Morgan

Formed February 6, 1818 (14^th county)

Morgan County (123,421), Decatur (57,946)

This concrete courthouse sits at Ferry, Davis, 2^nd, and Lee streets.  United States Highway 31 is three blocks to the east.  It was built in 1975 after an 1894 Decatur courthouse and an 1837 Somerville courthouse.  Walter H. Hall is the designer of this Modern style courthouse.  General Daniel Morgan is the county’s namesake.  The county seat is named after Naval Commodore Stephen Decatur.  The county was formed on February 6, 1818 from Cherokee Territory as the 14^th county originally named Cotasco County and renamed in 1821. 

Morgan County government consists of a sheriff, revenue commissioner, and coroner (executive).  It has 5 commissioners (legislative.)  A Circuit Judge, Three District Judges, a Probate Judge, a District Attorney, and a County Clerk serve Morgan County (judicial.)  The county is located in far north central Alabama southwest of Huntsville, Alabama.  The Tennessee River is the northern border.  The center of the county is 9.9 miles Southeast of Decatur nearer Hartselle.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Madison, Marshall, Cullman, Lawrence, and Limestone counties.  Decatur is in the northwest on the northern river border and extends into Limestone County.  It is the county seat and the largest city.  Decatur is 47.0% of the county population. 

The county has an area of 579.3 square miles.  It ranks 59 out of 67 in size.  It ranks 9 out of 67 in population in the state.  It has a density of 214.4 persons per square mile making it 7 out of 67 in the state.  Morgan County has 66.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 65 travels north to south through the county from Limestone County to Cullman County.  United States Highway 31 parallels Interstate Highway 65 from Limestone County to Cullman County.  United States Highway 72 Alternate enters with United States Highway 31 from Limestone County, splits at Decatur, and exits west into Lawrence County.  United States Highway 231 cuts the northeast tip of the county from Madison County, north, into Marshall County, east.  The county looks like a tin soldier’s head lying flat.  The county is in the Decatur Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Decatur