Decatur, GA Real Estate and History

Featured listing example: an urban log cabin in Decatur, GA

About Decatur, Georgia

Decatur, Ga is the county seat of DeKalb County, Georgia, located just to the east of Atlanta. The City of Decatur's motto reads, “A city of homes, churches, and schools.” It is one of the major cities in fast growing metro Atlanta. Decatur is a historic city of schools, parks, homes, religious centers, community life, and many local attractions located between Atlanta and Stone Mountain, Georgia. Decatur is a proud and historically conscious city whose citizens do everything possible to maintain and preserve their history. A group called the Decatur Preservation Alliance works to continue the upkeep and remembrance of the city's legacy.

In 1823, Decatur was founded at the intersection of two Native American trails. The town was named for naval hero Stephen Decatur. In the 1830s, the Western and Atlantic Railroad wanted to make Decatur the southernmost stop on its railroad. The citizens of Decatur did not want the noise, pollution and growth that would come with such a major terminal, so they rejected the proposal. In response, the railroad founded a new city to the west of Decatur for the terminal. This town would later become known as Atlanta, Georgia.

During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. In July of 1864 Union general James B. McPherson occupied Decatur to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta, Georgia. During the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, Confederate cavalry under Major General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend them. A marker at the Decatur courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.

Of the many attractions in Decatur, the Old Decatur Courthouse on the square is the fifth courthouse built on that single site, chosen in 1823 on the path where two Indian trails crossed. Constructed in 1898, the building suffered extensive fire damage in 1917 and was rebuilt utilizing the granite walls and great columns of the original structure. It now serves as a welcome center and history center for the City of Decatur.

Agnes Scott College was established in 1889 as Decatur's Female Academy. It was the first accredited college in the state of Georgia by 1907 and still remains one of the more prestigious colleges in terms of academic standards. The campus covers eight blocks and encompasses many residential properties and the Bradley Observatory, which is open to the public the second Friday of each month.

Columbia Theological Seminary is a place where men and women can go to learn and obtain further knowledge about ministry. It is an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church and offers many degree programs and various opportunities to learn about theology.

A walk through Decatur Cemetery is a small glimpse into the history of the lives and generations that built the city. Markers of early pioneer settlers are often rough, lichen-covered stones. Later Victorian style markers tend to be ornate with sentimental epitaphs. The oldest part of the cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the cemetery's unique well house was built in 1881.

Constructed by architect William Sayward, Decatur City Hall was used as a City Jail, City Hall, and City Library all at the same time. Now it serves as an administrative building for the ever growing City of Decatur. To prepare for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the downtown area of Decatur underwent renovation, with a focus on the courthouse square area.

The Decatur Railroad Depot, built in 1891, was a busy center and focal point of community life. Now it is being restored along with several other sites by the Decatur Preservation Alliance.

Historic homes and districts

Decatur is home to famous and historic style homes. Every street, district, and neighborhood consists of homes and buildings that contributed, and still contribute, to Decatur's history. On the corner of Church Street and Bell Street, the Fraser House still stands in its original form from 1870, when it was constructed from raw natural materials. According to legend, General Sherman stopped by the High House during the Civil War. The High House was the first two-story house built in Decatur; it is located on N. Candler St. and Sycamore St.

Even Sycamore Street has a history: it was originally Covington Road, a stagecoach route to Augusta through Covington, Madison and Eatonton. It is marked by fine houses — some of the largest in Decatur. The historic house complex on W. Trinity Place is two of the more historically attractive sites: the Swanton House and the Mary Gay House. The Mary Gay House is named for Mary Gay, author of Life in Dixie During the War, and the Swanton House was home to Ami Williams, one of DeKalb's earliest settlers.

The M.A.K. Local Historic District — McDonough, Adams, and Kings Highway — was the first locally designated district in Decatur. The Methodist Chapel was built with Stone Mountain granite in the heart of Decatur, across the street from the present Decatur Library and Decatur Recreation Center, on the same site where the First United Methodist Church of Decatur was founded in 1826.

