Actually it's 90% of the country. You should see what's happening to the south it looks third world imagine the worst parts of Detroit only times it by 10,000 in area and add 75% old trailors with ducktape on the roofs and garbage everywhere and makeshift shacks. Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Florida Georgia kentucky west Virginia South Carolina and so on. Illinois has nothing on the poverty in the south. It's so sad the USA had been going down hill for a very long time especially in the last 5 years or so its gotten even worse.
Born & Raised In Decatur & Graduated From Eisenhower High School. Seen It All In Decatur From Poverty & Drugs To Crime. I Love My City For How It Molded Me, But I Left In ‘07 For The Army & Never Looked Back.
My Dad was born and raised in this town! He graduated 1949. There were my grandparents and so many aunts and uncles! Cousins too. I still have family there who was named after Jackie Kennedy and my aunt who turned 94 this last April! There have been many fond memories of coming to visit from central Iowa and staying a week!!! I recall all the soy bean and corn feilds and the smell of Stayeys Suryup. The land was pancake flat with polywog water underneath the rich black soil. You could see for miles in one direction. My grandma lived on a road named Needle Road on an acre of paradise that's still in my memory to this day! The jackasses built a road through her place and destroyed it!!! But I still got some pictures and the memories!!!
I was born and raised there. Left in 1983 for the Army and have never returned. The smell of Staleys will always be burned into my nose. There were some good times. The two drive in theaters , slot car racing at Bolays Hobbies and drag racing on Eldorado. Took guitar lessons at Ax in Hand across from Del's popcorn shop and the Lincoln Theater. Still have family and friends there.
Sorry I missed placed this reply. I was born there in 1960 and lived there long enough to finish kindergarten. It’s so sad to see it deteriorate as such😢
I was adopted and both my parents or born and raised and still live in Decatur does anyone know the name Norfleet atteberry or stroyeck ? I hope please
As a Decatur resident in 2024 6 years after this video it feels virtually the same, but we finally are redoing roads, we have attracted a few more business (tilamook for example), and premiet invested 450 million into its facilities so it’s not all bad Ps. The stink is not that bad in quite literally 85% of the city
I was born near Decatur & raised in the area. I graduated from Eisenhower in '63. I left in '64 but did come back for a few years in the 70's but then left again for greener pastures. It's grown since I left, but I've never seen any other town with so many thrift stores. Many relatives still live there...but it will always be my "hometown"!
Even though I've not lived there in over 30 years, I still consider Decatur my home. It makes me a little sad to go back there and see that it is not the thriving place it once was. I hope Decatur can be renewed.
Hi I was adopted there and my biological parents were born and raised and they're still there could you tell me if you know of a Norfleet or an atteberry or Stroyeck??
Wow, I lived in Illinois 40 years ago and moved to Florida in 1982, and return yearly. It's sad how policymakers in Chicagoland and Springfield are creating ghost towns up in the Land of Lincoln. I hope Decatur can turn things around. I remember it as one of the all round nicest towns, filled with vitality. It was a cleanish industrial town, with quality of life, good jobs and public safety.
I lived in Forsyth four about seven years some time ago. Decatur is a delightfully quiet and laid-back town, especially out on the perimeter, like where Forsyth, population around five thousand, is. But one must admit that the current financial opportunities that the greater Decatur area has to offer a young person or even an older person are indeed extremely limited. Illinois, itself, had a very strong industrial base in former times that the state's infrastructure, business practices, and political planners have had a extremely difficult time attempting to adjust to post-industrial circumstances. The population suffers as jobs simply disappear while taxation has reached ridiculous proportions. Chicago is the only viably alternative in Illinois economically and the political divide in Illinois reflects that disparity in power. Downstate cities tied to rivers and railroads that are now irrelevant economically seemingly dooms those cities to a slow extinction. But that doesn't take in the human price these large-scale social changes exact. It becomes a question of survival to leave these once thriving cities.
My wife and I left Decatur in mid 2018. Best decision we could of made. We were both born and raised in central illinois, but we love our new home state.
I was born there in 1961, went to Millikin, didn’t leave until I was 20, lived a few years there after that. Parents used that service station, or an earlier version, in the 60s and 70s, mostly for fuel but occasionally for car repairs. Last visited when my parents died (2016-17). Can’t imagine returning there: it’s bleak.
We moved to AZ in 1978 from Decatur we lived on Shadow Lane I sure miss Decatur I still call it home and love Decatur my grandfather worked at Staillies and managed his farm in Herrik then Pana Illinois until his passing in 95 in Agusta GA close by my uncles place
Born and raised in Southside of Chicago, now live in the South. Illinois is dying due to its liberal "Fix it with tax money" attitude. (Much of which is syphoned into corrupt pockets). The only way these dying towns are going to revitalize is by having a commodity or atmosphere conducive to industry. High taxes and costs of living quickly eliminate anybody from opening or relocating a business in Illinois.
Remember partying like an adult at showbiz pizza after hours when going to Stephen Decatur high school in the mid 80s man that was blast and how could anyone ever forget that smell Staleys put out.
For some reason everyone forgets that ADM as well as Staleys puts out that smell. I drive right over the Staleys viaduct heading home to see my parents. I remember Showbiz Pizza. That place became Shakey's Pizza in the mid 90's after Showbiz closed down. After Shakey's closed it became a Office Depot. They moved out of that location over to the old Northgate Mall and then eventually closed. LOL
I have a lot of family in Illinois and I always figured I would move back there some day as they got older. But then the taxes got higher and higher and higher over time so I've ended up staying put in Indiana much longer than I ever expected. If they would lower the taxes, I would move back.
I was born in Decatur Illinois Longview projects man it's a tuff city my parents moved me in 1998 I was 16 years old and I can remember so much from Decatur it's a fast city as well I havent been in over 20 years but it will 4eva be my home 217
I consider Decatur my home town. Graduate of MHS! The people are what bring me fond memories. The taxes and crime are so high. I left there shortly after tornadoes hit 2 nights in a row. You saw the Midwest strength then. Now I know many that have moved on due to the high Illinois taxes and the crime in Decatur. It’s a shame.
