Westside Community Guide

2023 Westside Community Guide – 5 ■ DECATUR: small town with a big heart Decatur is a charming town situated in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, positioned between Gentry and Gravette, just northeast of Siloam Springs on Highway 59. e small town has a big heart that prides itself on its wholesome lifestyle, but is anything but a sleepy little town. Decatur has deep roots in Arkansas' history and places an importance on local businesses, preserving the environment, and providing everything their residents need within approximately five square miles. Decatur's history goes back to before Arkansas was even a state, when early settlers were drawn to a nearby freshwater spring. e town went through several names before it eventually became Decatur, named aer Stephen Decatur, a war hero whose relatives were living in the area at the time. In its early years, Decatur was known for its prosperous crops of strawberries, peaches and apples. Crop export and production greatly increased when Kansas City Southern Railroad put a train depot in the town. In 1954, at a National Municipal League convention in Kansas City, Decatur was voted the Best Little Town Under 1,000 and was featured in the February 1955 issue of LOOK magazine. Nearly 70 years later, residents and visitors still consider it a great little town. You can take in a piece of Decatur history by visiting either a mid-1800s log cabin that preserves the local history during the Civil War days or one of the last standing Kansas City Southern Railroad train depots. e train depot has since been converted into a museum and features an iconic F7 locomotive and caboose. e original depot burned to the ground in 1908, but was restored in 1995 by Lloyd Peterson and underwent a second restoration in 2020 that was overseen by the Decatur Historical Commission. While Decatur offers all the charm of smalltown living, it still provides most of the residents' needs with a bank, medical clinic, convenience store, library, churches, local shops and restaurants, and is always welcoming of new businesses to the area. Additionally, the Decatur Chamber of Commerce takes a progressive approach to the local business community by providing services and opportunities for networking. e Decatur School District is comprised of three schools: Decatur Northside Elementary, Decatur Middle School and Decatur High School. e independent school district's vision is to "partner with the community, in a stable, safe, and caring 'hometown' learning environment that focuses on the changing needs of the students and achieves educational excellence." Each of the three Decatur schools' primary focus is on the students and providing them with all the tools necessary to succeed in life by offering programs such as college prep classes and summer school programs. e school district, teachers, students and community work hard to maintain the strength of the Bulldog pride. Decatur's Parks and Recreation Department makes enjoying the outdoors a breeze for the entire family. ere are several parks throughout the town, each with amenities that are ideal for playing or relaxing and enjoying the incredible surroundings. ere are countless events throughout the year that will get you mingling and feeling like part of the community. Celebrate our nation's heroes at the Veteran's Day Parade, dress up in your favorite costume at Decatur Trunk or Treat, get into the holiday spirit at the annual Christmas Parade, or enjoy the finest barbecue around at the much talked about Decatur Barbecue that has been a tradition for nearly 70 years. e city of Decatur strives to maintain the city's ideals while also progressing toward a prosperous future for every resident. e community is as resolute as the values they've held since the town's inception, because in Decatur "everyone is a neighbor." The original Decatur train depot was opened in October, 1910. The Decatur Depot Museum, which is operated by the Decatur Historical Commission, is open on Saturdays April through September. photo courtesy Mike Eckels

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