Decatur

Decatur, Georgia is a suburb of Atlanta and is considered part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. It’s a small city filled with historical significance with many districts and structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places. During the past two decades, thanks to several long-term development plans, Decatur has earned a reputation as a progressive city with a small, trendy, mixed-use downtown district that maintains a small town feel but has the benefits associated with living in a major metropolitan area. Several colleges in Decatur add sophistication and excitement to its diverse population.
The reported 2008 population of Decatur was 18,986. Students of Decatur colleges add to this with a total enrollment of over 12,000 students. Colleges in Decatur include institutes of technology, art, business, theology, liberal arts and a campus of the large two year Georgia Perimeter College. Within a ten mile radius of the city are several larger colleges with enrollment over 50,000. Decatur is an educated city with 56 percent of its residents holding a bachelor’s degree and 27 percent holding a graduate degree or higher.
Part of Decatur’s progressive attitude has led it to be the only municipality in Georgia with city-wide Wi-Fi access. The city partnered with Decatur Colleges to build the public access network in order to enhance the community and steer towards a viable future. The city has also collaborated with colleges in Decatur to build joint athletic fields, increase school resource officers, establish new economic projects and promote festivals and special events. A proactive marketing campaign has focused on creating a Decatur “brand” that highlights the city’s retail shopping and dining district in hopes of luring customers into the city.
For students looking for a superb sense of community in a small but progressive town, and with access to the excitement of the city, then Decatur colleges are a great place to begin.