A rebuilt city on the banks of the Tennessee River
“A hard nut to crack.” That is how Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood described the city of Decatur during the Civil War. The city changed hands several times during the war and served as a major combat zone during the Battle of Decatur in 1864, when a small group of Union soldiers prevented the Confederates from crossing the Tennessee River, forcing them west. The city was almost entirely burned down by the end of the war, but over time, it was rebuilt. Hood’s characterization was meant to portray the city as a problem, but its residents embraced the saying as a sign of resilience. Today, the saying is written on a downtown marker along its historical trail. “I love how community-oriented it is here,” says Vanessa Sivley, an agent with Merithouse Realty. “If there is a need, Decatur rises to it.” Today, Decatur is home to 58,000 people, with its hospital and school systems acting as major employers, as well as manufacturers like GE Appliances, the 3M Company and Daikin. About 25 miles from Huntsville, the city sits close to Redstone Arsenal military base and other facilities while celebrating its own history and culture.
Delano Park is only a few minutes from the Tennessee River.
Fairview is only a few minutes from the Tennessee River.
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Victorian-influenced homes in Decatur's historic downtown
The median home price for the city is $250,000, lower than the national median. The city’s historic downtown neighborhoods of Old Decatur and Albany are full of Victorian-influenced homes from the late 1880s and early 1900s. In West Decatur , bungalows and cottages are more prevalent. Homes tend to have higher values on the southern edges of the city in neighborhoods like Burningtree . These neighborhoods are often wooded and feature larger lots and long driveways. There are also some townhouses available throughout the city.
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, in recent years, the city’s violent crime rates and property crime rates have been higher than state and national figures.
Old Decatur combines historic architecture with modern conveinences.
Some larger Old Decatur homes feature expansive porches.
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A short drive to Huntsville International Airport
State Routes 20 and 67 wrap around the city, and Highway 31 runs through it, connecting drivers with Interstate 565 and Huntsville. The city is also close to I-65, which runs about 85 miles south to Birmingham. According to the 2021-2025 Plan for Decatur Downtown, the city is focused on fixing its city entries, connectors and sidewalks. Huntsville International Airport is about 20 miles northeast. Decatur Morgan Hospital, an affiliate of the Huntsville Health System, has 1,800 professionals across four locations.
Highly rated public schools and the Alabama Center for the Arts
Students are primarily served by Decatur City Schools, though some homes on the city’s outskirts are zoned for Morgan County Schools. Decatur City Schools serves nearly 9,000 students in 18 schools and has an A-minus Niche grade. Decatur High School has an A-minus score and is ranked by Niche as the second-most diverse public high school in the state. Private schools like Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, which has an A-minus grade, are also in the city.
The Alabama Center for the Arts, located on Second Avenue, is a partnership between Athens State University and Calhoun Community College. The center’s goal is to make the typical private arts college experience more affordable; tuition is about one-third the cost of most private arts colleges.
Old Decatur is home to the Carnegie Visual Artsw Center.
Decatur High School is connected to Decatur Middle School via skybridge.
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Carnegie Carnival is a tribute to Mardi Gras
The city’s Old Decatur and Albany downtown neighborhoods are its cultural hubs. The annual Carnegie Carnival is a multi-event celebration akin to Mardi Gras that takes place primarily in these neighborhoods, culminating in a float-filled parade on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. The celebration benefits the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, a free-to-the-public art gallery that provides education in several subjects through hands-on learning. The Princess Theatre has been open since 1919 and received an Art Deco rejuvenation in 1941, which is how it stands today. The venue mainly hosts concerts. From April to November, the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market is active four days a week. Other museums and cultural centers can also be found downtown.
There are several large historic homes in Decatur
Old Decatur is home to Simp McGhee's cajun restaurant.
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Delano Park is the city's "emerald jewel"
Decatur has 28 parks, designed to provide recreation and break up the urban landscape of the city’s downtown. The 28-acre Delano Park, first designed in 1887, remains the historic downtown’s “emerald jewel.” Its features include tennis courts, a rose garden and a sculpture garden. At more than 700 acres, Point Mallard Park contains an 18-hole golf course, a waterpark and campgrounds. It is also used to host events like a reenactment of the Battle for Decatur, held annually over Labor Day weekend. South of Point Mallard is the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, a 35,000-acre reserve that protects 12 endangered or at-risk species, including sandhill cranes. The Festival of the Cranes, a multi-day event celebrating the cranes’ migration, is held each January throughout the city. Decatur also has facilities for youth sports, an archery park and a disc golf course.
Delano Park features a unique rose garden.
Delano Park features a unique playground and sculpture garden.
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Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q invented Alabama white sauce
Decatur is the home of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, which invented the now-famous Alabama white sauce in the 1920s. The restaurant’s long-time downtown location still stands, and it added a second location near the Westmead neighborhood in 1992. Most of the city’s upscale restaurants are in Old Decatur. Southern restaurants are common, and several specialize in seafood. 609 Social Market & Provisions serves classic American dishes and holds a fish market from Tuesday to Saturday. On Old Decatur’s Bank Street sit several shops filled with antiques, boutique clothes and jewelry. More shops can be found on Second Avenue.
Big Bob Gibson BBQ in an award winning BBQ restaurant near Flint City.
Big Bob Gibson BBQ in an award winning BBQ restaurant near Old Decatur.
