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Decatur/Morgan County: Community Profile |
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| Since those fledgling days of the Great Depression, both Decatur and Morgan County have come a long way. The entire county boasts a diversified industrial base that is the envy of most cities. Few have the occasion to point out that 19 Fortune 500 companies have invested in Decatur and Morgan County’s future with billions in construction and billions more paid in salary to this area’s residents.
Times have changed since the Great Depression days that saw the Tennessee Valley Authority come in and change the landscape and economy by hiring virtually destitute people to help clear land and build the lock and dam system that continues to supply inexpensive hydroelectric power to our homes and industries. The companies that came because of inexpensive power to run their plants also found a capable workforce, ready to put forth the effort and labor to help these companies succeed. These companies have stayed because the workforce remains and the community has changed to adapt to the needs of both residents and industry across these years. Related Links: |
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| Morgan County earns Top Spot in State with New and Expanding Capital Investment Announcements totaling over $400 million in 2004
Decatur-Morgan County named "Small Market of the Year" by Southern Business & Development Magazine, Spring 2005 19 Fortune 500 Companies located in Morgan County |
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| The Morgan County economy has a strong and diversified industrial base build on the area’s proximity to raw materials and easy access to markets. Transportation and Decatur’s riverside location have played important roles in the county’s history, especially in the development of business and industry.
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A mayor and five council members govern the city of Decatur. They are elected to four-year terms. The mayor is elected at large, while council members are elected in the districts they represent. A commission chairman and a four-member County Commission serve Morgan County. The chairman is elected at large every six years, while commissioners are elected every four years and represent the districts in which they live. Related Links: |
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| Morgan County is home to a well-trained labor force and has a minimal amount of personnel problems for industry. Decatur has several of the nation's industrial giants, such as Boeing, BP, Solutia, Wolverine Tube, 3M, and others. There is a total of nineteen Fortune 500 companies located in Morgan County. Thousands of small businesses and retail stores provide a wide-range of employment opportunities in Decatur and Morgan County.
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| The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic – Held annually over the Memorial Day Weekend (late May), the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic is a gathering of over 60 pilots from 20 states for three days of competition. This free event lets visitors mingle with the aeronauts as they inflate and launch their five-story tall, colorful balloons. Races are held early morning and late evenings. The Jubilee also offers live entertainment, arts and crafts, antique care shows, a smorgasbord of food, a fireworks show, a “balloomination” at dark, and varied sports competitions.
Spirit of America Festival – The Spirit of American Festival celebrates America’s heritage and birthday every Fourth of July. It is one of the largest free Independence Day celebrations in the state. Begun over three decades ago to express support for U.S. troops in Vietnam, the event offers family games, traditional summertime field competitions, live stage entertainment, unique demonstrations, sports tournaments, booming fireworks, the crowning of Miss Point Mallard and presentation of Patriotism Awards. Riverfest – Sponsored by the Decatur Jaycees, Riverfest is the official Alabama State Barbecue Championship cookoff, as sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbecue Society. The mid-September weekend festival attracts master cookout chefs from across the country and visitors from all over north Alabama. Throughout the event live bands perform a wide-array of music, from Motown tunes to rock & roll. Other activities held in the riverside park include children’s games and rides, exhibits, and lots of barbecue for sale. Thousands of dollars in Riverfest proceeds are given to local charitable organizations each year. Racking Horse Spring & World Celebrations – The Racking Horse Spring Celebration starts the show season for the breed each April. The World Celebration is the breed’s climactic event with the year’s world-class Champions being chosen. Competition is held for a full week in late September in over 75 classes with more than 1,000 total entries and in excess of 75,000 fans on hand. Related Links: |
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| The Volunteer Center of Morgan County, Inc. mobilizes people and resources to address the issues that are important to the community and strengthens the capacity of local organizations to meet community needs through volunteerism.
Decatur and Morgan County residents have the opportunity to get involved in the community through several civic organizations, such as Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Civitans, Junior League, and the Jaycees, just to name a few. Non-profit organizations such as United Way, The American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Junior Achievement, and the American Cancer Society give area residents countless ways to contribute to the community as well. Related Links: |
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| The health and vitality of a community’s churches is often used as an indicator of the health and vitality of the community they serve. The county has more than 120 congregations, which represents two dozen denominations and many nondenominational groups. Baptist churches remain one of the mainstays of this area and the Deep South, but almost all faiths are represented, such as: Church of God, Church of Christ, Independent, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Episcopal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County
225 Church Street, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 Phone: (256) 535-2000 | Toll Free: (866) 854-7551 | Fax: (256) 535-2015 | ltraylor@hsvchamber.org All Rights Reserved Web hosting funded through a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the U.S. Department of Labor. |