Decatur, Illinois

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Decatur
City
Decatur Downtown
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Macon

Coordinates	39°51′6″N 88°56′39″W / 39.85167, -88.94417

Area	45.9 sq mi (119 km²)
- land	45.9 sq mi (119 km²)

Population	81,860 (2000)
Density	1,969.7 /sq mi (761 /km²)

Founded	1823
Date	1823

Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	62521
Area code	217

Location of Decatur within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Decatur, Illinois

Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. This Central Illinois city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World," was founded in 1823 and is located in Central Illinois along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur. In 2000 its population was 81,500

The Decatur, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area (population 125,000), includes surrounding towns of Argenta, Bement, Bethany, Boody, Blue Mound, Cerro Gordo, Clinton, Dalton City, Elwin, Findlay, Forsyth, Harristown, Illiopolis, Kirksville, La Place, Long Creek, Macon, Maroa, Monticello, Moweaqua, Mount Auburn, Mount Zion, Niantic, Oakley, Oreana, Stonington, Sullivan, and Warrensburg.

The city is named after War of 1812 naval hero Stephen Decatur, Jr.

Decatur has many tree-lined streets, older restored homes, historic residential districts, and restored downtown commercial areas. In the transition from a manufacturing to a service economy, Decatur has experienced some population shifting outward in the area as de-centralization has led much of the area's new homebuilding activity to the surrounding areas.

The city's symbol is the Transfer House, an early-twentieth-century Victorian structure located originally in the center of town where the city's mass transit lines met. The Transfer House was moved in 1963 to save it from destruction as roads were being built for the increasing automobile traffic.

Decatur was awarded the All-America City Award in 1960.

The city's motto is "Illinois' Central City". The old motto was "The Pride of the Prairie". "The Soybean Capital of the World" is the un-official motto.

[edit] Geography

Decatur is located at 39°51′6″N, 88°56′39″W (39.851636, -88.944228)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 45.9 square miles (118.8 km²), of which, 41.6 square miles (107.6 km²) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.2 km²) of it (9.42%) is water. Lakes include Lake Decatur, formed in 1923 by the damming of the Sangamon River.

[edit] History

Decatur was the first home in Illinois of Abraham Lincoln, who settled just west of Decatur with his family in 1830. Lincoln gave his first political speech in Decatur about the importance of Sangamon River navigation that caught the attention of Illinois political leaders. As a lawyer on the 8th Judicial Circuit, Lincoln made frequent stops in Decatur, and argued five cases in the log courthouse that stood on the corner of Main & Main Streets. The original courthouse is now on the grounds of the Macon County Historical Museum on North Fork Road. There is a restaurant in Decatur, the Lincoln Square Lounge, which is built on the site where he gave a speech to the people in Decatur while campaigning for President.

On May 9-10, 1860 the Illinois Republican State Convention was held in Decatur. At this convention Lincoln received his first endorsement for President of the United States as "The Railsplitter Candidate." In commemoration of Lincoln's bicentennial the Illinois Republican State Convention will be held in Decatur at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel on June 6 & 7, 2008^[2]. The inaugural Shadows of Lincoln Festival will be held on June 7, 2008 to celebrate Lincoln's rise to political prominence and eventual nomination for President in Decatur.

Post No. 1 of the Grand Army of the Republic was founded by Civil War veterans in Decatur on April 6, 1866.

The Edward P. Irving House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1911, is located at #2 Millikin Place, Decatur.

The Decatur Transfer House in the background in downtown's Central Park.

[edit] Infrastructure

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges

Millikin University (enrollment 2,400), a four year institution of higher education, has a 75 acre campus founded by James Millikin and was originally affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Richland Community College (enrollment 3,500) is a comprehensive community college. It is also host to the national Farm Progress Show bi-annually.

[edit] Public

K-12 public education in the Decatur area is provided by the Decatur Public School District #61.

[edit] Private

[edit] Industry & Commerce

Decatur is well known for its industrial, agricultural processing, and manufacturing strengths, with vast production facilities for Caterpillar Inc., Archer Daniels Midland, Mueller Co., and Tate & Lyle (previously A. E. Staley). The corporate world headquarters for ADM, the leading agricultural processor and ethanol producer is in Decatur. A large former Firestone factory is currently being used as storage space for Caterpillar Inc..

In 1877 Henry Bachrach opened his first men's clothing store in Decatur. By 2007 Bachrach's operated more than 34 stores in 13 states.