I was born and raised in Decatur IL up until my sophomore year of high school when we relocated to Gatlinburg, TN. My Grandpa Ashton was one of the FIRST security guards when the Caterpillar Factory first opened up. I was in 3rd/4th Grade when they SHUT the Firestone Factory down. My dad worked at the ADM for 20+years and my mom was the Nurse for the ANNA WATERS HEAD START up until the summer of 2004. I worked at the Kroger at Brettwood Villiage then I worked for ARAMARK as a Lunch lady in the high school where I attended my freshman year(Douglas MacArthur High School) after they remodeled it. Followed by working at the McDonald's across the street from Brettwood Villiage. My 5 year old son attends Hope Academy and is in Kindergarten.
Decatur IL has changed and its sad. Growing up here was great in the 70s/ 80s and now people are leaving in droves due to taxes, no jobs, and no growth. It seems like its run down, dirty, and not thriving. I smell weed more than I do industry just walking outside and the pandhandles who beg for money on the street corners is annoying. In 50 yrs this town will not be thriving like it once was.
I have been fortunate to make great friends here, ran a small guitar lesson program that paid my bills for years, worked as a local performing musician as well, was always able to hustle up extra work when things got thin, attended the local community college for a very affordable tuition rate, retrained there for another career, and after a few bumps landed in a good engineering support job. It's true that much of the opportunity that was present when I was young has dried up, but things always change, constantly. You can let things happen or make things happen, always. Our high school guidance counselors told us the factory jobs would go away, that the path our folks had was passing quickly and that we would need more education to stay in the game. There are many good people here, also some less than good, just like every part of human society. As much as Decatur has seen considerable decline, my travels have taken me to places that face much greater challenges. As bad as your situation may seem, most of us can look around and see those who are less fortunate (and they're not all making bad choices; there but for the grace of God go all of us). Many thanks to all near or far who have crossed my path, shared smiles, kindness, offers of help. I am always grateful for those who sat and learned music with me so I could maintain shelter and my humble wherewithal. Now I'm grateful to those who showed me the ropes at my second career. Life is good, each day the sun shines somewhere, rain is necessary, and if you appreciate it cloudy days are beautiful too.
I hate my city, Decatur, Il is a "make up" county. Everyone is leaving this place. Crimes is getting worse. My cousin was the first death of this year of 2019. I was born and half raised here. Since my mother past 10 years ago ive been saving up to move my children and myself away from here. If i had to be asked to tell anyone about this place, I will simply say DONT LIVE HERE THERES NOTHING HERE BUT FACTORIES THAT FEEDS THE WORLD.
I believe that focus has been given to making this a white collar town instead of understanding that it was built with blue collar workers. It's time to try and reignite the vacant factories and make the area a tax friendly community. Past economic initiatives have failed. It's time for leadership to stop "marking time" and start investing in sustainable business models conducive to the demographics and marketing the City for it's geograpical opportunities...intermodal is one example.
You make a great point about how you are talking about white collar town because a lot of my friends that I knew from grade school on up have white collar jobs in Decatur. My sister works for Stayleys and she has a white collar position. When Stayleys decided to move the corporate headquarters to Hoffman Estates in Chicago she took a pay raise and a promotion. She and my brother in-law moved up to Elgin, Illinois and in September of 2019 they grew tired of paying taxes that were so high living in a suburb of Chicago that they moved now right over the border to Saint John, Indiana. I am the only one in the family who votes Independent or Conservative because I see how power hungry Liberals are and it has destroyed Illinois I hate to say it. I did not vote for Pritzker in 2018. I voted for the Independent that ran, but he only received like 4% of the votes and the rest went to Pritzker. I have friends who are Liberals and they know how screwed up Illinois is due to who they elect. They sit there and laugh about it, but a lot of people are getting tired of being taxed so much on everything that they are moving away from Illinois. It is awful that Liberals are tired of paying high taxes and move to a Conservative state and still vote hard left Liberals that destroyed the economy of Illinois.
My wife and I live in Decatur but work outside Decatur. We have a modest house and pay over $6,000 a year in taxes. The more people that leave the higher my taxes go. We’ve brought in more businesses like the inter model storage facility but I’m not really sure how many jobs it’s brought in. I’ve always wanted Decatur to expand more to the west encapsulating the interchange out west. Annexing Harristown and bringing in more business because of the ease of getting on a Interstate. But one look at the state roads that surround it turns people away. Old rte 36 is turning to gravel and IDOT doesn’t even have it in their horizons to fix it thru 2023. The spaghetti bowl of ramps on the west side were built in 1973 yet no improvement has been made. Decatur is so far from its IDOT regional office they tend to forget about state roads. The closing of public golf courses because of bad management sends people elsewhere to recreate because it’s simply cheaper. Decatur had a chance to land the mall early on but that tax base went to Forsyth who is not suffering near as bad. The fact is when my daughter goes to college we may sell the house we built 20 yrs ago and downsize in a smaller town with a lot less crime.
I was born in Berwyn, Illinois and grew up in Warrenville, Ill. The super high taxes drove me to move out of state. I miss my hometown but can't go back because I can't afford the taxes! I pay $800 in taxes instead of $8000. QUITE a contrast!
Graduated from EHS in 1963. Played football at Eastern Illinois University (Charleston). Remember a bus trip with the team to play Norther Illinois. As we got closer to Decatur, people started putting the windows up because of the smell. I left mine down My dad worked for Staley's. It smelled like home.
decatur isn't forgotten, it's dying. been dying for 40 yrs, just growing worse over time. it's sad because it was such an awesome place to grow up. I left in 84, stopped coming back to visit at least 15 yrs ago. when you return & don't even recognize your hometown, it's no longer "home", it's just a place. Bottom line: If businesses can't make a decent profit, they leave. Doesn't matter if it's a small business or a large corporation. Too few decent paying jobs, people leave.... smh
Hi if you don't mind me asking I was adopted and my biological parents born and raised and still in Decatur do you know any Norfleet or atteberry or stroyeck ?? Please help I hope so
Decatur is where my Grandparents lived in the 70's and my Uncle was a Math teacher there. When I look up the houses that my Grandparents and my aunt and uncle lives, both houses are worth under $20K - kind of sad.
