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_ i <br /> CITY DATA <br /> LOCATION: <br /> Decatur is located 180 miles southwest of Chicago, 120 miles <br /> northeast of St. Louis and 150 miles west of Indianapolis. <br /> Champaign is 48 miles east, Bloomington 46 miles north, and <br /> Springfield, the State Capital, is 40 miles west. <br /> POPULATION: <br /> The 1988 estimated population of 93, 000 shows a 3� decrease <br /> from the 1980 census figure of 94 , 081 . Decatur is the <br /> , county seat for Macon County with an estimated 1988 <br /> ' population of 123, 700. i <br /> i <br /> � <br /> � <br /> ECONOMY: � <br /> In the midst of the best farmland in the U. S . , agriculture j <br /> is an important factor as is heavy manufacturing. i <br /> Major industrial employers are: � <br /> Approx. No. i <br /> Company Product of Employees � <br /> I <br /> Caterpillar Earth Moving Equipment 3, 200 � <br /> Firestone Tires 1, 950 i <br /> I' Archer Daniels. Midland Corn and Soybeans 1, 800 i <br /> � A.E. Staley Corn Processing 1, 575 �' <br /> Norfolk-Southern Railway Shops 1, 500 i <br /> ' Wagner Castings Automobile Castings 975 ' <br /> � <br /> ' Unemployment has fluctuated from 6. 5$-11. 5� and averaged 9$ �'� <br /> �i over the last couple of years. �� <br /> TRANSPORTATION: II <br /> � Decatur is served by one interstate, two federal, and three I' <br /> I state highways. There are four railroads but no passenger �' <br /> service; approximately 45 motor freight carriers an�3 15 <br /> local terminals. American Eagle provides commuter service <br /> � to Chicago and TWE to St . Louis from the park district <br /> operated airport. � <br /> I, <br /> I' SOCIAL: i <br /> � Schaols include Millikin Universit ' <br /> �; y, a four year institution � <br /> and Richland Community College. Decatur Memorial and <br /> � St. Mary' s Hospital have a combined 670 beds. <br /> i ' <br /> I <br /> RECREATION: , <br /> � <br /> Includes 42 public parks, zoo, five public and three private i <br /> i' golf courses, boating and fishing on Lake Decatur. ! <br /> �� Decatur has a council-manager form of government. ' <br /> � <br /> , , <br /> I <br /> �' i <br /> 5 i', <br /> � _ � <br /> R�'THFUSS — N!JG A�c'P-^•!SFp`' <br />