The Decatur, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area is a moderately urban region of North-Central

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

. 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 Decatur () is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County, Alabama, Morgan County (with a portion also in Limestone County, Alabama, Limestone County) in the U.S. state of Alabama. Nicknamed "The River City," it is located in North Alabam ...

, It is also considered to be part of the

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

Northwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A '' compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west— ...

, 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 Morgan may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment'', also called ''Morgan!'', a 1966 comedy film * ''Morgan'' (2012 film), an American drama * ''Morgan'' (2016 film), an American science fiction thriller * ...

and Lawrence Counties. The Decatur Metropolitan Area is a part of the Huntsville-Decatur CSA, With

Huntsville Huntsville is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population of the city is estimated to be 241,114 in 2024, making it the 100th-most populous city in the U.S. The Huntsville metropolitan area had an estimated 525,465 ...

and Madison being other Principal cities in the CSA.

Cities and towns

Principal cities

* Decatur *

Hartselle Hartselle is the second largest city in Morgan County, Alabama, United States, south of Decatur. It is part of the Decatur Metropolitan Area and the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of ...

* Moulton *

(Has its own MSA, but has lands in Morgan County)

Other cities and towns

* Courtland * Eva * Falkville * Hillsboro * North Courtland * Priceville * Somerville * Town Creek *

Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...

Unincorporated communities

* Burningtree Mountain *

Caddo The Caddo people comprise the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Binger, Oklahoma. They speak the Caddo language. The Caddo Confederacy was a network of Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands, who ...

* Cotaco * Danville * Five Points * Flint * Florette * Hatton * Hulaco * Lacey's Spring * Landersville * Mallard Creek * Morgan City * Moulton Heights * Mount Hope * Neel * Oakville * Pittsburg * Punkin Center * Red Bank * Ryan Crossroads * Speake * Tanner * Valhermoso Springs * Wheeler * Wren

Transportation

Major highways

Interstate 65 Interstate 65 (I-65) is a major north–south Interstate Highway System, interstate highway in the central United States. As with most primary interstates ending in 5, it is a major crosscountry, north–south route, connecting between th ...

''( Lacon to Decatur ( Limestone County))'' - enters the area at the southern Morgan County line between

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 bridge (over the

Tennessee River The Tennessee River is a long river located in the Southern United States, southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. Flowing through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, it begins at the confluence of Fren ...

), linking Morgan County and Limestone County. After entering Limestone County, an interchange with I-565, Alt US 72, and Alabama 20 give routes to

(to the east), and Decatur (to the west). * U.S. Highway 31 ''( Lacon to Decatur ( Limestone County))'' - from the southern Morgan County line between

and Cullman Counties, near Lacon. The route continues north, passing under

I-65 Interstate 65 (I-65) is a major north–south interstate highway in the central United States. As with most primary interstates ending in 5, it is a major crosscountry, north–south route, connecting between the Great Lakes and the Gulf ...

, 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) *
U.S. Highway 72 Alternate ''( Decatur ( Limestone County) to

)'' - enters the metro area in the Limestone County portion of Decatur at the interchange with

and I-565. (I-565 terminates here). Crosses the

on the Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges, combined with

US 31 U.S. Route 31 or U.S. Highway 31 (US 31) is a major north–south U.S. highway connecting southern Alabama to northern Michigan. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with US 90/ US 98 in Spanish Fort, Alabama. I ...

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 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

, 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 Florence is a city in, and the county seat of, Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the state's northwestern corner, and had a population of 40,184 in the 2020 census. Florence is located along the Tennessee River and is home to the ...

. * U.S. Highway 231 ''( Lacey's Spring to southern Morgan County)'' - enters the metro area from southern

. Crossing the

, 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

and I-565. (I-565 terminates here). Crosses the

on the Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges, combined with

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

, are produced at this single location. Alabama 20 eventually leaves the metro area as it exits Lawrence County, and enters Colbert County of

. * 20px State Route 24 * 20px State Route 33 * 20px State Route 36 * 20px 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

. As SR 67 crosses 6th Avenue (

) it becomes known as the

Beltline The Atlanta Beltline is long multi-use corridor on a former railway corridor which encircles the core of Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Beltline is designed to reconnect neighborhoods and communities historically divided and marginalized by in ...

, 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.

References

{{Coord, 34, 34, 52, N, 86, 59, 0, W, display=title Geography of Morgan County, Alabama Geography of Lawrence County, Alabama Geography of Limestone County, Alabama Metropolitan areas of Alabama Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area