Hi if you don't mind me asking I was adopted and recently found out my biological parents live in Decatur do you know any Norfleet or atteberry or stroyeck ?
The taxes...maybe I'm just not seeing it because I come from Texas which also has high property taxes. I'm thinking about moving to Illinois and on of the houses I'm looking at cost about $2800 in tax annually. That's less than I pay in Texas even though the home in Decatur is quite a bit larger. For some reason its appraisal value is only $34k. I don't understand it. Anyway, maybe with telecommuting becoming a thing maybe Decatur will someday see some population growth seeing how inexpensive the property is there. That's why I'm thinking of making the move. Even with the state income tax it seems to make lots of financial sense. I just hope fiber-to-the-home is available there. The city would do well to make sure that it is.
It seems taxation in Illinois is a contributing factor to the overall decline to these small towns/cities. Are they making up for the drop in population?
Thanks for making this video. I've never been to Decatur before but seeing the town reminds me of Woodstock, Illinois which is where I used to live. What I think Decatur is going through, loss of jobs and loss of people is not unique to Decatur but rather its happening all over the US. A big part of that is the decline in manufacturing in general or automation in manfucaturing. What I think Decatur needs to try and do is to diversity its business base. Good incomes in American are really centered around the medical industry and the tech industry and I think Decatur needs to try and attract more of those industries to its town. I currently live in Chicago where the tech sector is bringing in lots of good jobs, talented people but also its getting expensive to live here, thanks to all those good paying jobs. If Decatur can market itself as tech friendly and affordable to live, I think you'd find a lot of young tech startups would love to find a place that's cheaper to start up than Chicago.
Trust me I know Olivia! I grew up in Decatur. I moved away from Decatur for the second time. The first time was for 7 1/2 years, but after I did my time in the Navy and 2008 recession hit I got laid off from a job and was in a car accident and had to move back to Decatur once again. I was not too happy about that happening. Now I live in Champaign, Illinois due to my federal job that I have. If the taxes continue going the way it is I might try to find another federal job in a Conservative state because it sucks living in a Liberal state. I tried to get on at any of the factories when I came off of active duty in 1993 from the Navy the first time. Decatur is the twin brother of Danville, Illinois I hate to say it because they tend to copy each other it seems like instead of bring jobs or something innovative to cause people to move to Decatur.
Rob if you don't mind me asking you I was adopted and my biological family has lived there their whole life and still do do you know the last name Norfleet or atteberry or stroyeck ??
Really he is married to my mom he had three sisters and one brother I believe and have three children when passed in an accident another move to Florida
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 those names Norfleet or Atteberry does sound familiar. I moved back to Decatur after getting out of the Navy in 1993 and I would from time to time run into classmates that I graduated with from high school, but I would not see them all of the time. Decatur is not that big of a city, but I do not remember knowing too many people of those names to be honest with you about it.
I was born and raised in decatur dmh. And grew up on 1030? Churxh st went to garfeild went to parsons went to steven decatur and went to McArthur hs all that is in decatur is dead dreams and a addiction to drugs or others. I was one of them i was in the gang stuff i was born 1991 at dmh and watched every single family member lose there job because of eather ADM. Tate n lyle stayles or CAT thairs notbing to that town and i lost both my parents at a young age because of this town i live in tx now and its the best thing thats happened to me never give this town any credit
I grew up in Decatur and did not care for how things were done. I wanted to follow what my grandparents and my parents did was work and with one place until I retired, but was screwed by some of the places in Decatur and that is why I left. I did not want to get a job because I knew someone who helped me to get a factory job or move up.
A part of the reason why there is poverty and the violence is due to politicians in Chicago and within the federal government that have sold us out to foreign countries. They move the factories to other countries or other states for less taxes. I grew up in Decatur. Plus, when Cabrini Green the projects was torn down Chicago moved the people that lived in the projects down to Peoria, Bloomington, Decatur, Champaign, Danville, and Springfield and a lot of the bad elements moved. That is why crime rate has gone up I hate to say it.
Illinois most depressing city to be honest. Very inderveloped, despite resourcefully and graphically rich. We literally through all our tax money at designing and making Chicago what is today.
Hi if you don't mind me asking I was adopted and both my parents were both raised and born and still are in Decatur do you know any norfleet's or atteberry or stroyeck??
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 my wife has lived in Decatur her whole life. She said she knew some Atteberry's that lived in Cerro Gordo which is just north of here. She said that was some time ago.
I lived there and the biggest problem was jobs. If you want a decent life you have to work at Tate and Lyle or ADM, or caterpillar. Other than these three places there's nothing. No way to make money 😢
I used to live there left almost a year ago I know that town very well but the place has no people I know usually half of the people in the mall when I go there
Decatur does not look bad at all You should see what's happening to the south it looks third world imagine the worst parts of Detroit only times it by 10,000 in area and add 75% old trailors with ducktape on the roofs and garbage everywhere and makeshift shacks. Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Florida Georgia kentucky west Virginia South Carolina and so on. Illinois has nothing on the poverty in the south. It's so sad the USA had been going down hill for a very long time especially in the last 5 years or so its gotten even worse.
Your right. Most of metro Detroit area is actually very nice it have many very nice suburbs and parts of the city are actually very cool too but on the flip side the hoods in Detroit are about as hood as you can get anything more and it turns right back into wilderness again and there is even some of that in parts of Detroit as well. With that said decatur does not have hoods like you will find in parts of Detroit or many other notorious cities like Chicago Miami, plilly, Atlanta, St loius, New Orleans, Memphis, Cleaveland, Oakland, Flint, Jacksonville to name a few.
