Decatur, Illinois Real Estate | Brinkoetter Realtors (2024)

Decatur Illinois Area Information

Decatur is a small town in central Illinois, just 40 minutes east of Springfield and 150 minutes south of Chicago.

Decatur is also the county seat of Macon County. Geographically, it sits along the Sangamon River, which was dammed in 1923, forming Lake Decatur in the southeast portion of the city. Much of Decatur is flat, and the surrounding area is defined by large farms growing a variety of crops for mass agricultural processing. This base in farming forms the core of Decatur’s economy, both in the past and today.

Today Decatur has a population of around 70,000. The broader Decatur metropolitan area incorporates the communities of Argenta, Boody, Blue Mound, Elwin, Forsyth, Harristown, Long Creek, Macon, Maroa, Mount Zion, Niantic, Oakley, Oreana, and Warrensburg, including a further 30,000 residents.

Main transportation routes through Decatur include I-71 Highway and U.S. Highways 51 and 36. Decatur also has its own airport, Decatur Airport (DEC) and a heavy double rail line used primarily for agricultural products.

Decatur, Illinois Real Estate

Decatur has 71 recognized neighborhoods, comprising a diversity of mid-century single-family suburban homes. The various Frank Lloyd Wright inspired (and one original) homes in Decatur set the tone of modern convenience and style with a minimum of ostentation. View Decatur Real Estate Listings.

Many of the homes for sale in Decatur’s older neighborhoods are minimal-traditional cottages finished in vinyl siding or brick, adorned with exterior shutters, covered porticos, and exterior carports.

Large front lawns, small picket fences (or no fences at all) and mature trees are the order of the day for exterior spaces, as well as many pools (both above and below ground) for enjoying the wonderful summer weather.

Larger homes and more up-market neighborhoods in Decatur become steadily more eclectic in their designs, incorporating barn, sugarbox, and mansard roofs, as well as architectural designs drawing on mid-century modern, Colonial and farmhouse traditions.

Decatur has an abundance of space, lots, and properties for sale offering potential home buyers endless possibilities and opportunities for upgrades.

Interested in buying a home in Decatur, Illinois? Read our blog post on whether the current real estate market is favorable for sellers or buyers... or both!

Things To Do In Decatur

Decatur has long been recognized as a city that values recreation and history both very highly. With an abundance of parks, public facilities, and sites of historical and cultural importance, there is something to see or do in Decatur for everyone.

Some cultural and historic attractions in Decatur include:

• The Macon County Museum Complex - Home to a restored log courthouse where Lincoln argued three cases
• The Lincoln Trail Homestead Memorial - The site of Lincoln’s residence a short distance west of Decatur
• The Millikin University campus - Home to a popular art museum
• Edward P. Irving House - A Frank Lloyd Wright design built in 191
• The 1896 Transfer House - Once a shelter built at the confluence of Decatur’s transit lines, it was relocated to Decatur’s Central Park where it can be seen today.

Apart from the culture, arts, and history, Decatur has many popular parks and nature spots as well. Perhaps the most notable is the expansive Lake Decatur, useable for boating, fishing and other water-related activities

Other parks in and around Decatur are the Spitler Woods State Natural Area, Rock Springs Conservation area, Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Sand Creek Recreation Area, Griswold Conservation Area, and Friends Creek Regional Park. Between these areas, there is an abundance of sports facilities and nature preserves to enjoy. Golf courses, sports fields, indoor fitness centers, pools and more are available and publicly accessible.

Make sure to also check out Scovill Gardens, which include a Zoo, sculpture garden, and kids play areas.

Decatur, Illinois History

Decatur was founded in 1829, and named after a hero of the War of 1812, Stephen Decatur. Decatur was also once the home of Abraham Lincoln for a short time and was the location of a number of important milestones in his political career.

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