Fun Facts
About Decatur, Illinois
Did You Know That
- The first corn oil mill was built in Decatur,
Illinois
- The first patented flyswatter was made in Decatur, Illinois
- The Chicago Bears originated in Decatur, Illinois as the
Decatur Staley’s (it wasn’t until 1920 that Coach
George Hallas took the Staleys to Chicago and became franchised
in the NFL as the Chicago Bears)
- The first slot machine was made in Decatur, Illinois
- Abraham
Lincoln made
his first political speech in Decatur, Illinois
- Decatur, Illinois is the birthplace of the
Grand Army of the Republic
- Lincoln was nominated for the presidency at the Illinois
Republican Convention in Decatur in 1860, and when elected
became the nation’s first Republican President
- Decatur, Illinois is part of the Looking
for Lincoln Heritage
Trail
- In 1869 & 1870 the Illinois State Fair was held in Decatur
- The first cattle dehorner was made in Decatur, Illinois
- The first hog ring was made in Decatur, Illinois
- Lake Decatur has 32 miles of shoreline
- During WWII, the city police chief banned women from wearing
shorts in public in Decatur, Illinois
- The highest point in Decatur, Illinois is 684” above
sea level (at Belmont & Cantrell
Streets)
- Decatur, Illinois was ranked #1 out of 94 smaller metropolitan
Best Places in Forbes Magazine
- The average winter temperature is 31.17 degrees Fahrenheit
or 0 degrees Celsius in Decatur, Illinois
- The mission of the Convention & Visitors
Bureau is to promote Decatur/Forsyth as a convention, event
and tourist destination
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