I moved to Decatur from a big city, and love it. My childhood was filled with visits to my grandfather's house. I always knew I would move there in my adult later years. Well I'm here and let me tell you the changes are terrible now. Gangs from other places (Chicago, Tennessee, Springfield and other) has brought in all this shooting and house and car break-ins. It's scary now. I wish all the bad ass people would leave so I can go back to enjoying the Decatur I remember. Thanks for the video.
I hate il and Decatur and Zane said the park district was good.Ha I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the park district. Just yesterday I had a baseball game and I got hit in the knee and the umpire rung me up
I used to watch trains in Decatur and I would never move there just because of that god awful smell all over the city coming from the ADM grain silos. Decatur smells horrible!!!
they say " the grass is always greener on the other side", Decatur might not appeal to all but its rather nice compared to other parts of the state.. imho
People are leaving Illinois because of liberal policy and taxes. I'm not from Decatur but I worked there for about a month. People in southern Illinois would like to draw a line south of Chicago and make their own state lol.
Boy...a whole month huh? This used to be a nice place to live back in the 60's, 70's and 80's . The problem started when "W" was elected and Dock Cheney was running the country. Then you have the greedy republicans like Moscow Mitch and the rest of the GOP who are only concerned with lining their pockets. Do some homework and stop listening to FOX news and the idiots who don't have a clue what they're talking about .
Liars from Austin texas wanting to nail chuck for not paying for my college bills. It's not his responsibility to pay any of my bills ever. He was my brother in law not my father.
🧐 Project "The bee honeycomb model of the conglomerates" Will Solve the Problem of urbanization of megacities and save Dollar 💵🐝. Archimedes XXI century 😇.
I just moved here from California. I love it here. California is overrated overpriced and Not safe . We could never afford to buy a home there. We have now been able to buy a house and live a Quiet life and retire hopefully some day
Walkers lol.....their buisness was so corrupt...... So many ppl leaving illinois so the ones that are left are the ones paying the ppl who left taxes reason it goes up.
@@wfqsfg You ain't seen nothing yet. You sound like a Trumper. These riots and burning didn't happen under Dems it happened under Trump we will come and get you Commies sooner or later.
@@wfqsfg The only president that sided with Putin was a republican so Commie fits real well with you all and no I'm not YOUNG did my time in the Marine corps 1969 to 1972. We Dems will straighten this out. What a mess the repubs have made of our country.
It’s not just Decatur that’s folding up , it’s the whole state of Illinois!! Just look at our roads and bridges
lol who wants to live in Decatur, Illinois when you can live in Decatur, Georgia? That whole city is depressing.
@@rubiconcrossing4480 Decatur, IL has lots of natural beauty. I love the climate and scenery here.
I'm afraid you're right.
I guess it person who wants to go home and be with her mom and dad and find her biological family
Actually it's 90% of the country. You should see what's happening to the south it looks third world imagine the worst parts of Detroit only times it by 10,000 in area and add 75% old trailors with ducktape on the roofs and garbage everywhere and makeshift shacks. Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Florida Georgia kentucky west Virginia South Carolina and so on. Illinois has nothing on the poverty in the south. It's so sad the USA had been going down hill for a very long time especially in the last 5 years or so its gotten even worse.
Born & Raised In Decatur & Graduated From Eisenhower High School. Seen It All In Decatur From Poverty & Drugs To Crime. I Love My City For How It Molded Me, But I Left In ‘07 For The Army & Never Looked Back.
S.T. A.T definitely about to do the same going to Washington state
I also graduated from Eisenhower. However my Eisenhower is located in blue island Il
Illinois used to be the microcosm of the nation itself in location, economy, and culture. That's long gone now. It's over.
My Dad was born and raised in this town! He graduated 1949. There were my grandparents and so many aunts and uncles! Cousins too. I still have family there who was named after Jackie Kennedy and my aunt who turned 94 this last April! There have been many fond memories of coming to visit from central Iowa and staying a week!!! I recall all the soy bean and corn feilds and the smell of Stayeys Suryup. The land was pancake flat with polywog water underneath the rich black soil. You could see for miles in one direction. My grandma lived on a road named Needle Road on an acre of paradise that's still in my memory to this day! The jackasses built a road through her place and destroyed it!!! But I still got some pictures and the memories!!!
I was born and raised there. Left in 1983 for the Army and have never returned. The smell of Staleys will always be burned into my nose. There were some good times. The two drive in theaters , slot car racing at Bolays Hobbies and drag racing on Eldorado. Took guitar lessons at Ax in Hand across from Del's popcorn shop and the Lincoln Theater. Still have family and friends there.
I hate the smell. It smells like strong smelling dog food to me lol. Armpit of Illinois..
I was born there as well and live there long enough to finish kindergarten 1960 - 1966
@@donavonseibert507 Staley’s odor is what decomposition of human tissue smells like. I know, I was born there.
Sorry I missed placed this reply. I was born there in 1960 and lived there long enough to finish kindergarten. It’s so sad to see it deteriorate as such😢
I was adopted and both my parents or born and raised and still live in Decatur does anyone know the name Norfleet atteberry or stroyeck ? I hope please
Beautiful town, I love the charming historic buildings. Save Decatur ❤️
I I was adopted in 1970 my mom and dad were born and raised in Decatur they're still there do you know of Norfleet or atteberry stroyeck ?
As a Decatur resident in 2024 6 years after this video it feels virtually the same, but we finally are redoing roads, we have attracted a few more business (tilamook for example), and premiet invested 450 million into its facilities so it’s not all bad
Ps. The stink is not that bad in quite literally 85% of the city
I was born near Decatur & raised in the area. I graduated from Eisenhower in '63. I left in '64 but did come back for a few years in the 70's but then left again for greener pastures. It's grown since I left, but I've never seen any other town with so many thrift stores. Many relatives still live there...but it will always be my "hometown"!
