Decatur, Alabama, is located in north-central Alabama, on the Tennessee River and has a population of approximately 56,000. The town was incorporated on December 8, 1826, and was named for Stephen Decatur, who was a famous American naval hero.

The town remained a rural agricultural center until the 1830's when the railroad brought a new era of growth. While the railroad helped in the development of Decatur, it also played a role in its devastation during the Civil War. The town was virtually destroyed as the northern and southern armies fought for control of the railroad and its bridge across the Tennessee River. After the Civil War, the railroad continued to be improtant to Decatur and the city became both a major center for rail and river traffic.