Annexed in the 1920s by the City of Decatur, historic Oakhurst was originally the City of Oakhurst. It is the location of the old Scottish Rite Hospital, has a commercial business center, and is also home to a charming Decatur neighborhood. The Pythagoras Masonic Lodge is another building designed and constructed by William Sayward, in 1924. Sharian is one of Decatur's oldest businesses and has been around since 1931; ever since its establishment, it has been known as one of the premier retailers of rugs and antiques. South Candler Street, known as the road to the depot, is Decatur's first official historic district, also admired for its beautiful homes.

Decatur landmarks at a glance

Schools and education in Decatur

The City of Decatur's public educational system is independent from the nearby Atlanta Public School System. With four elementary, one middle, and one high school for the entire City of Decatur, Decatur has achieved fine academic accomplishments. Decatur also has many private schools. Decatur has one of the highest property tax rates in Georgia, much of which goes to support the high cost of maintaining a school system with one of the lowest student/teacher ratios in the State.

The City of Decatur offers higher education as well, with Agnes Scott College and Columbia Theological Seminary located in the heart of the city. Decatur also serves as a central point for surrounding schools and colleges in Atlanta: Emory University is a few minutes away, and DeVry University and Georgia Perimeter College are located within a few miles to the west of the City of Decatur.

Getting around: MARTA and Atlanta access

The City of Decatur is located minutes outside of Atlanta and Stone Mountain, Georgia, and shares public transportation with those and other local cities. MARTA runs from Decatur through to the heart of Atlanta, as far south as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and as far north as Buckhead and beyond. MARTA has three stations within the City of Decatur, which provide instant access to many of the primary attractions throughout Decatur and Atlanta. Many of the city's attractions, events, and memories are within reach of visitors who would rather walk, run, or drive, and access to Decatur's grace and beauty is convenient due to the small size of the city. Decatur provides an outlet from many of the busy, fast-paced events of the greater city of Atlanta.

Local business, parks and recreation

The City of Decatur is a self-maintained community anchored by its locally owned and managed businesses. Restaurants, shops, firms, and other businesses can be seen throughout the city. There are over 400 businesses and many more opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs; every place adds to the overall feel of city life.

A bike path runs through the City of Decatur all the way to the heart of the City of Atlanta. With art galleries, dance halls, stage plays, tours of the historic part of the city, sporting events at the local schools, picnics, parades, and other events, Decatur keeps its spirit alive daily. There are nine parks or recreation centers in the city — Adair Park, Ebster Park, Glenlake Park, Hidden Cove Park, Mead Road Park, McKoy Park, Oakhurst Park, Scott Park, and Waddell Park — spanning over 50 acres. Decatur also offers leisure programs for youth of all ages, such as Animal Crackers, WHIZ Kids, 3:00 Project, 21st Century Learning Center Grant, and School's Out.

Popular things to see and do in Decatur and Atlanta

• Georgia Aquarium
• Atlanta Ballet
• Atlanta Botanical Gardens
• Atlanta Braves Baseball
• Atlanta Falcons Football
• Atlanta Hawks Basketball
• Atlanta History Center
• Atlanta Opera
• Atlanta Symphony
• Alliance Theatre
• Atlanta Thrashers Hockey
• MARTA
• World of Coca-Cola
• Chattahoochee Nature Center
• CNN
• Cyclorama and Civil War Museum
• Delta
• Emory University
• Fernbank Science Center
• Georgia Census
• Georgia Department of Transportation
• Georgia Museums
• Georgia State Parks
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Tech
• Georgia World Congress Center
• High Museum of Art
• Home Depot
• Martin Luther King Center
• North Georgia hiking
• Philips Arena
• Road to Tara Museum
• Six Flags Over Georgia
• Stone Mountain Park
• The Varsity – world famous drive in
• University of Georgia
• White Water Park
• Zoo Atlanta