The person who typed they above is not Bobby, but his wife. Bobby was born in Indiana.
Even though I've not lived there in over 30 years, I still consider Decatur my home. It makes me a little sad to go back there and see that it is not the thriving place it once was. I hope Decatur can be renewed.
Hi I was adopted there and my biological parents were born and raised and they're still there could you tell me if you know of a Norfleet or an atteberry or Stroyeck??
Wow, I lived in Illinois 40 years ago and moved to Florida in 1982, and return yearly. It's sad how policymakers in Chicagoland and Springfield are creating ghost towns up in the Land of Lincoln. I hope Decatur can turn things around. I remember it as one of the all round nicest towns, filled with vitality. It was a cleanish industrial town, with quality of life, good jobs and public safety.
I lived in Forsyth four about seven years some time ago. Decatur is a delightfully quiet and laid-back town, especially out on the perimeter, like where Forsyth, population around five thousand, is. But one must admit that the current financial opportunities that the greater Decatur area has to offer a young person or even an older person are indeed extremely limited. Illinois, itself, had a very strong industrial base in former times that the state's infrastructure, business practices, and political planners have had a extremely difficult time attempting to adjust to post-industrial circumstances. The population suffers as jobs simply disappear while taxation has reached ridiculous proportions. Chicago is the only viably alternative in Illinois economically and the political divide in Illinois reflects that disparity in power. Downstate cities tied to rivers and railroads that are now irrelevant economically seemingly dooms those cities to a slow extinction. But that doesn't take in the human price these large-scale social changes exact. It becomes a question of survival to leave these once thriving cities.
My wife and I left Decatur in mid 2018. Best decision we could of made. We were both born and raised in central illinois, but we love our new home state.
Which state is that?
I was born there in 1961, went to Millikin, didn’t leave until I was 20, lived a few years there after that. Parents used that service station, or an earlier version, in the 60s and 70s, mostly for fuel but occasionally for car repairs. Last visited when my parents died (2016-17). Can’t imagine returning there: it’s bleak.
May I ask you if you know any norfleet's or atteberry or stroyeck ?
That was extraordinary. The sadness and discontent just seethes within that place. Those union jobs were a helluva drug...
We moved to AZ in 1978 from Decatur we lived on Shadow Lane I sure miss Decatur I still call it home and love Decatur my grandfather worked at Staillies and managed his farm in Herrik then Pana Illinois until his passing in 95 in Agusta GA close by my uncles place
It is so sad to see the town in which I was born and spent the first six years of my life deteriorate😢
Born and raised in Southside of Chicago, now live in the South. Illinois is dying due to its liberal "Fix it with tax money" attitude. (Much of which is syphoned into corrupt pockets). The only way these dying towns are going to revitalize is by having a commodity or atmosphere conducive to industry. High taxes and costs of living quickly eliminate anybody from opening or relocating a business in Illinois.
The problem here isn't the liberals, it's the greedy republicans that broke the unions. I lived it in the mid nineties...
Remember partying like an adult at showbiz pizza after hours when going to Stephen Decatur high school in the mid 80s man that was blast and how could anyone ever forget that smell Staleys put out.
It's Tate&Lyle now...
For some reason everyone forgets that ADM as well as Staleys puts out that smell. I drive right over the Staleys viaduct heading home to see my parents. I remember Showbiz Pizza. That place became Shakey's Pizza in the mid 90's after Showbiz closed down. After Shakey's closed it became a Office Depot. They moved out of that location over to the old Northgate Mall and then eventually closed. LOL
Decatur is a great city.I love it so much.💕
I was adopted do you know any norfleet's or atteberry or stroyeck ?
I have a lot of family in Illinois and I always figured I would move back there some day as they got older. But then the taxes got higher and higher and higher over time so I've ended up staying put in Indiana much longer than I ever expected. If they would lower the taxes, I would move back.
I was born in Decatur Illinois Longview projects man it's a tuff city my parents moved me in 1998 I was 16 years old and I can remember so much from Decatur it's a fast city as well I havent been in over 20 years but it will 4eva be my home 217
Hi I was adopted and I recently just found out my biological parents were from Decatur do you know any norfleet's or atteberry or stroyeck ??
Nah only Goodwin's jones green's rice
Sorry dint mean to push the thumbs down
I was born there as well! I left over 30 years ago! I never lived in longview but I used to go there a lot
I was raised in Longview projects in Decatur Illinois left in 1974 and moved to Wisconsin lots of memories of Longview when I was a young boy
I consider Decatur my home town. Graduate of MHS! The people are what bring me fond memories. The taxes and crime are so high. I left there shortly after tornadoes hit 2 nights in a row. You saw the Midwest strength then. Now I know many that have moved on due to the high Illinois taxes and the crime in Decatur. It’s a shame.
My hometown. Moved to Arkansas a while ago to live with my family. Good times.
Mines too but haven't been there in over 30 years! So sad its like that
I was born and raised in Decatur IL up until my sophomore year of high school when we relocated to Gatlinburg, TN. My Grandpa Ashton was one of the FIRST security guards when the Caterpillar Factory first opened up. I was in 3rd/4th Grade when they SHUT the Firestone Factory down. My dad worked at the ADM for 20+years and my mom was the Nurse for the ANNA WATERS HEAD START up until the summer of 2004. I worked at the Kroger at Brettwood Villiage then I worked for ARAMARK as a Lunch lady in the high school where I attended my freshman year(Douglas MacArthur High School) after they remodeled it. Followed by working at the McDonald's across the street from Brettwood Villiage. My 5 year old son attends Hope Academy and is in Kindergarten.
Decatur IL has changed and its sad. Growing up here was great in the 70s/ 80s and now people are leaving in droves due to taxes, no jobs, and no growth. It seems like its run down, dirty, and not thriving. I smell weed more than I do industry just walking outside and the pandhandles who beg for money on the street corners is annoying. In 50 yrs this town will not be thriving like it once was.
