For a period of four years there existed a county in Alabama known as Decatur County. It was located in what is today eastern Madison County, western Jackson County, and a small portion of northwest Marshall County.

   Records and Archives of Decatur County were transferred to Jackson County and were held by clerks of the County and Circuit Courts. They were probably lost or destroyed during the Civil War. However, bits and pieces of these records have emerged.

   Decatur County was surveyed by the state of Alabama and this survey which records the names of the landowners has been published over several volumes of "Valley Leaves" - the yearbook of the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society - as have the names of its political office holders. One marriage and one divorce record have been found. A couple of Decatur County land sales were recorded in Madison County and Judge William Page has collected together the legislative papers which pertained to Decatur County.

   These records may be viewed on the third floor of the Huntsville Public Library in either the Heritage Room or the Madison County Records Center.

   Below is a scan of a 1976 article from the "Huntsville Times" which gives an overview of Decatur County history.