Decatur Georgia is a beautiful place not far from downtown Atlanta that reveals its hidden beauties, making it an excellent starting point for exploring Georgia’s capital city and DeKalb County. Decatur has grown in popularity among college students and young professionals seeking hip clubs, wonderful restaurants, walkable neighborhoods, and families drawn to the superb independent school district.

In addition to single-family houses in historic neighborhoods surrounding the central business district, several mid-rise condominium complexes have recently opened in the downtown area, giving the region a fresh lease on life and rentals available for newcomers.

Where is Decatur?

Decatur is a small Georgia town northeast of Atlanta. It is the county seat of DeKalb County, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The town is renowned as a city of homes, schools, and religious places.

The town was mostly forested before European arrival (a remnant of old-growth forest near Decatur is preserved as Fernbank Forest). Decatur grew up at the crossroads of two Native American trails.

Decatur, Georgia Population

Decatur’s population was expected to reach 25,810 by 2020, rising at a rate of 0.15 percent per year, and it has grown by 31.01 percent since the last census, which reported a population of 19,701 in 2010.

Decatur residents’ average household income is $146,564, with an 8.41 percent poverty rate. The median rental rate has been $1,015 per month, with a median property value of $521,900. Decatur’s median age is 36.8 years old, with males at 37 years old and females at 36.5 years old.

Decatur, GA Weather

Decatur’s summers are hot and humid; its winters are short, cold, and rainy; and the weather is partly cloudy all year. Temperatures range from 35°F to 89°F throughout the year, with temperatures rarely falling below 22°F or rising over 95°F.

The hot season lasts 3.8 months, from May 24 to September 17, with daily high temperatures averaging more than 82°F. July is the hottest month in Decatur, with average highs of 89°F and lows of 71°F.

During the months of November 28 to February 25, the cool season lasts 2.9 months, with an average daily high temperature of less than 60°F. January is the coldest month in Decatur, with an average low of 35°F and a high of 53°F.

What Is Decatur, GA Known For?

Decatur is a small town well-known for its historical sites, including the downtown historic district and Decatur Square, Great Lakes & Clairemont, Avondale Estates, Decatur Heights, Winnona Park Historic District, Ridgeland Park, Stone Mountain, East Lake, and other places.

Many festivals are held in Decatur each year, including the Decatur Arts Festival, Summer In The City, Decatur BBQ, Blues, and Bluegrass Festivals, Decatur Maker’s Faire, Decatur Craft Beer Festival, and Decatur Wine Festival.

Visitors at Stone Mountain Park can engage in a variety of activities including hiking, golf, tennis, and fishing. The park also has many historical sites and educational opportunities, particularly the park features a civil war relief sculpture.

For those who are more interested in natural history, head on over to the Fernbank Museum. The museum has been around since 1992 and is devoted to natural history. Fernbank Museum also hosts many events and even classes, separate and apart from just a basic visit.

Decatur is also well known for its educational institutions including: Agnes Scott College, Emory University, and Columbia Theological Seminary. Agnes Scott College is an all women private liberal arts college. Emory University is a much larger school in Decatur and has many graduate schools including Emory School of Medicine. Students of these schools often make their way to downtown Decatur where they can frequently be found in the Decatur Square. The local high school is Decatur High School.

Is Decatur, GA, Safe To Live In?

In Decatur, the chances of becoming a victim of violent or property crime are 1 in 46. The FBI’s crime statistics indicate that Decatur is not one of the safest cities in the United States. Compared to Georgia’s other cities and towns of all sizes, Decatur has a higher crime rate of 67 percent. Both DeKalb County police and City of Decatur Police can be found serving the area.

Residents generally consider the northeast section of the city the safest. In Decatur, your chances of becoming a victim of crime can range from 1 in 18 in the western neighborhoods to 1 in 37 in north Decatur.

Decatur, Georgia Police

The Decatur Police Department is responsible for the protection of life and property, the protection of individual rights, the enforcement of ordinances and regulations, and the preservation of peace, order, and safety, according to the Decatur city code.