I have been fortunate to make great friends here, ran a small guitar lesson program that paid my bills for years, worked as a local performing musician as well, was always able to hustle up extra work when things got thin, attended the local community college for a very affordable tuition rate, retrained there for another career, and after a few bumps landed in a good engineering support job. It's true that much of the opportunity that was present when I was young has dried up, but things always change, constantly. You can let things happen or make things happen, always. Our high school guidance counselors told us the factory jobs would go away, that the path our folks had was passing quickly and that we would need more education to stay in the game.
There are many good people here, also some less than good, just like every part of human society. As much as Decatur has seen considerable decline, my travels have taken me to places that face much greater challenges. As bad as your situation may seem, most of us can look around and see those who are less fortunate (and they're not all making bad choices; there but for the grace of God go all of us).
Many thanks to all near or far who have crossed my path, shared smiles, kindness, offers of help. I am always grateful for those who sat and learned music with me so I could maintain shelter and my humble wherewithal. Now I'm grateful to those who showed me the ropes at my second career. Life is good, each day the sun shines somewhere, rain is necessary, and if you appreciate it cloudy days are beautiful too.
Interesting. I've been here 20 years, play the guitar and never heard your name come up.
@@SammyJoeLouis I’m probably like um 64. So what?
@@rdr6276 Hope things are good for you! I sure don't miss working in K's warehouse!
I hate my city, Decatur, Il is a "make up" county. Everyone is leaving this place. Crimes is getting worse. My cousin was the first death of this year of 2019. I was born and half raised here. Since my mother past 10 years ago ive been saving up to move my children and myself away from here. If i had to be asked to tell anyone about this place, I will simply say DONT LIVE HERE THERES NOTHING HERE BUT FACTORIES THAT FEEDS THE WORLD.
I moved from Princeton, Illinois in 1990. I'd love to see how it's holding up.
I love devatur. It's one of my favorite cities.
I believe that focus has been given to making this a white collar town instead of understanding that it was built with blue collar workers. It's time to try and reignite the vacant factories and make the area a tax friendly community. Past economic initiatives have failed. It's time for leadership to stop "marking time" and start investing in sustainable business models conducive to the demographics and marketing the City for it's geograpical opportunities...intermodal is one example.
You make a great point about how you are talking about white collar town because a lot of my friends that I knew from grade school on up have white collar jobs in Decatur. My sister works for Stayleys and she has a white collar position. When Stayleys decided to move the corporate headquarters to Hoffman Estates in Chicago she took a pay raise and a promotion. She and my brother in-law moved up to Elgin, Illinois and in September of 2019 they grew tired of paying taxes that were so high living in a suburb of Chicago that they moved now right over the border to Saint John, Indiana. I am the only one in the family who votes Independent or Conservative because I see how power hungry Liberals are and it has destroyed Illinois I hate to say it. I did not vote for Pritzker in 2018. I voted for the Independent that ran, but he only received like 4% of the votes and the rest went to Pritzker. I have friends who are Liberals and they know how screwed up Illinois is due to who they elect. They sit there and laugh about it, but a lot of people are getting tired of being taxed so much on everything that they are moving away from Illinois. It is awful that Liberals are tired of paying high taxes and move to a Conservative state and still vote hard left Liberals that destroyed the economy of Illinois.
My wife and I live in Decatur but work outside Decatur. We have a modest house and pay over $6,000 a year in taxes. The more people that leave the higher my taxes go. We’ve brought in more businesses like the inter model storage facility but I’m not really sure how many jobs it’s brought in. I’ve always wanted Decatur to expand more to the west encapsulating the interchange out west. Annexing Harristown and bringing in more business because of the ease of getting on a Interstate. But one look at the state roads that surround it turns people away. Old rte 36 is turning to gravel and IDOT doesn’t even have it in their horizons to fix it thru 2023. The spaghetti bowl of ramps on the west side were built in 1973 yet no improvement has been made. Decatur is so far from its IDOT regional office they tend to forget about state roads. The closing of public golf courses because of bad management sends people elsewhere to recreate because it’s simply cheaper. Decatur had a chance to land the mall early on but that tax base went to Forsyth who is not suffering near as bad. The fact is when my daughter goes to college we may sell the house we built 20 yrs ago and downsize in a smaller town with a lot less crime.
I was born in Berwyn, Illinois and grew up in Warrenville, Ill. The super high taxes drove me to move out of state. I miss my hometown but can't go back because I can't afford the taxes! I pay $800 in taxes instead of $8000. QUITE a contrast!
Where did you move to?
Look no further than the abandoned Illinois cities of Cairo and Easty St. Louis to see what happens if the situation cannot be turned around.
Graduated from EHS in 1963. Played football at Eastern Illinois University (Charleston). Remember a bus trip with the team to play Norther Illinois. As we got closer to Decatur, people started putting the windows up because of the smell. I left mine down My dad worked for Staley's. It smelled like home.
Yes, when others shrink from the smell I openly laugh saying it smells like home to me.
I moved to Florida from Decatur in 1982 at the age of almost 27. Never looked back. Decatur is not what is was then) I still have relatives there...
If they brought back the Decatur Park Singers, everyone would move back!!! In fact, Decatur would be bigger than Vegas by now!!!
Few would get this, but I didn't miss it. I have the cassette tape they were selling at their neighborhood concerts.
decatur isn't forgotten, it's dying. been dying for 40 yrs, just growing worse over time. it's sad because it was such an awesome place to grow up. I left in 84, stopped coming back to visit at least 15 yrs ago. when you return & don't even recognize your hometown, it's no longer "home", it's just a place. Bottom line: If businesses can't make a decent profit, they leave. Doesn't matter if it's a small business or a large corporation. Too few decent paying jobs, people leave.... smh
Please do my hometown *ROCKFORD* next
Dry Ice Cool beans I’m from Chicago
I live in Central Illinois and never been to Decatur, IL it's about 45min away from my hometown.