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Decatur residents experience the four seasons
The city experiences four seasons, with hotter summers and milder winters. Sivley says the city can experience snow, though not every year. The city is at a higher-than-average risk of tornadoes. Parts of downtown near the Tennessee River have an increased flood risk.
Bungalows and cottages can be found throughout Old Decatur.
Tanner is bordered on the south by the Tennessee River.
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Written By
Ryan Kohn
Photography Contributed By
Aaron Bloodworth
Video By
Jaried Frogosa
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Luis Mendoza,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Decatur, AL sell after 70 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Decatur, AL over the last 12 months is $224,900, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This lovely home in the Priceville school district offer everything you could be asking for and much more. The 4-bedroom 2.5 bath house offers a large back covered patio area directly off the large open kitchen and family room plan. The kitchen offers a large island with all SS appliances. The main living areas have hardwood flooring throughout. A split bedroom lay out with the primary bedroom
Beautiful 4BR/3.5BA two-story in the Albany Historical District of Decatur! Original details throughout, with arched doorways, 9'+ ceilings, and a stone wood-burning fireplace in the living room. Spacious kitchen features ample cabinetry, appliances, eat-at island, and butler’s pantry with built-ins. Primary suite offers 2 walk-in closets, fireplace, full bath, and balcony access. Upstairs
Fabulous 4 bedrooms, 3 Full Bath Home located in City View Estates. Most of the house is on the main floor. Spacious living room w/ gas log fireplace, wood laminate flooring. Formal dining room opens up to the living area. Split bedroom floor plan master suite features a glamour bath with double vanity, whirlpool tub separate walk in shower and large walk in closet. Kitchen offers ample cherry
Golf Course Living at Its Finest. Nestled along the 18th hole at Burningtree Country Club, this home offers unbeatable views and a front-row seat to the final putt. Entertaining on the newly expanded deck offers a seamless indoor-outdoor living experience complete with a large in ground pool, expansive patio and 2 private saunas. Features include a large Great Room which opens to an updated
3BR-2BA - Our 1250 SF, 3 bedroom - 2 bath apartments have everything you’re looking for! Spacious bedrooms with walk in closet, fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer hookups, separate dining area, relaxing patio or balcony, and much more!(RLNE3180740)
4br/3ba home located minutes from shopping, restaurants, and Mall. 2 car front entry garage with storage room. Family room w/ laminate flooring, ceiling fan and fireplace. Eat-in kitchen with seperate dining room and a formal living room. Upstairs are 4 bedrooms including a large master bedroom w walking closet and private bath. 3 other bedrooms share a full bath off the hall. Fenced in backyard
Sandwiched between the cities of Athens and Decatur is Tanner — a rural, unincorporated community in the heart of Alabama's Limestone County. Tanner lacks a diverse selection of shopping and dining destinations, and that's partially what draws people there. Locals treasure the quiet, easygoing lifestyle of North Alabama's scenic countryside, and with the Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area just a short drive away, residents have the natural beauty of the Tennessee River right in their backyard. "Some people move in not planning to stay long-term, but end up liking the area," says Luther Smith, a broker at Century 21 J and L Realty, who has over 16 years of real estate experience.
Tanner offers plenty of recreation for outdoorsmen. Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area consumes much of Tanner's southside along the Tennessee River, serving as a top spot for local hunters. Marksmen also frequent Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area Shooting Range to practice their hand-eye in preparation for hunting season. Little Leaguers, meanwhile, can gather for batting practice at the nearby Fred Frickie Park.
Tanner features a wide range of home styles and frameworks. New Traditionals and brick Greek Revivals with large, sprawling yards dominate Houston Place, while established ranch-styles and manufactured homes line the community's flat roads cutting through vast farmland. Older, smaller homes usually price between $100,000 and $200,000, but larger, newer properties with four or more bedrooms can range from $500,000 to $800,000. Given its rural setting, homes in Tanner often spend up to three months or more on the market — far longer than the national average of 42 days.
Students in Tanner are served by the Limestone County School District. Kids attend Tanner Elementary School, which earns an overall grade of B-minus from Niche, before advancing to Tanner High School, which shares the elementary school's campus, for Grades 6 through 12. Earning a B rating, Tanner High has a total enrollment of just over 400 students, making for smaller class sizes and a more personalized learning experience. "A smaller student population means more opportunities for someone to be the football hero or the head cheerleader," Smith says. After high school, teens may enroll at Calhoun Community College on Tanner's southside.
Tanner is not walkable and does not offer public transportation options, so vehicle access is essential for most residents. However, locals are only a 6-mile drive from Athens, while Decatur is just 10 miles south. Route 31 serves as the thoroughfare between the towns. Huntsville, Alabama's largest city, is also roughly 25 miles east, accessible via Interstate 565 on Tanner's southside.
Shopping and dining options are scarce in Tanner, though there are several restaurants and grocery stores closer to Athens. For a quick bite, the roadside Ramona J’s on Route 31 offers burgers, fries and chicken wings along with house-made desserts. For groceries, Dollar General is stationed on Huntsville Brownsferry Road, while Walmart Supercenter and Aldi sit within a mile of each other on Route 72, roughly 5 miles north of Tanner. Those working in agriculture can also pick up equipment from Tennessee Valley Co-op on Route 31.
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
