving to Decatur. When these settlers arrived, the area was a thick forest and wild prairie.
Decatur was officially started by Samuel Rugg in 1836. The city was named after Stephen Decatur, Jr.. He was a famous captain in the early US Navy. A post office opened in Decatur in 1837.
Changes After the Civil War
After the American Civil War, Decatur became a place where African Americans faced unfair treatment. By 1902, many African Americans were forced to leave the town. News reports from that time described how groups of people worked to make sure Black residents did not live in Decatur.
Over time, African Americans slowly began to settle in the town again. However, because of these past policies, the number of Black residents in Decatur is still low today.
Geography
Decatur covers a total area of about 5.786 square miles (14.99 km²). Most of this area, about 5.78 square miles (14.97 km²), is land. Only a very small part, about 0.006 square miles (0.02 km²), is water.
People and Community
2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 9,913 people living in Decatur. They lived in 4,278 households. The city had about 1,713 people per square mile.
Most residents, about 91.1%, were White. About 7.3% were Hispanic or Latino. About 1.2% were African American. A small number were Native American or from two or more races.
Most people (96.1%) speak English at home. About 3.4% speak Spanish. All residents of Decatur are citizens. Many residents have German (33.3%), English (7.1%), or Irish (6.9%) family backgrounds.
The average age of people in Decatur was 40.5 years. About 6.8% of the population were military veterans. Also, 15.8% of residents have a visible or non-visible disability. About 4.6% of residents do not have health insurance.
Out of all households, 30.9% had children under 18 living with them. About 36.8% were married couples. The average household size was 2.24 people.
The average yearly income for a household in the city was $45,149. For families, it was $58,542. The average income per person was $23,059. About 13.9% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 15.4% of those under 18 and 5.2% of those 65 or older.
Most homes (64.3%) were owned by the people living in them. About 12.5% of homes were rented.
About 43.9% of Decatur residents have a high school diploma or equivalent. About 12.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher. This is lower than the state average. Most residents work in manufacturing (37.4%), education, social services, and healthcare (14.2%), or retail (13.6%).
About 76.3% of residents had high-speed internet access. This is a bit lower than the state average of 80.1%.
Education
Decatur has several schools for students. The local high school is Bellmont High School, which has about 700 students. Younger students attend Bellmont Elementary School and Bellmont Middle School.
There are also several private schools. St. Joseph Catholic School serves students from kindergarten to 8th grade. Zion Lutheran School, Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School, and St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School also teach students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
Decatur also has a public library. It is a part of the Adams Public Library System.
Media
Decatur has its own newspaper called The Decatur Daily Democrat. This newspaper has been around since 1857.
Healthcare
Decatur is home to Adams Memorial Hospital. This hospital was named one of the "Top 100" Critical Access Hospitals in the United States. The hospital first opened on June 30, 1923. This happened after voters in Adams County decided they wanted to build a county hospital.
Architecture
Decatur is also known for its modern buildings and art. There are more than 18 sculptures located throughout the downtown area.
Famous People From Decatur
- David Anspaugh – a TV and film director who directed movies like Hoosiers and Rudy.
- John Fetzer – a former owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.
- Bob Hite, Sr. – a radio and television announcer for CBS.
- David Smith – a famous sculptor.
See also
In Spanish: Decatur (Indiana) para niños