The Police Department’s departmental responsibilities and mission statement are as follows:

  • To reduce and prevent crime.
  • Detect and catch criminals.
  • Safeguard life and property.
  • Make it easier for people and cars to travel safely.
  • Protect individuals in danger, those who cannot care for themselves, and those who require support.
  • Individual constitutional rights must be safeguarded.
  • Resolve a problem that poses a threat to life or property.
  • Creating and maintaining a sense of safety in the community

Decatur, Georgia, Places To Eat

Decatur’s great locally owned eateries draw visitors from all over metro Atlanta. Regardless of Ted’s Montana Grill and Ruby Tuesday’s presence, national franchises are few. Some of the most notable restaurants in Decatur GA are Kimball House, and Brick Store Pub. Known to have one of the largest selections of beer in all of metropolitan Atlanta, Brick Store Pub is a must visit spot for beer snobs.

Over 70 restaurants and bars are located throughout Decatur, primarily in Oakhurst’s downtown area and north of Decatur. Sandwich shops, pasta eateries, and local chain pizza eateries also serve excellent food.

If you want to keep things simple and pick up groceries to make your own meal in Decatur, the small town offers several specialty item grocery stores in the downtown area. Outside of the historic district there is a Kroger grocery store near Glenlake Park.

Things To Do in Decatur, Georgia

Smaller towns have a certain charm to them. It won’t take long for you to fall in love with Decatur, whether you’re going for a weekend getaway or considering staying longer. Indeed, with so many enjoyable activities and breathtaking views to visit, you may not want to leave.

There are free things to do in Decatur, so a visit doesn’t have to be expensive.

  1. DeKalb History Center Museum – The whole family can embark on a historical adventure together at this museum.
  2. Glenlake Park – This is a great place to unwind and have fun during your vacation.
  3. Decatur Courthouse – Take a tour of this historic site and learn about some of the secrets from the past.
  4. Buena Vista Lake – Take things a little slower and spend some time by the water.
  5. Glenlake Park – It’s not hard to find beauty in this gorgeous exhibit, whether you know your cacti from your carnations.
  6. DeKalb County Public Library-One of the nicest libraries in metro Atlanta and conveniently located near the Decatur Square in downtown Decatur.

Decatur, Georgia Schools

Decatur has its own independent school system for children of residents, including four local elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, Decatur high school, with 4,200 students. More than 200 teachers work in the schools, with more than 70% having earned graduate degrees. Decatur City Schools are noted for their excellent academic performance.

The Municipal Court of Decatur, Georgia

The Municipal Court of Decatur is a Georgia municipal court. Don’t confuse this court with the old courthouse which now only exists as a landmark. The court hears misdemeanor shoplifting and marijuana possession cases, issues criminal warrants, holds preliminary hearings, and tries ordinance violations. The DeKalb County Courthouse is also located in downtown Decatur. This houses both the DeKalb County State Court and DeKalb County Superior Court.

Decatur, GA Personal Injury Lawyer

At Wolfe Law Group, LLC our personal injury lawyer knows what you’re going through. It can be difficult to think about lawsuits and filing deadlines if you’ve recently been through a traumatic event. Still, you don’t have to go through the legal system alone, thats what personal injury lawyers are for. It is therefore, never too early to consult with an attorney to get advice on the personal injury law that applies in your case.

A Decatur personal injury attorney can assess your personal injury case, explain your options, and walk you through each step of the process. To protect your legal rights and ensure that you’re fully and fairly compensated for your injuries, healing, discomfort, lost wages, or wrongful death of a loved one you’ll need the help of an experienced Decatur personal injury lawyer.

Decatur, Georgia Attorneys

Numerous Decatur personal injury lawyers are available in town if you require legal advice or representation. However, our Decatur, Georgia personal injury attorney has the resources, experience, and passion for helping you get the most money for your injury claim. Wolfe Law Group, LLC stands out in the legal market because they provide enduring signs of quality experience, knowledge, and professionalism. Justin Wolfe has been selected by Super Lawyer magazine for multiple years in a row as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the state. If you are in Decatur and have been involved in an auto accident or believe that you may have a wrongful death case, you should call Wolfe Law Group, LLC for a free consultation immediately.

Decatur Personal Injury

Suppose you were seriously injured in Decatur due to someone else’s negligence. In that case, your financial situation could be turned completely upside down. A legal process may be able to assist you in claiming and receiving compensation related to your injuries. However, to properly build up your case, you need a qualified personal injury lawyer like Justin Wolfe of Wolfe Law Group, LLC.

