Who We Are
In 1856 the Texas Legislature established Wise County and directed that a county seat be placed within five miles of the center. Absolam Bishop, the "father" of Decatur, was charged with locating and laying out the plans. Bishop, loving the outlay of McKinney, decided to copy its plan and use it for Decatur. The city was laid out and originally named Taylorsville after Gen. Zachary Taylor. Bishop, however, did not approve of the name. He was indifferent to Gen. Taylor's Whip party affiliation and in beginning of 1858 had the name changed to Decatur after naval hero Stephen Decatur.
As nearby Fort Worth grew, so did Decatur, flourishing as the county seat of Wise County. Even with the encroaching growth patterns of Fort Worth and Denton, Decatur has maintained its authentic culture and friendly community feel while engaging in development activities.
Today, Decatur is a well-established, growing community brimming with historic character and community pride. Decatur has shown time-tested, stable growth in its population and households, and with current population growth and development activity, the City is estimated to double its population by 2050.
1857
Year Decatur Was Established
Looking to the Future
Decatur is well prepared for the growth that it is experiencing and will continue to grow into the future with a design that supports sustainable development. The City of Decatur and Decatur EDC prioritize and encourage development, infrastructure, and public services to create a viable and sustainable community.
Development & Districts
Decatur follows a traditional small-town development pattern with the county courthouse at its center, surrounded by a historic square, downtown core, and older residential neighborhoods. Many commercial businesses are located along the major highways, serving the Decatur regional and state-wide markets, with major retailers, industrial and commercial land uses. The Decatur EDC Eagles Landing Business Park consists of 530 acres of developable industrial property that has successfully attracted quality new jobs and investment to the community. There are several unofficial, yet distinct, districts in Decatur: the Downtown District, Airport District, Hospital District, Industrial Park District, and Conference Center District. Each district plays a vital part in the community, serving residents and businesses through its unique functions, opportunities, and distinct characteristics.