Small Town Breakdown No. 80: Decatur, Indiana
For this week's small town breakdown we're going from Seymour in Jackson County to the county seat of Decatur in Adams County. Decatur sits 30 minutes south of Fort Wayne and just over two hours northeast of Indianapolis, just a few miles from the Ohio state line.
The History of Adams County and Decatur, Indiana
Adams County was officially established on March 1, 1836. It was named for John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, who served from 1825–29. Decatur was chosen as the county seat that same year.
Decatur was platted in 1836 by Samuel Rugg, a friend of president Thomas Jefferson, and became incorporated in 1853. It was named for Stephen Decatur Jr., a U.S. Navy captain.
Decatur is the largest incorporated town/city in Adams County with a population of 9,811 as of February 2026, making it the 89th largest city in Indiana.
The Man Behind “Hoosiers” and “Rudy”
Decatur's biggest claim to fame is for a movie it never appears in. David Anspaugh was born in Decatur in 1946 and went on to direct "Hoosiers" and "Rudy”. He earned his degree at Indiana University, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and eventually made his way back to Bloomington after decades in Hollywood.
Former Detroit Tigers Owner
John Fetzer was born in Decatur in 1901, moved with his mom to Lafayette at age 2 after his father passed away, and later built a broadcasting empire that afforded him the opportunity to become owner of the Detroit Tigers from 1956 to 1983. The Tigers won the 1968 World Series behind 31-game winner Denny McLain.
Because of his background in radio and television, Fetzer became one of the most influential MLB team owners of his time and helped baseball negotiate a national TV package that included revenue sharing for all 20 teams.
Things to Do In or Near Decatur, Indiana
The Decatur Sculpture Tour is held every June and celebrates Decatur’s rich heritage as the birthplace and boyhood home of David Smith, widely known as the greatest American sculptor of the 20th century. The addition of new pieces around the Courthouse Square and Founders Park is celebrated each year with an Unveiling Festival featuring a plein air paint-out, chalk art for kids, live music, and food and drink vendors downtown.
There is no shortage of parks to explore in Decatur. Homestead Park has a basketball court, tennis court, swings, and merry-go-round, Kekionga Park spans 50 acres and has paved trails and canoe launches, Hanna Nuttman Park has ball diamonds and two cabins, and Waterworks Park which is home to the Decatur Swimming Pool.
For golfers, Cross Creek Golf Club has a 9-hole, par 33 Majorki course and an 18-hole, par 71 Biggs Kreigh course. There is no turn at the clubhouse on the 18-hole course.
Places to Eat or Drink in Decatur, Indiana
Corner Cafe is the go-to spot for breakfast and lunch, and you can’t skip out on their delicious pies.
Soul Pig BBQ is a barbecue joint that specializes in brisket, pulled pork, ribs, cornbread and hush puppies with a 4.5-star rating among nearly 1,000 Google reviews and almost 12,000 followers on Facebook. It was established in 2018 and has become a local favorite.
Famous Monster Pizza is downtown Decatur's most unusual stop. It’s a horror-movie-themed pizzeria founded in 2018 by local historian Max Miller, decked out with monster memorabilia from the 20th century to today.
West End Restaurant is the spot for classic American comfort food, and it’s been serving Adams County for almost 140 years.
High School History
Bellmont High School is home of the Braves and competes in the Northeast 8 Athletic Conference. The school has captured IHSAA state championships in boys wrestling (1987, 1988, 1994), football (3A, 2008), girls volleyball (3A, 2007, 2010), and most recently, girls basketball (3A, 2026). The girls basketball team beat Roncalli 55-46 in their first-ever state finals appearance.
That's it for small town breakdown No. 80. Where should we head next?