[edit] Parks

Local Macon County park resources include Lake Decatur, Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial, Rock Springs Conservation Area, and Spitler Woods State Natural Area.

[edit] Sports

Decatur was the original home of the Chicago Bears, from 1919 to 1920. The football team was then known as the Decatur Staleys and played at Staley Field, both named after the local food-products manufacturer.

From 1900 to 1974 Decatur was the home of The Commodore minor-league baseball team, playing at Fans Field.

The USTA/Ursula Beck Pro Tennis Classic has been held annually since 1999. Male players from over 20 countries compete for $10,000 in prize money as well as ATP world ranking points at the Fairview Park Tennis Complex. The tournament is held for ten consecutive days at Fairview Park concluding on the first weekend in August.

Starting in 2007, Decatur has hosted the Rodney T. Miller Lakeside Triathlon. This sprint-distance triathlon presently is scheduled on the first weekend each July.

MidState Soccer Club is based in Decatur

The following Decatur men’s fast pitch softball teams have won national championships:

ADM
1981 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Champions
1984 International Softball Congress (ISC) Champions

Decatur Pride
1994 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Champions
1999 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Champions
1999 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Champions
2000 International Softball Congress (ISC) Champions

[edit] Transportation

Decatur International Airport is served by three daily commercial flights on Beech 1900's to and from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on Great Lakes Airlines. The airport facility has hosted notable visitors Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, Vice-President Dan Quayle, and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev (at the invitation of his long-time friend, Dwayne Andreas, former CEO of Archer Daniels Midland).

Interstate 72, U.S. Route 51, U.S. Route 36, Illinois Route 48, Illinois Route 105, and Illinois Route 121 are key highway links for the area, as well.

A bus-trolley system operates in the downtown and college campus areas.

Trolley transfer station in its original location at the intersection of Main and Main streets; from a postcard sent in 1906

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 81,860 people, 34,086 households, and 21,099 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,969.7 people per square mile (760.5/km²). There were 37,239 housing units at an average density of 896.0/sq mi (346.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.59% White, 19.47% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 34,086 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 11.1% from ages 18 to 24, 26.0% from ages 25 to 44, 22.5% from ages 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,111, and the median income for a family was $42,379. Males had a median income of $36,920 versus $22,359 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,009. About 12.1% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Sister cities

Decatur is a sister city to Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan and to Seevetal, Lower Saxony, Germany.

[edit] Partial list of mayors

Charles M. Borchers (1909-1911; 1919-1923)
Elmer R. Elder (1925)
Harry E. Barber (1935)
Charles E. Lee (1937-1942)
James A. Hedrick (1945)
Robert E. Willis 1953)
J. Clayton Povler (1954)
Robert A. Grohne (1959-1963)
Gary Anderson
Erik Brechnitz
Terry M. Howley (1995-2003)
Paul Osborne (2003-2008 resigned )

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Carrigan will serve until vacancy filled by City Council appointment

[edit] Notable people

Stephen Ambrose (1936–2002) — author, historian, and presidential biographer
Walter "Boom-Boom" Beck (1904–1987) — Former Major League Baseball player
Charles E. Boles — famed western outlaw "Black Bart" — former Decatur resident
LaToya Bond (1984–) — professional basketball player (WNBA & international);^[4]^[5] born in Decatur in 1984
Jenny Lou Carson (born Virginia Lucille Overstake; 1915–1978) — American country singer/songwriter; sister of Judy Martin
June Christy (1925–1990) — 1950s popular jazz singer
Dale Connelly — co-host of Minnesota Public Radio's The Morning Show
Brian Culbertson — jazz musician
Todd Day — former NBA player — born in Decatur
John Doe — founder of L.A. punk band X
Chuck Dressen (1898–1966) — former Major League Baseball player, manager, and coach
Steve Fairchild — Head Football Coach, Colorado State University
Charles J. Givens (1941–1998) — financial lecturer and author
Steve Hunter — guitarist (has played with Mitch Ryder, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel and more)
Jeff Innis — former Major League Baseball pitcher
Alison Krauss — bluegrass artist — born in Decatur in 1971
James W. Loewen — author, historian, and sociology professor
Bill Madlock — former Major League Baseball player
Nan Martin — movie and television actress
Stephen Mason — guitar player: member of Jars of Clay — born in Joliet;^[6] moved to Decatur and attended Warrensburg-Latham schools from 3rd grade^[7]
Richard James Oglesby (1824–1899) — U.S. senator and governor of Illinois
Richard Peck — children's author: 2001 Newbery Medal winner — born in Decatur in 1934
Boots Randolph — jazz saxaphonist: composer of "Yakety Sax"
Kevin Roberson — former Major League Baseball player
Brian Ross (journalist) — ABC News investigative reporter
Del Unser — former Major League Baseball player

