Located on the banks of the Tennessee River in North Alabama, Decatur and Morgan County is a growing area that has a lot to offer. The city is thirty minutes from Huntsville and just over an hour’s drive from Birmingham and Nashville. Decatur-Morgan County offers world-class sporting fields and plenty of free activities for the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the buttons below to see the answers to our FAQs.
Where are you? How can I get to you?
Decatur-Morgan County is located in Northern Alabama, approximately twenty minutes from Huntsville. The city of Decatur is located along Interstate 65, and is within 15 minutes of the Huntsville International Airport. Decatur is also reachable by private plane. The city’s Pryor Field is the busiest general aviation airport in the state of Alabama.
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau is located at 719 6th Avenue SE, Decatur, AL 35602. This is near downtown Decatur and the city’s historic districts. Stop in for helpful information about Morgan County’s many attractions and events or call 800-524-6181.
What is the population of Decatur-Morgan County?
More than 113,000 people currently reside in Morgan County. Over 50,000 people call Decatur home and Hartselle residents number approximately 13,000. For more demographic information visit the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce's
site.What is the weather like?
Residents of Decatur-Morgan County enjoy temperate year-round weather with four distinct seasons. The average temperature ranges from 40° degrees in the winter to 80° in the summer.
How close is Decatur-Morgan County to other major metropolitan areas in the South?
Decatur-Morgan County is twenty minutes from Huntsville and a little over an hour from Birmingham and Nashville. The county is within a day’s drive from nearly 50% of the nation’s population, including cities such as Atlanta, Memphis, St. Louis and New Orleans.
Are there attractions for those interested in native wildlife?
Decatur-Morgan County is host to thousands of bird watchers who come each year to view the birds in their native habitats at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and the North Alabama Birding Trail. The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge contains the state’s largest concentration of ducks and is the winter nesting area for Canadian geese, snow geese and 22 species of ducks. The refuge also features an abundance of wildlife and fish that are native to the North Alabama region. The city has several camping and RV accommodations available.
What does Decatur-Morgan County offer for the sports enthusiast?
Sports are a big deal in Decatur-Morgan County. The county hosts several international and national sport tournaments each year, including the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Softball tournaments, Amateur Softball Association tournaments, Youth Alabama Basketball of America Championships, USA Criterium Southeast Series and the STIHL® Timbersports® series. Several nationally-sanctioned fishing tournaments are also held in the area.
What can you do for free in Decatur-Morgan County?
Many of Decatur-Morgan County's attractions and events are free making them a wonderful option for families. Visitors are invited to discover insects and North Alabama wildlife at Cook’s Natural Science Museum or learn about Decatur’s involvement in the War Between the States by taking the Civil War Walking Tour. Other free attractions include the Old State Bank, historic shopping districts in Decatur and Hartselle, and a wide array of parks. Most of the county's annual festivals and events are free as well.
Visitor Information
Click the tabs below for more information about area newspapers, radio and television stations, libraries and where to buy hunting/fishing licenses.
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Newspapers
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Radio Stations
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TV Stations
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Libraries
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Licenses
Newspapers
The Decatur Daily Visit the website. 201 1st Avenue, SE
P.O. Box 2213
Decatur, AL 35609
(256)353-4612
Hartselle Enquirer Visit the website. 407 Chestnut Street
P.O. Box 929
Hartselle, AL 35640
256-773-6566
Local Radio Stations
Click the links below to visit the website for each radio station.
Local Television Stations
Click the links below to visit the websites of local television stations.
Libraries
Wheeler Basin Regional/
Decatur Public Library Visit the website. 504 Cherry Street, NE | Decatur, AL 35601
256-353-2993
The William Bradford Huie Library
of Hartselle Visit the website. 152 Sparkman Street, NW | Hartselle, AL 35640
256-773-9980
Falkville Public Library
7 North 1st Avenue | Falkville, AL 35622
256-784-5822
Priceville Public Library Visit the website. 103 Faye Drive | Priceville, AL 35603
256-584-0230
Licenses
Hunting/Fishing/Boating
Morgan County Courthouse
302 Lee Street, NE
Decatur, AL 35601
256-351-4730
History
Click the tabs below to learn more about the history of Morgan County, Decatur and Hartselle.
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Morgan County
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City of Decatur
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City of Hartselle
Morgan County was established in 1818 from land acquired from the Cherokee Indians by the Treaty of Turkeytown. Originally named Cotaco for the creek that runs through it, the county was later re-named in honor of Daniel Morgan, a Brigadier General who is best known for his victory at Cow Pens during the American Revolution. The county seat was transferred from Somerville to Decatur in 1891, where it remains today.
Today, Morgan County continues to cater to the world through internationally-sanctioned sports events and lays claim to America’s first wave pool. It is home to the hundreds of wildlife that resides in the Wheeler National Refuge and is a destination for bird watchers from around the nation. Thousands of visitors come to the growing county each year to attend sports tournaments and some of the state’s best festivals.
Decatur’s rich history dates back to 1823 when it was founded by order of the U. S. Congress and President James Monroe in honor of the renowned U. S. naval officer Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820). Decatur, who won a sword from Congress and a captaincy when he was only 25, was one of the most daring officers in the United States Navy during its early years. He is remembered for his timeless toast: "Our country; in her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be right; but our country, right or wrong."
Situated on the banks of the Tennessee River, Decatur was an integral port during the War Between the States. The area’s key railroad junction made the city a prime location for both sides. Union troops took over the Old State Bank, one of three bank branches opened in 1833 as part of the original state-wide banking system designed by Andrew Jackson, and turned the building into a makeshift hospital and guard house. The Old State Bank and three other buildings were the only structures to survive the Civil War when Union troops withdrew from the city.
Decatur’s rich history dates back to 1823 when it was founded by order of the U. S. Congress and President James Monroe in honor of the renowned U. S. naval officer Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820). Decatur, who won a sword from Congress and a captaincy when he was only 25, was one of the most daring officers in the United States Navy during its early years. He is remembered for his timeless toast: "Our country; in her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be right; but our country, right or wrong."
Situated on the banks of the Tennessee River, Decatur was an integral port during the War Between the States. The area’s key railroad junction made the city a prime location for both sides. Union troops took over the Old State Bank, one of three bank branches opened in 1833 as part of the original state-wide banking system designed by Andrew Jackson, and turned the building into a makeshift hospital and guard house. The Old State Bank and three other buildings were the only structures to survive the Civil War when Union troops withdrew from the city.
