The Hospital
Parkway Medical Center (PMC), a 120-bed, full service facility, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The medical staff (89 active, 60 courtesy and consulting) represents more than 25 specialties. Parkway Medical offers 24-hour Emergency Care, Intensive Care, Medical/Surgical Care and Surgical Services ranging from minimally invasive to Urologic, Orthopedic, Gynecological and Bariatric. Other services include Mammography, Diagnostic Imaging, Bone Densitometry, an Obstetrics Unit with birthing rooms, Pediatrics, Respiratory and comprehensive Lab Services.
Parkway Medical has developed six centers to provide services to the community: The Center for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, The Surgical Weight Loss Center, Pavilion Plastic Surgery, The Sleep Disorders Center, The Pavilion for Women and Children and, most recently, the state’s first accredited Chest Pain Center.
The Community
Decatur boasts a thriving business community featuring companies such as Boeing, Nucor Steel and 3M. Indeed, because Decatur is the busiest port on the Tennessee River, 20 Fortune 500 companies have established plants in the city. And thanks to nearby Redstone Arsenal Military Base, the Decatur-Huntsville area claims more engineers per capita than any other region in the country.
On Memorial Day weekend, Decatur is home to The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival. Up to 100,000 people attend this annual event, which features an Art Show, Antique Car Show, Antique Tractor Show and Kite Festival, as well more than 60 hot-air balloons. Each September, Decatur hosts the Racking Horse World Celebration. Lake Wheeler is the site for a Bassmaster Top 150 Tournament, featuring the best anglers in the country.
Recreation
Located on the Tennessee River, with access to literally hundreds of miles of open water, Decatur is the perfect setting for people who love to boat, water ski, jet ski, canoe and fish. Wheeler Lake is the second largest lake in Alabama and is famous for its largemouth and smallmouth bass.
For those who love wilderness camping and hiking, the 35,000-acre of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge along the Tennessee River is home to abundant populations of geese, duck and other migratory birds. The refuge hosts 115 species of fish, 74 species of reptiles and amphibians, 47 species of mammals and 288 different species of songbirds. Decatur has 22 city parks and 12 playgrounds. The city also operates four community centers, one outdoor and one indoor swimming pool. The North Alabama Birding Trail runs through the city and features eight new viewing sites for the bird-watching enthusiast. Point Mallard Park features 750 acres designed for year-round use, with an aquatic park, golf course, indoor skating rink, hiking and biking trails, and campgrounds.
Local Points of Interest
• Wheeler Lake – the second largest lake in Alabama, is famous for its largemouth and smallmouth bass
• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge – a 35,000-acre wilderness area along the Tennessee River with camping sites and hiking trails
• Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival – attracts up to 100,000 people every Memorial Day weekend
• Racking Horse World Celebration
• Bassmaster Top 150 Tournament
Distance to Major Cities
Huntsville, Alabama 25
Birmingham, Alabama 80
Nashville, Tennessee 116
Chattanooga, Tennessee 125
Population: 60,497
Weather
• Average annual rainfall: 55"
• Average snowfall: <1"
• Average temperature in winter: 45°
• Average temperature in summer: 85°
Decatur offers the following activities:
• Tennessee River
• Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
• Bankhead National State Forest
• 2 Golf Courses
• Indoor Swimming Facility
• Point Mallard State Park
• Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival
Market Data
• Average household income: $56,726
• Average cost of existing 3BR home: $130,000
• Average cost of a 2BR apartment: $500
• State Income Tax: Yes, 2.0-5.0%
Education
The Decatur County School System consistently ranks among the top in the state in funding, scholastic aptitude and achievement.
High Schools:
Public......9
Private.....4
Middle Schools:
Public......9
Private.....4
Elementary Schools:
Public......18
Private.....4
Day Care Centers...........34
• Calhoun Community College
• Wallace State College
• University of Alabama at Huntsville
• Athens State College
• University of North Alabama
For more information on Decatur, log onto www.dcc.org, www.cullman.com or www.visitcullman.com.