Moving Companies Decatur, GA

Decatur, Georgia

For the nearly 20,000 people living in the city of Decatur, Georgia, it’s all about community. Both residents and the city government of Decatur work hard to maintain the city’s small town character and strong sense of place even as it experiences healthy growth and development. City planning is predicated on the notion that a healthy community provides the foundation for a successful economic development program that benefits everyone. Those moving to Decatur will easily see the community spirit reflected in the city’s friendly neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, excellent schools and colleges, pedestrian-friendly downtown, well-maintained parks and fields and socially responsible businesses. Even Decatur movers would agree that moving to Decatur is the best decision for anyone who wants a healthy mix of small-town tradition and big-city sophistication.

Economy:
More a family-friendly college town than a bustling industrial center, Decatur has an economy that is predominantly service-based. Primary industrial sectors in Decatur and the metro Atlanta area public services, professional services, retail trade, finance, insurance and real estate, transportation and utilities, wholesale trade, construction and mining. Decatur employment is primarily concentrated in the downtown commercial district. Major employers include DeKalb County, Emory University Health Systems Emory Clinic, Decatur Board of Education, Agnes Scott College, Columbia Theological Seminary, City of Decatur and the Decatur Board of Education. To stimulate private sector development downtown, Decatur has embarked on commercial and retail space expansion, a diverse range of residential projects, streetscape improvements and redevelopment of the Decatur MARTA station. If you are moving to Decatur to start a small business, you couldn’t have chosen a better place. Decatur encourages local business development by providing special incentives, resources and promotional assistance to business owners.

History:
Founded in 1823 on land where two Native American trails once crossed, Decatur was named after U.S. Naval hero Stephen Decatur and is the second oldest municipality in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Early settlers were English, Scottish and Irish immigrants who had moved to Decatur by way of Virginia and the Carolinas. The story goes that residents of Decatur turned down a proposal by Western Atlantic Railroad to make Decatur a major stop on its railroad in the 1830s, because they did not want the noise, pollution and chaos that came with such a development. Spurned, Western and Atlantic moved the railroad west to a small settlement that would later become Atlanta. Notwithstanding the loss of the railroad project, the town continued to flourish as a more settlers started moving to Decatur and working in agriculture and dairy farms, cotton mills, grain mills, and granite quarries. In July 1864, Union General James B. McPherson’s army occupied the town of Decatur and destroyed railroad tracks and bridges east and west to prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching General John B. Hood’s army. During the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, Confederate Major General Joseph Wheeler led his troops in attacking Union Gen. McPherson’s wagon train near the Decatur courthouse. This moment in American Civil War history is commemorated by an engraved stone inside the Agnes Scott College campus.

Tourism:
Ask Decatur movers about which place best exemplifies the essence of Decatur and they might point you downtown. Harmoniously blending the old and the new, downtown Decatur is surrounded by historic neighborhoods showcasing various architectural styles and is home to new office buildings, elegant apartments, townhouses and mid-rise condominiums, a bustling retail center and vibrant dining scene. Visitors should not miss the Civil War graves at Decatur Cemetery, or the restored Old Courthouse On the Square, which also houses the Dekalb History Center. Take a leisurely stroll around the beautiful campus of the historic Agnes Scott College, or catch a hot local act before they become famous at the Eddie’s Attic  live music venue and rooftop grill. If you want the feel the relentless throb of big-city nightlife, head on to neighboring Atlanta, which is easily accessible by car, bus or the MARTA line.

Colleges/Universities:
• Agnes Scott College
• Emory University
• Georgia Perimeter College – Decatur Campus

Interesting Facts:
•  The official motto of the City of Decatur is “A city of homes, schools and places of worship.”
•  In 1907, Agnes Scott College became the first college or university to be fully accredited in the State of Georgia.
• Celebrities who were born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, include Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls and Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Helpful Links:
• City of Decatur
• Decatur Real Estate
• Decatur Storage Facility
• Decatur Moving Guide
• Decatur Moving Company