Decatur, IL Reviews

Hot in the summer; cold, windy, and cloudy in the - 3/14/2013
I was sent here by the company I worked for in the '90's and was not initially impressed with midwest living. However, over the years I got used to living in the "Pride of the Prairie". I've lived in the south and southeast most of my younger years and midwest people were, well, different. But, I got used to them too, and came to find them some of the warmest people in the country.

Although Illinois is now #1 in debt (perhaps tied with California), the cost of living in Decatur is still well below the U.S. average. Sales taxes are on the rise again, however, and real estate taxes have always been high. $2800 taxes per year on a $120,000 house is an example. Fuel prices on the average are also higher in Illinois due to high taxes. I hear that truckers bypass Illinois whenever they can to avoid the high taxes on Read More

Has Changed not for the Better!!! - 2/22/2012
I grew up in Decatur and I still have family there, but it depresses me to see what it has become. It has a high unemployment rate, many business have closed or are run down, and its just an eyesore. SAD!!! Even the mall which was once a good place to go no longer has a bookstore so Decatur doesnt have a lot and if you have a job there consider yourself lucky or you may lose it. I moved away a year ago and Iam married living in Az my husband and I have family there and we knew each other in high school and whats sad is when I call home I hear other cities near Decatur are thriving while Decatur is not growing and losing people its depressed. I wish the economy was like the 70's/ 80's but times have changed and in 50 yrs Decatur has been on a downfall making mistakes in the economy. I wish my hometown luck but its a Read More

Drive-thru liquor windows - 12/18/2011
If you enjoy drinking & driving, Decatur's fifteen drive-thru liquor windows, three times the # of drive-thru's than the ten largest cities in Illinois, COMBINED, will sell you well & often, even if you're too intoxicated to stand up & walk! But you should be prepared to lose your drivers license because between the Decatur Police Dept. & the Macon County Sheriff's Dept., they've arrested more than 3,500 people in the years from 2006-2010 for DUI. 2011's #'s aren't in yet. And since you can't smoke in the bar's anymore, drinking & driving is more prevelent than ever. It's just a big part of the factory working blue collar culture here.  Read More

LETS BE FOR REAL - 7/14/2011
Growing up and living in Decatur Illinois.
First of all Decatur is a community totaly dependent on ADM (Archier Daniel Midland Inc- The story for the movie The Imformant). We even have one of there corporate heads residing on our city councel.
ADM polutes everything around it from the water and the air.
Decaturs population has drooped from around 115,000 down to 75000.
People who live enjoy the very little as far as recreation, or anything to do after work except to drink and hang out in bars.
As a place to work and raise a family....NOT SO Read More

Decatur "We love it here!" Oh My...seriously??? - 6/28/2011
Well I am struggling to say anything nice about the area. Plus -Some of the people in this area are the nicest, most down home people you would ever want to be life long friends with. Plus -affordable housing. Negative. Its like Jamaica with out the beach in some places. Most of the city is Poor. There are a lot of gangs here. This town is pretty scummy and there is little to do, which leads the teens to drugs. There are some jobs here, not alot but some. Gas is like 3.50 right now. Visit before moving here. Read More

Wonderful Town - 11/10/2010
Despite the devastation that the dismantling of America's automotive manufacturing base has laid upon Decatur since the late 60's and early 70's. The Loss of Borg Warner ( York and Marvel Schebler), Firestone Tires , Wagners Castings, General Electric , AE Staleys and other,
The Soy City still stands tall and proud . With ADM ( Supermarket to the World) and Caterpiller ( Heavy Equipment World Leader) not to mention Krekel's best Burger in America.

The town that first initiated Abraham Lincoln's bid for the Presidency of the United States.

Best dollar value for houses in U.S. . After eliminating negative neighborhood and economic opportunity values.

 Read More

FOUR SEASONS - 9/24/2009
is a definate place for 4 seasons warm humid summers, and cold snowy winters, seems like the spring and fall which are the best time of year are getting shorter Read More

The real Decatur - 5/16/2009
The previous commentaries about Decatur, IL are so exaggerated that they even make me wonder if they were actually written by an agency. Before my review, Sperling’s city review was the only good information about Decatur in this page, and it well shows how much population (hemorrhaging actually) Decatur is losing, which means less taxes for the government and less sales for business. One of the reviewers, Kendra, should even be sued if a young couple makes the wrong decision of coming here, but hey, this town is good for retired couples. There’s no need to distort reality to speak well of Decatur.

First, the Decatur’s job market has consistently been one of the worst in an already unemployed state, Illinois. It is NOT “kind of high”. It’s stratospheric! There’s only jobs here for nurses, and gee! employers here have gone insane about nurses. You should even avoid driving through here if you happen to be a nurse or you may get smuggled by the hospitals!

It Read More

Not good - 5/13/2009
The previous commentaries about Decatur, IL are so exaggerated that they even make me wonder if they were actually written by an agency or else, especially when the best commentaries were written by a black woman, thus making people think very high of this town for real EEO. The city review is the only good information about Decatur in this page.

First, the Decatur’s job market has consistently been one of the worst in an already unemployed state, Illinois. It is NOT “kind of high”. It’s stratospheric! There’s only jobs here for nurses, and gee! employers here have gone insane about nurses. You should even avoid driving through here if you happen to be a nurse or you may get smuggled by the hospitals! It is false (to say the least) that you can do well here if you have a degree. I have two college degrees in engineering and previous experience, yet I have been unemployed for a year and it before that, it wasn‘t much better. The local college graduates always leave Read More

New companies building in Decatur, Illinois - 4/23/2008
I was born and raised in Decatur, IL. It was a great city growing up. In fact, the population was near 100,000 back in the late 70's early 80's. Decatur has a lot of potential. With Firestone closing amongst other companies in the Decatur area, I dont see why newer companies pick Decatur to start their roots. The city is actually very beautiful with great parks and a wonderful lake. The city has a lot going on the north end and out by the airport the last time I went through this city. I really think Decatur is to overlooked by newer companies and they might consider checking out this wonderful city. Practically centered right in the middle of the state. Once the home of the Staley Bears (Now Chicago Bears) This city has a lot of potential and plenty of possiblilties. Why not share these possibilities with new companies. Large new companies. I could never figure out why the didnt do more with the waterfront by Neslon Park. Adding little store fronts and cafes. Even a Read More