Decatur Public Library

Decatur, Texas, has a rich and storied history that dates back to 1856 when the Texas Legislature established Wise County and mandated a county seat within five miles of the center. Absolam Bishop, known as the "father" of Decatur, was tasked with planning the town, initially naming it Taylorsville in honor of Gen. Zachary Taylor. However, by 1858, Bishop had the name changed to Decatur, after naval hero Stephen Decatur, due to his disapproval of Taylor's Whig party affiliation.

The first post office and school in Decatur were established in 1857, and the town soon began to flourish. The 1860s saw the construction of the first of four courthouses, and the late 1860s brought new stores catering to ranchers and herders from the Chisholm Trail. Despite its growth, Decatur faced challenges, including Indian attacks, with the Deep Creek Cemetery becoming the final resting place for several victims, such as Sallie Bowman, whose story was chronicled in Cliff D. Cates' book, "The Pioneer History of Wise County."

The arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway in 1882 marked a significant period of growth for Decatur, turning it into a bustling shipping point and market for farmers. During this time, a gambling railway worker coined the phrase "Eighter from Decatur," which became associated with the town. The fourth and final courthouse, built in 1896, is a notable landmark constructed from solid pink granite and Vermont marble, still in use today and regarded as one of the best historic courthouses in the country.

In 1897, land was purchased for the establishment of Decatur Baptist College, which opened in 1898 as the first two-year college in Texas. The college relocated to Dallas in 1965, where it expanded and eventually became a four-year institution, now known as Dallas Baptist University. The original college building in Decatur is now home to the Wise County Museum.

Decatur's population has steadily grown from 1,562 in 1904 to over 6,400 by July 2008. Despite its relatively small size, Decatur thrives as a central hub in Wise County, attracting farmers, ranchers, oil and gas workers, vacationers, and residents from surrounding areas for supplies and leisure.

Decatur, Texas, is home to the oldest junior college in Texas, Decatur Baptist College, which was established in 1898. The college eventually moved to Dallas and became a four-year institution, now known as Dallas Baptist University. Additionally, Decatur's historic courthouse, built in 1896 from pink granite and Vermont marble, is still in use today and is considered one of the finest historic courthouses in the United States.