Can you do a piece on Lewistown IL?
i left decatur in 1961 sad to see this happen
Hi if you don't mind me asking I was adopted and my biological parents born and raised and still in Decatur do you know any Norfleet or atteberry or stroyeck ?? Please help I hope so
Decatur is where my Grandparents lived in the 70's and my Uncle was a Math teacher there. When I look up the houses that my Grandparents and my aunt and uncle lives, both houses are worth under $20K - kind of sad.
Hi if you don't mind me asking I was adopted and recently found out my biological parents live in Decatur do you know any Norfleet or atteberry or stroyeck ?
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 None of those names sound familiar - I can run those names by my Uncle, since he was a teacher there for 30 years.
That would be so incredibly wonderful thank you so very much
Kara
The taxes...maybe I'm just not seeing it because I come from Texas which also has high property taxes. I'm thinking about moving to Illinois and on of the houses I'm looking at cost about $2800 in tax annually. That's less than I pay in Texas even though the home in Decatur is quite a bit larger. For some reason its appraisal value is only $34k. I don't understand it.
Anyway, maybe with telecommuting becoming a thing maybe Decatur will someday see some population growth seeing how inexpensive the property is there. That's why I'm thinking of making the move. Even with the state income tax it seems to make lots of financial sense. I just hope fiber-to-the-home is available there. The city would do well to make sure that it is.
I was one of the girls who live there and knew the history about it a little bit but I don’t know the future because I haven’t been back in a while
Most affordable real estate in the US. Median house prices relative to median income is
It seems taxation in Illinois is a contributing factor to the overall decline to these small towns/cities. Are they making up for the drop in population?
Thanks for making this video. I've never been to Decatur before but seeing the town reminds me of Woodstock, Illinois which is where I used to live. What I think Decatur is going through, loss of jobs and loss of people is not unique to Decatur but rather its happening all over the US. A big part of that is the decline in manufacturing in general or automation in manfucaturing. What I think Decatur needs to try and do is to diversity its business base. Good incomes in American are really centered around the medical industry and the tech industry and I think Decatur needs to try and attract more of those industries to its town. I currently live in Chicago where the tech sector is bringing in lots of good jobs, talented people but also its getting expensive to live here, thanks to all those good paying jobs. If Decatur can market itself as tech friendly and affordable to live, I think you'd find a lot of young tech startups would love to find a place that's cheaper to start up than Chicago.
My whole family for generations lived in decatur. We are all mostly gone now. The magic is gone.
I recommend leaving Illinois
Yes
I agree 100%
That makes me so sad to hear
😂😂😂 i saw my dads childhood home
It's dangerous 😔 and there nothing much there, it's becoming a dead town.
Trust me I know Olivia! I grew up in Decatur. I moved away from Decatur for the second time. The first time was for 7 1/2 years, but after I did my time in the Navy and 2008 recession hit I got laid off from a job and was in a car accident and had to move back to Decatur once again. I was not too happy about that happening. Now I live in Champaign, Illinois due to my federal job that I have. If the taxes continue going the way it is I might try to find another federal job in a Conservative state because it sucks living in a Liberal state. I tried to get on at any of the factories when I came off of active duty in 1993 from the Navy the first time. Decatur is the twin brother of Danville, Illinois I hate to say it because they tend to copy each other it seems like instead of bring jobs or something innovative to cause people to move to Decatur.
Rob if you don't mind me asking you I was adopted and my biological family has lived there their whole life and still do do you know the last name Norfleet or atteberry or stroyeck ??
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 atteberry sounds familiar.
Really he is married to my mom he had three sisters and one brother I believe and have three children when passed in an accident another move to Florida
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 those names Norfleet or Atteberry does sound familiar. I moved back to Decatur after getting out of the Navy in 1993 and I would from time to time run into classmates that I graduated with from high school, but I would not see them all of the time. Decatur is not that big of a city, but I do not remember knowing too many people of those names to be honest with you about it.
I was born and raised in decatur dmh. And grew up on 1030? Churxh st went to garfeild went to parsons went to steven decatur and went to McArthur hs all that is in decatur is dead dreams and a addiction to drugs or others. I was one of them i was in the gang stuff i was born 1991 at dmh and watched every single family member lose there job because of eather ADM. Tate n lyle stayles or CAT thairs notbing to that town and i lost both my parents at a young age because of this town i live in tx now and its the best thing thats happened to me never give this town any credit
The only way to last in decatur is to be a native of decatur outsiders dont last.....its not that great
I grew up in Decatur and did not care for how things were done. I wanted to follow what my grandparents and my parents did was work and with one place until I retired, but was screwed by some of the places in Decatur and that is why I left. I did not want to get a job because I knew someone who helped me to get a factory job or move up.
We are called the dirty d and Dead end city for a reason. Nothing but poverty and violence recently but still praying!
A part of the reason why there is poverty and the violence is due to politicians in Chicago and within the federal government that have sold us out to foreign countries. They move the factories to other countries or other states for less taxes. I grew up in Decatur. Plus, when Cabrini Green the projects was torn down Chicago moved the people that lived in the projects down to Peoria, Bloomington, Decatur, Champaign, Danville, and Springfield and a lot of the bad elements moved. That is why crime rate has gone up I hate to say it.
I think some of the tax stuff is being made up or exaggerated on this video
Decatur is my whole childhood......
Same, but even as young as I am, I can see it crumbling slowly
I moved there in 2015 and when they signed the police safety act I got out of there.
Illinois most depressing city to be honest. Very inderveloped, despite resourcefully and graphically rich. We literally through all our tax money at designing and making Chicago what is today.
Illinois isn't a city.
I'm a transplant and I love Decatur!
Hi if you don't mind me asking I was adopted and both my parents were both raised and born and still are in Decatur do you know any norfleet's or atteberry or stroyeck??
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 my wife has lived in Decatur her whole life. She said she knew some Atteberry's that lived in Cerro Gordo which is just north of here. She said that was some time ago.