Whether you need assistance with a car accident, wrongful death, trucking accident, motorcycle accident, product liability case, or premises liability case, Wolfe Law Group, LLC can help. The firm’s resources are only devoted to the practice areas of personal injury including catastrophic injury. Many lawyers call themselves a “personal injury lawyer” yet engage in other practice areas like family law. A true personal injury attorney only devotes his practice areas to those that involve helping personal injury victims. Ask your potential lawyer, “are each and every one of your clients a personal injury victim?” At Wolfe Law Group, the answer is YES.

Our clients come to the law firm with a variety of different injuries. These often include catastrophic injuries such as a spinal cord injury. Sometimes the physical injury is only a minor issue and a mental injury is the main problem-we help with these cases as well. If a client presents to us with a spinal cord injury, we first make sure that he or she is getting the best medical care available. If the client is not getting the best medical care available we help them find a doctor most appropriate to treat the catastrophic injury. We want each of our clients to have as smooth of an injury case as possible and end with fair compensation.

The mechanism of our clients injuries vary widely. For example, in a truck accident case, the involved vehicle is much larger and weighs significantly more than cars. This means that an impact with a tractor truck can cause much more significant injuries. If you are in need of a truck accident lawyer, Wolfe Law Group has the experience dealing with the motor carrier rules that many attorney’s don’t know how to navigate. We’re proud to say that our personal injury lawyer is a Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Star, and his experience and wisdom have in large part led to this success.

Decatur Car Accident

Thousands of vehicles are on the road every day. Some of these drivers take great care to follow the road rules, while others are careless, resulting in a car accident in seconds. An unexpected auto accident can also be caused by driver error. A moment of negligence can sometimes lead to a catastrophic injury that changes the victim’s life forever. This is why personal injury lawyers exist.

Suppose you’re in one of these car crashes. In that case, you’re likely to be injured, and your vehicle will suffer significant damage. You require the services of an experienced car accident lawyer in Decatur, Georgia. When you contact our personal injury attorney, we will fight with the insurance companies to get you the maximum compensation for your personal injury claim.

We advise that you do not speak to an insurance company before first talking to a qualified personal injury lawyer. Often times insurance companies want to record a statement of the injury victim following the incident. The insurance company is normally trying to find out information to prevent the personal injury victim from obtaining maximum compensation.

The stress of the pain in accidents is compounded by expenses, putting you in a financial and physical bind. Medical bills lost wages, and any other pain and suffering can all be recovered with the help of an accident lawyer from our firm. We understand that with more serious injuries such as a spinal cord injury, the medical bills can rack up much faster. Our lawyer knows the steps to take to advance your injury claim as quickly as possible.

Decatur Police Accident Reports

The Decatur Police Department keeps track of arrests, searches, investigations, and officer actions in its police records. Many police records are searchable or usable in background checks by the general public.

What Can Be Damaged in a Rear-End Collision?

Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents. They occur most of the time due to a driver’s inattention to the road ahead. When another vehicle strikes a driver’s vehicle from behind, the resulting accident is almost always the fault of the striking driver. This is true regardless of why the first driver came to a halt or slowed down.

There is a possibility that the distracted driver was texting and didn’t notice an approaching stoplight or was doing something else while driving. It’s also possible that the reckless driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Our attorneys at Wolfe Law Group, LLC have extensive experience and are prepared to represent you and hold negligent drivers accountable. We’re committed to getting victims’ compensation, even if it means going to trial.

How Long Does It Take for Your Back To Heal After a Car Accident?

One of the most common injuries after a car accident is a back injury. People are often concerned with how long it will take to recover from back pain and discomfort following an accident. In most auto injury patients, back pain subsides within six weeks.

However, as the affected soft tissues heal and the inflammation subsides, most of the pain should subside within a few days of the injury. A good pain management treatment plan can help you recover faster.

We at Wolfe Law Group, LLC can assist you if you have suffered a back injury due to someone else’s negligence in Decatur, GA. We provide professional and thorough legal services for our clients seeking compensation following a back injury accident. Make an appointment with our Decatur back injury lawyer for a free consultation today. Our law office is conveniently located in Buckhead at 3355 Lenox Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326.

Other Decatur Personal Injury Resources

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