From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Statistical Area in Alabama
Decatur metropolitan area, Alabama
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![Decatur Metropolitan Statistical Area is shaded in yellow. Decatur MSA is part of the Huntsville-Decatur CSA (shown in yellow and red).](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Huntsville-Decatur_CSA.png) Decatur Metropolitan Statistical Area is shaded in yellow. Decatur MSA is part of the Huntsville-Decatur CSA (shown in yellow and red).
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State
| Alabama
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? Total
| 3,411 km
2
(1,317 sq mi)
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? Total
| 152,740
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? Density
| 45/km
2
(120/sq mi)
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Time zone
| CST
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The
Decatur, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area
is a moderately urban region of
North-Central
Alabama
. The 2020 Census put the population of the metropolitan area at 152,740, of which one-third resides within the boundaries of its core city,
Decatur, Alabama
,
[1]
It is also considered to be part of the
North
,
Northwest
, and North-Central regions of Alabama.
The metropolitan area is the combined area of the City of Decatur and the surrounding areas in suburban, rural, and more developed parts of
Morgan
and
Lawrence Counties
. The Decatur Metropolitan Area is a part of the
Huntsville-Decatur CSA
, With
Huntsville
and
Madison
being other Principal cities in the
CSA
.
Cities and towns
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Principal cities
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Other cities and towns
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Unincorporated communities
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Transportation
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Major highways
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]
Interstate 65
(
Lacon
to
Decatur
(
Limestone County
))
- enters the area at the southern
Morgan County
line between
Morgan
and
Cullman Counties
, near Lacon. Bends around a mountain where it passes over US 31. It continues north towards Hartselle where it enters the city limits for about 3 miles. Leaving Hartselle,
I-65
travels towards Decatur where small portions of the city limits leak over into rural
Priceville
.
I-65
soon is lifted onto a 3.5-mile-long (5.6 km) bridge (over the
Tennessee River
), linking Morgan County and Limestone County. After entering Limestone County, an interchange with
I-565
,
Alt US 72
, and
Alabama 20
give routes to
Huntsville
(to the east), and Decatur (to the west).
U.S. Highway 31
(
Lacon
to
Decatur
(
Limestone County
))
- from the southern
Morgan County
line between
Morgan
and
Cullman Counties
, near Lacon. The route continues north, passing under
I-65
, towards Hartselle. After traversing through Hartselle,
US 31
briefly enters unincorporated land, but quickly enters the Decatur city limits. As the highway passes through Decatur, it gives access to places such as:
Decatur High School
/
Ogle Stadium
,
Cooks Natural Science Museum
, and views of the downtown area.
US 31
leaves the metro area after passing over the
Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges
into
Limestone County
where the Decatur city limits end. (near the
Calhoun Community College
)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Alternate_plate.svg/20px-Alternate_plate.svg.png)
U.S. Highway 72 Alternate
(
Decatur
(
Limestone County
) to
Trinity
)
- enters the metro area in the
Limestone County
portion of Decatur at the interchange with
I-65
and
I-565
. (I-565 terminates here). Crosses the
Tennessee River
on the
Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges
, combined with
US 31
and
State Route 20
, into urban northern Decatur.
Alt 72
bends west and continues into the industrial portion of Decatur. The
Port of Decatur
, and such notable industries as
The United Launch Alliance
,
Solutia
,
Vulcan Materials
, and
3M
have operations along this route. The United Launch Alliance is especially important, since all satellite launch vehicles used by
NASA
, are produced at this single location.
Alt 72
eventually leaves the metro area as it exits
Lawrence County
, and enters
Colbert County
of
The Shoals
.
U.S. Highway 231
(
Lacey's Spring
to southern
Morgan County
)
- enters the metro area from southern
Huntsville
. Crossing the
Tennessee River
, connecting
Madison
and northeastern
Morgan Counties
.
US 231
continues south, passing through
Morgan City
, towards the
Gadsden area
.
State Route 20
(
Decatur
(
Limestone County
) to western
Lawrence County
)
- enters the metro area in the
Limestone County
portion of Decatur at the interchange with
I-65
and
I-565
. (I-565 terminates here). Crosses the
Tennessee River
on the
Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges
, combined with
US 31
and
U.S. Highway 72 Alternate
, into urban northern Decatur.
Alabama 20
bends west and continues into the industrial portion of Decatur. The
Port of Decatur
, and such notable industries as
The United Launch Alliance
,
Solutia
,
Vulcan Materials
, and
3M
have operations along this route. The United Launch Alliance is especially important, since all satellite launch vehicles used by
NASA
, are produced at this single location.
Alabama 20
eventually leaves the metro area as it exits
Lawrence County
, and enters
Colbert County
of
The Shoals
.
State Route 24
State Route 33
State Route 36
State Route 67
(
Hulaco
to
US 72 Alt.
/
SR 20
(
Decatur
))
- enters the area at
Hulaco
and continues to
Somerville
. Passes by the old
Morgan County
Courthouse. Travels through
Priceville
(past the
Racking Horse World Celebration Arena
), and enters Decatur at an interchange with
I-65
. As SR 67 crosses 6th Avenue (
US 31
) it becomes known as the
Beltline
, a bypass that was constructed to alleviate traffic problems on the swollen 6th Avenue. The highway continues on a north-northwesterly curve and terminates at
US 72 Alt.
/
SR 20
inside
Decatur
.
See also
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References
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34°34′52″N
86°59′0″W
/
34.58111°N 86.98333°W
/
34.58111; -86.98333