[edit] Invented In Decatur

Spiral Screwdriver Decatur Coffin Companies' Early Spiral Screwdriver
Photo Timer Robert Faries' Pneumatic Photo Timer
Ice cream scooper invented by W. Ross Lloyd, The Lloyd Disher Co.^{[citation needed]}
Flyswatter invented by Robert Montgomery, who holds the patent from c. 1900
Radar Gun Law enforcement radar invented by Bryce K. Brown of Decatur Electronics
On April 24, 1923, US Patent # 1452956 was issued to Arthur W. Cash of Decatur. Mr Cash assigned the patent to Harvey A. Sellers owner of the Hi-Flier Manufacturing Company of Decatur. The patent was for the design of an inexpensive paper kite which dominated the children's kite market from the 1920s to the 1960s.
Sweater vests^{[citation needed]}

[edit] In Music

"Decatur, Or, Round of Applause For Your Step Mother!" is a song by Sufjan Stevens on his album Illinois. The song refers to several locations and events associated with Decatur, including the Caterpillar factory, Greenwood cemetery, the chicken mobile from Krekels, strong historical ties to Abraham Lincoln, and the Sangamon River, (which is mispronounced as "Sang-a-man.")
V Shape Mind - heavy pop band who recorded an album on Universal Records. Toured with Mudvayne.

[edit] In Movies

A Warner Brothers' feature film is currently in production about Mark Whitacre and the ADM scandal that took place in Decatur. The Informant is directed by Steven Soderbergh with Matt Damon playing the role of Whitacre. ^[8].
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" Cameron's mother was away for the day in Decatur
In the 1971 film Shaft, Lt. Androzzi informs Shaft that one of the mob bigwigs coming to the city is from Decatur.
In Bachelor Party, Tom Hanks croons that he is from Decatur, Illinois.
In the 1993 film So I Married An Axe Murderer, a map of Illinois with Decatur featured prominently is displayed in the background behind Harriet (played by Nancy Travis) in the film's closing scenes.

[edit] In Television

On Comedy Central's television show, "The Colbert Report", Stephen Colbert mentions Decatur and its slogan "We like it here" during his segment "Better know a district."

[edit] Media

[edit] Print Newspapers

Herald & Review– Daily
Decatur Tribune- Weekly
The Voice - Weekly
The Decaturian - Bi-weekly, published by Millikin University

[edit] Magazines

Decatur Magazine- Bi-monthly

[edit] Analog Television

17 WAND, NBC

[edit] AM Radio

WDZ - 1050 AM– Fox Sports
WSOY– 1340 AM – News/Talk
DCR 1650- 1650 AM - Community

[edit] FM Radio

WJMU– 89.5 FM – Millikin University - Alternative
WYDS– 93.1 FM – Top-40
WDZQ– 95.1 FM – Country
WXFM - 99.3 - Bright AC
WZUS- 100.1 FM - Country
WSOY- 102.9 FM – Top-40
104.5 - Hot R&B
WEJT– 105.1 FM – Classic Hits
WZNX- 106.7 FM - Classic Rock
WDKR - 107.3 - Oldies

[edit] Municipal Government

Former City Manager Steve Garman resigned May 2, 2008^{[citation needed]} and Mayor Paul Osborne resigned June 1, 2008 for health reasons and to pursue a career at the Decatur Tribune newspaper.^[9]

[edit] Controversies

[edit] The ADM Price-Fixing Case

In early November, 1992, the high-ranking Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) executive Mark Whitacre confessed to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent that ADM executives-including Whitacre himself-had routinely met with competitors to fix the price of lysine, a food additive.

The lysine conspirators, including ADM, ultimately settled federal charges for more than $100 million. ADM also paid hundreds of millions of dollars [$400 million alone on the high fructose corn syrup Class Action case] to plaintiffs/customers that it stole from during the price-fixing schemes.^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13] Furthermore, several Asian and European lysine and citric acid producers, that conspired to fix prices with ADM, paid criminal fines in the tens of millions of dollars to the U.S. government.^[14] Several executives, including the Vice Chairman of ADM, did federal prison time.

