New Decatur-Albany Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

New Decatur-Albany Historic District

Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama
Listed
July 6, 1995
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
95000810

About this property

The New Decatur–Albany Historic District is a historic district in Decatur, Alabama. The district encompasses the commercial district of the former town of New Decatur (briefly renamed Albany). It lies south of the Bank Street-Old Decatur Historic District and east of the New Decatur–Albany Residential Historic District. New Decatur was founded in 1887 as a planned town and suburb of Decatur. The town was renamed Albany in 1916 and merged with "Old" Decatur in 1927. The district contains 48 buildings centered on 2nd Avenue. Buildings from the late 19th century exhibit more decorated styles, including examples of Romanesque Revival, Victorian, and Renaissance Revival architecture. Early 20th century structures are more restrained, with decoration coming from the building's materials rather than being applied. A few Art Deco and Streamline Moderne buildings dating from the 1920s to 1940s also appear in the district. Notable contributing properties include the Princess Theatre, an Art Deco cinema-turned-theater, and the Cotaco Opera House, built in 1890. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The Decatur Light, Power, and Fuel Company complex was added to the district in 1999, but subsequently demolished. The district's boundaries were again adjusted in 2025.

Location

Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama
34.60456, -86.98473

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTCOMMERCEENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

New Decatur-Albany Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Industrial
0.1 mi
Cotaco Opera House
Industrial
0.1 mi
New Decatur-Albany Residential Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.3 mi
Bank Street-Old Decatur Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.4 mi
Albany Heritage Neighborhood Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was New Decatur-Albany Historic District listed on the National Register?

New Decatur-Albany Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 1995.

What type of historic resource is New Decatur-Albany Historic District?

New Decatur-Albany Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for New Decatur-Albany Historic District?

The period of significance for New Decatur-Albany Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near New Decatur-Albany Historic District?

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