Decatur

Located in the rolling hills of Southwestern Michigan, Decatur is a small town with much to offer. With proximity to major lakes and within two hours of Chicago and Detroit, it is also a popular summer vacation spot for families with cottages along the pristine lakes.

The village of Decatur as well as Decatur Township derive their names from Stephen Decatur Jr., a decorated soldier in the War of 1812. Founded in 1847, Decatur was incorporated 12 years later, in 1859 although the township itself was not established until 1861.

The Decatur Public School District serves the community, and it is comprised of one elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. Van Buren Vocational-Technical Center (located in nearby Lawrence) provides programs for high school students, and it also offers GED completion courses.

There are five city parks in Decatur, as well as Lake of the Woods, a popular spot for swimming, boating and fishing. Lake Michigan and Van Buren State Park are both within driving distance of the town, and they offer a wide array of activities including: sand dunes, camping, beaches, nature trails, and fishing in the summer, and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. There are also six golf courses located in the county, as well as the scenic Kal-Haven Trail, which runs from Kalamazoo to South Haven.