Decatur Illinois

In the past decade Decatur's population has receded from over 100,000 to somewhere around 80,000. Mostly due to the loss of jobs. The abandonment of the city has left entire blocks standing empty. This movie is some of those places.

Extra Information:

To those not from Decatur this footage was taken all over town. If you want to learn more about Decatur: http://www.ci.decatur.il.us/ our city website. And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur,_Illinois most of it is pretty accurate.

As a kid I loved going to Harolds House of Donuts with my Dad. I was shocked however, when I got up close with the camera and saw everything in its place. The salt shakers were half full, coffee cups were ready to be filled, and the napkin dispensers loaded. There was even a Herald and review on the rack from the day before it closed. Harolds has been closed for some time now. It looks like they closed for the night, never to reopen.

The building with the bed above it is where the gorilla used to stand outside welcoming customers in.

I created this video not to show the negative side of Decatur, but to pay tribute to the once thriving community I grew up in. I hope it brings back some fond memories as it did for me.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Decatur
• Illinois
• Decatur Illinois
• Macon County
• Abandonment
• ADM
• Firestone
• City
• Town
• Community

[calli505]

This is not a realistic view of Decatur, I was born here. The video was pick and choose in mostly the bad parts of town that have ALWAYS been bad only now they're worse. This conveys the image that things were boarded up and bankrupt in a few years ~ or overnight! Yes the economy is bad- everywhere, not just here. Yes population has gone down, people moved to smaller towns like Forsyth, MtZion and that's natural. I don't know what the purpose of this video was???

[leady55]

@calli505 I'm not sure if you've been back in awhile but I took footage from all over Decatur, Downtown, Pershing, Eldo, Main, Water, East neighborhoods, West neighborhoods. Many of which I wouldn't consider "bad" parts of Decatur. And the point of this video is different for everyone. For me it reminds me of the places I remember growing up. For others who haven't been back in awhile it shows how Decatur has transformed.

[Rifeon]

Wow! That's my kindergarten! Mrs. Ives ! Is Tom's closed? Damned it all...they had the BEST burger...sorry Kreckle (and Kelly) :)!

[leady55]

@Rifeon Tom's has since reopened (under different management) but unfortunately its just a bar now, no grill :(

[ecanham2007]

ok..... i'm sure almost ANY town in America can make an 8 minute video of closed businesses and ghettos big deal... Decatur isn't NEAR as bad as some cities.

[leady55]

@ecanham2007 I think you missed the point of this video, It wasn't some kind of contest to see who's city was worse. It was simply a realistic view of what has happened to some places in the town I grew up in.

[solidkid4]

this city is a DEATHTRAP!!!! a BLACK HOLE

[Kaprice24]

Yep I cannot wait for the day I can pack up and leave sorry ass decatur. Between the low life worthless ghetto hood people and everything else here this town is a dump. Soon as I find a job and a place to live im leaving first chance I get.

[xl0l0l0l0lx]

look at Northgate - its effectively empty!

[xl0l0l0l0lx]

@calli505 - Funny how defensive people can get about issues that carry emotion. Bad or good? A fact is a fact. 20% population loss is a fact. Thats alot of empty buildings - Alot of closed businesses. Of course the property with the least value will be abandoned first! But count the stores at the mall if you think it is only bad neighborhoods - Malls are typically the highest value real estate and the are an anchor store away from .... ?

[TheyCallMeJoker17]

i enjoyed thys video its whut i see everyday when i walk these streets , i love how u really caught thu grime of thys place i call home , but sumhow missed thu viaduct completely , btw send a link to me for that third song im curious bout who performed it

[freighttrain924]

This place is good I live here n dont talk trash u can find a good job if u try hard

[wizzo194]

I grew up in Decatur because my parents moved there after my dad got out of the Navy in 1969 when I was three yrs old. In 1992 if you told me I would of lived elsewhere by 2011(Arizona with my hs crush I wouldnt of believed you, but my family and good people are still there, but I only care to visit now, but I loved growing up there and working there for a time, but once you live elsewhere you only want to visit. Hugs to Home!!!

[wertasr21]

Yes it is .

[sborn1571]

In 1990 there were 92,000 people living in this hell hole. Now in 2010, there is 78,000. LEAVE WHILE YOU CAN!

[Nightraider978]

i lived in decatur for 2 and 1/2 years it is a dump!