The investigation and prosecution of ADM and some of its executives has been reported to be one of the "best documented corporate crimes in American history".^[15]

[edit] Firestone Tire Controversy

In May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contacted Firestone Tire about the high incidence of tire failure on Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers, and Mazda Navajos fitted with Firestone tires. Investigators found that several models of 15" Firestone tires (ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT) had very high failure rates, especially those made at Firestone's Decatur plant. This was one of the leading factors to the closing of the Decatur plant.

[edit] Jesse Jackson Protest

In November 1999, Decatur was brought into the national news when the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition protested the expulsion and treatment of several African American students who had been involved in a serious fight at an Eisenhower High School football game. Jackson was arrested and detained briefly; however, charges were later dropped.[9]

[edit] References

^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Ingram, Ron, "Ties to Lincoln draw state GOP convention to Decatur", Herald & Review, Decatur, Illinois, Thursday, July 14, 2007, http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/07/14/news/local_news/1024970.txt
^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/latoya_bond/index.html
^ http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/10/08/news/local_news/1018308.txt
^ Kot, Greg: "Bridges to Babylon". Guitar World Acoustic, No. 25. Retrieved from http://www.jarchives.com/vault039.htm on 2006-05-13.
^ Mannlein, Arelene: "Relatives of Jars of Clay member — and many, many more — plan to gather". Herald & Review, Decatur, Illinois, Thursday, August 4, 2005, 5:10 PM CDT. Retrieved from [1] on 2006-05-13.
^ Editorial Staff (2005, June 18). The Informant, the Movie. Hollywood.com. [2]
^ Associated Press, via Chicago Tribune. Decatur mayor set to resign. May 31, 2008.
^ Greenwald, John (1996, October 28). The fix was in at ADM. Time Magazine. [3]
^ Wilson, J.K. (2000, December 21). Price-Fixer to the World. Bankrate.com. [4]
^ KaplanFox (2004, July 19). Archer Daniels Settles Suit Accusing it of Price Fixing. KaplanFox Law Firm Press Release. [5]
^ Editorial Staff (2004, June 18). Sweetner Settlement for ADM. FoodNavigator. [6]
^ Eichenwald, Kurt (2000). The Informant. Broadway Books, Inc.. ISBN 9-78076790-327-1. [7]
^ (2000, August 16) Review of Rats in the Grain. The AgriBusiness Examiner (Issue # 85). [8]

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Category: People from Decatur, Illinois

Decatur, Illinois is at coordinates 39°51′06″N 88°56′39″W / 39.851636, -88.944228 (Decatur, Illinois)Coordinates: 39°51′06″N 88°56′39″W / 39.851636, -88.944228 (Decatur, Illinois)

v • d • e Radio stations in the Decatur, Illinois market (Arbitron #283) (R&R info)

By FM frequency	88.1 • 89.5 • 90.9 • 91.9 • 93.1 • 95.1 • 95.9 • 99.3 • 100.9 • 102.9 • 105.1 • 106.7 • 107.3

By AM frequency	870 • 1050 • 1340 • 1520

By callsign	WDKR • WDZ • WDZQ • WEJT • WHOW • WHOW-FM • WILL-FM • WINU • WJMU • WNLD • WSOY • WSOY-FM • WUIS • WXFM • WYDS • WZNX • WZUS

Illinois Radio Markets: Bloomington • Champaign • Chicago • Decatur • LaSalle-Peru • Marion-Carbondale • Peoria • Quad Cities (Rock Island-Moline) • Rockford Other Illinois Radio Regions: Quincy/Hannibal • Springfield See also: List of radio stations in Illinois

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Macon County, Illinois

County seat: Decatur

Cities	Decatur \| Macon \| Maroa

Villages	Argenta \| Blue Mound \| Forsyth \| Harristown \| Long Creek \| Mount Zion \| Niantic \| Oreana \| Warrensburg

Townships	Austin \| Blue Mound \| Decatur \| Friends Creek \| Harristown \| Hickory Point \| Illini \| Long Creek \| Maroa \| Milam \| Mt. Zion \| Niantic \| Oakley \| Pleasant View \| South Macon \| South Wheatland \| Whitmore

Unincorporated communities	Bearsdale \| Boody \| Elwin \| Heman \| Hervey City