Thank you for your response that would be my stepdad his name is Carl atteberry he's in his eighties he had three sisters and one brother
And I'm not familiar with that town is it close to Decatur?
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 half and hour north maybe.
You would have to get rid of the smell to attract anyone to live there.
I lived there and the biggest problem was jobs. If you want a decent life you have to work at Tate and Lyle or ADM, or caterpillar. Other than these three places there's nothing. No way to make money 😢
Really sad politics have ruined this state.
I used to live there left almost a year ago I know that town very well but the place has no people I know usually half of the people in the mall when I go there
May I ask you if you know any norfleet's or atteberry or stroyeck ?
This is a very honest yet positive piece. Well done. Good interviews.
Decatur does not look bad at all You should see what's happening to the south it looks third world imagine the worst parts of Detroit only times it by 10,000 in area and add 75% old trailors with ducktape on the roofs and garbage everywhere and makeshift shacks. Mississippi Alabama Louisiana Florida Georgia kentucky west Virginia South Carolina and so on. Illinois has nothing on the poverty in the south. It's so sad the USA had been going down hill for a very long time especially in the last 5 years or so its gotten even worse.
Decatur is dead-end. Never be or have anything. In 5 years Decatur will be another Cairo, IL.
Detroit is not that bad!
Your right. Most of metro Detroit area is actually very nice it have many very nice suburbs and parts of the city are actually very cool too but on the flip side the hoods in Detroit are about as hood as you can get anything more and it turns right back into wilderness again and there is even some of that in parts of Detroit as well. With that said decatur does not have hoods like you will find in parts of Detroit or many other notorious cities like Chicago Miami, plilly, Atlanta, St loius, New Orleans, Memphis, Cleaveland, Oakland, Flint, Jacksonville to name a few.
The "dirty d"...been back 14 yrs & HATE IT.. Wish I would've never come back
I moved to Decatur from a big city, and love it. My childhood was filled with visits to my grandfather's house. I always knew I would move there in my adult later years. Well I'm here and let me tell you the changes are terrible now. Gangs from other places (Chicago, Tennessee, Springfield and other) has brought in all this shooting and house and car break-ins. It's scary now. I wish all the bad ass people would leave so I can go back to enjoying the Decatur I remember. Thanks for the video.
Decatur all day gang gang 😂😂
too many taxes, move to Texas
Taxes are high, but high taxes pay for public works.
Stop moving to Texas we full.
yeah, so they can ruin that state too?
I hate il and Decatur and Zane said the park district was good.Ha I’ve had nothing but good experiences with the park district. Just yesterday I had a baseball game and I got hit in the knee and the umpire rung me up
What team do you play for
Life here. Is amazing
Must be talking about a different decatur buddy
The Bestever yeah you don’t wanna go to sdms 🤣🤣 or out south
Decatur is famous for its big factory’s👍
Kayden Kelley Tate and Lyle
I used to watch trains in Decatur and I would never move there just because of that god awful smell all over the city coming from the ADM grain silos. Decatur smells horrible!!!
Staleys too
If you don't mind me asking I was adopted and my biological family still lives in Decatur do you know the last name Norfleet are atteberry or stroyeck
@@forgottonbabyforgottendeca1483 Norfleet
Illinois sucks it’s not just these factory towns.
Whoa, lots of jello on those drone shots. I can redo them for you without that
Warren buffets son owns the town
I live there now for gods sake
The Disliked Child I live there too
Edits For Dayz. I’m really interested in Decatur’s ADM, and Tate & Lyle!
they say " the grass is always greener on the other side", Decatur might not appeal to all but its rather nice compared to other parts of the state.. imho
Attractions things to do
People are leaving Illinois because of liberal policy and taxes. I'm not from Decatur but I worked there for about a month. People in southern Illinois would like to draw a line south of Chicago and make their own state lol.
Boy...a whole month huh? This used to be a nice place to live back in the 60's, 70's and 80's . The problem started when "W" was elected and Dock Cheney was running the country. Then you have the greedy republicans like Moscow Mitch and the rest of the GOP who are only concerned with lining their pockets. Do some homework and stop listening to FOX news and the idiots who don't have a clue what they're talking about .
Does decatur still have that trapped fart smell?
Decatur is bad but i dont feel like its that bad I live in decatur
Liars from Austin texas wanting to nail chuck for not paying for my college bills. It's not his responsibility to pay any of my bills ever. He was my brother in law not my father.
maybe we should just let it go
Its crummy there
🧐 Project "The bee honeycomb model of the conglomerates" Will Solve the Problem of urbanization of megacities and save Dollar 💵🐝. Archimedes XXI century 😇.
I just moved here from California. I love it here. California is overrated overpriced and Not safe . We could never afford to buy a home there. We have now been able to buy a house and live a Quiet life and retire hopefully some day
Sorry but Decatur has gone to shit today .My husband was born and raised there and I lived there for 7 years . We moved from there thank god
I live here now and want to leave
Walkers lol.....their buisness was so corrupt...... So many ppl leaving illinois so the ones that are left are the ones paying the ppl who left taxes reason it goes up.
RIP BOZO
Man
Vote red
Vote red get the same shit but with bonus racism and death.
@@discoj7112 The only death I've seen is caused by leftist/Democrat rioters, looters, arsonists, BLM, Antifa and other leftist racists.
@@wfqsfg You ain't seen nothing yet. You sound like a Trumper. These riots and burning didn't happen under Dems it happened under Trump we will come and get you Commies sooner or later.
@@jdarst100 It didn't happen under demoncrats because the right does protest like that. Commies? You sound young which explains things.
@@wfqsfg The only president that sided with Putin was a republican so Commie fits real well with you all and no I'm not YOUNG did my time in the Marine corps 1969 to 1972. We Dems will straighten this out. What a mess the repubs have made of our country.
Liars
Decatur sucks now 😂
with the govenor's we get well illinois sucks
All of illinois is like this. Illinois is a depressing hellhole if u can leave ,leave
Decay Turd