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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Decatur (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Decatur. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for Decatur ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

In past government published Postal Guides, Decatur was referred to as Decatur Courthouse.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Decatur. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Decatur.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Decatur is located in DeKalb County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Georgia's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of DeKalb County: Clayton, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry & Rockdale.

Below are the counties that are near Decatur. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Decatur:

  • DeKalb County     (The home county of Decatur)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Avondale Estates
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Emory
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Emory is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emory
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 393 people
    • North Decatur
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • North Decatur is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Decatur
    • North DeKalb
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • North DeKalb is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North DeKalb
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 18,947 people
    • Scottdale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Turner Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Turner Village is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner Village
    • Glenwood Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Belvedere Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Belvedere Park is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belvedere Park
    • Druid Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • North Druid Hills
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • La Vista
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • La Vista is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Vista
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,200 people
    • East Atlanta
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • East Atlanta is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Atlanta
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Colemans Landing
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Colemans Landing is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colemans Landing
    • Hardman Place
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Hardman Place is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hardman Place
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 3,930 people
    • Skyridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Skyridge is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyridge
      • Estimated population in 2019: 273 people
    • Woodstock
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Breeze Hill Estates
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Breeze Hill Estates is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Breeze Hill Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,638 people
    • Kingridge West
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingridge West is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingridge West
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 1,777 people
    • Motes Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Motes Hill is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Motes Hill
      • Estimated population in 2019: 14,211 people
    • Tyson Estates
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyson Estates is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyson Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 737 people
    • Hickory Flat
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Gibson Acres
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Gibson Acres is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson Acres
      • Estimated population in 2019: 631 people
    • Lebanon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Allatoona Pass
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Clayton County
  • Cobb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Vinings
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brookside Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Brookside Village is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside Village
    • Nelsons Ferry
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Nelsons Ferry is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelsons Ferry
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,377 people
    • Ivey Terrace
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Ivey Terrace is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivey Terrace
      • Estimated population in 2019: 914 people
    • Chattahoochee Heights
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Chattahoochee Heights is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chattahoochee Heights
      • Estimated population in 2018: 3,207 people
    • Mount Bethel
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Smyrna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Gordon Woods
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Gordon Woods is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,857 people
    • Knox Springs Estates
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Knox Springs Estates is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Springs Estates
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 69 people
    • Mableton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Fair Oaks
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Fair Oaks is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Oaks
    • Blue Ridge Manor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Blue Ridge Manor is located in Cobb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Ridge Manor
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,461 people
  • Douglas County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Lithia Springs
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Flowers Estates
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Flowers Estates is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowers Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 8,325 people
    • Blair Heights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Blair Heights is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Heights
      • Estimated population in 2019: 643 people
    • Lakeland Hills
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Lakeland Hills is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeland Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 3,282 people
    • Douglasville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Springwood Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Springwood Village is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springwood Village
    • Windwood Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Windwood Village is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windwood Village
    • White City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • White City is located in Douglas County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Winston
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Fayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Lafayette Estates
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Lafayette Estates is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 7,339 people
    • Franklin Farms
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Franklin Farms is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Franklin Farms
      • Estimated population in 2019: 1,192 people
    • Blakely Woods
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Blakely Woods is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blakely Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,571 people
    • Winterthur Woods
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Fayetteville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Harp
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Keyland Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Keyland Woods is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keyland Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 332 people
    • McIntosh Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • McIntosh Village is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntosh Village
    • Tyrone Acres
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Tyrone Acres is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone Acres
      • Estimated population in 2019: 7,506 people
    • Tyrone
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Inman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Fayette Villa Estates
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Fayette Villa Estates is located in Fayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayette Villa Estates
      • Estimated population in 2019: 17,991 people
  • Fulton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Linwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Linwood is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Cabbage Town
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cabbage Town is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cabbage Town
    • Atlanta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Brookwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Brookwood is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookwood
    • Buckhead
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Peoplestown
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Thomasville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Thomasville is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
      • Estimated population in 2019: 18,518 people
    • Vine City
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Vine City is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine City
    • Sylvan Hills
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Sylvan Hills is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,463 people
    • Doral Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Doral Park is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doral Park
      • Estimated population in 2019: 10,265 people
    • Adams Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Blair Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Blair Village is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blair Village
  • Gwinnett County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Danbury Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Danbury Village is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danbury Village
    • Mountain Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Mountain Park is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mountain Park
    • Elmside Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Elmside Village is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmside Village
    • Lilburn
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Norcross
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Stonemont
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Stonemont is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonemont
      • Estimated population in 2019: 6,281 people
    • Berkeley Hills
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Berkeley Hills is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkeley Hills
      • Estimated population in 2019: 2,147 people
    • Berkshire ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Berkshire is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berkshire
      • Estimated population in 2019: 554 people
    • Luxomni
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Luxomni is located in Gwinnett County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Luxomni
      • Estimated population in 2019: 514 people
    • Centerville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Peachtree Corners
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Berkeley Lake
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Henry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Stockbridge North
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Stockbridge North is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockbridge North
      • Estimated population in 2019: 29,904 people
    • Stockbridge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Highland Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Highland Village is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Village
    • Oakwood Manor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Oakwood Manor is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakwood Manor
      • Estimated population in 2019: 4,156 people
    • Whitehouse
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Whitehouse is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitehouse
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 6,792 people
    • Tunis ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Tunis is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunis
      • Estimated population in 2019: 910 people
    • McDonough
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Blacksville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Blacksville is located in Henry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blacksville
    • Hampton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Salem Branch
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Salem Branch is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Branch
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 310 people
    • Salem Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Salem Village is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem Village
    • Newton Woods
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Newton Woods is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newton Woods
      • Estimated population in 2019: 575 people
    • Oxford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Porterdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Essex Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Essex Village is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essex Village
    • Covington
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Paulding County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Indian Rose
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Indian Rose is located in Paulding County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Rose
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 2,241 people
    • Hiram
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Country Acres
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Country Acres is located in Paulding County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Country Acres
      • Population from the 2010 Census: 8,545 people
    • New Hope
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • New Hope is located in Paulding County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
      • Estimated population in 2019: 262 people
  • Rockdale County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Lakeview Estates
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Lakeview Estates is located in Rockdale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Estates
    • Conyers
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Milstead
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Milstead is located in Rockdale County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milstead
      • Estimated population in 2018: 39,217 people
    • Zingara
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Spalding County
  • Walton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.
    • Walnut Grove
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Walnut Grove is located in Walton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,367 people
    • Youth
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Split Silk
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Between
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Jersey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Decatur, see our County-by-County Page for Decatur.

Cemeteries Near Decatur ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Decatur.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Decatur - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Decatur covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Decatur had a population of 1,013 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Decatur had a population of 25,655 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Decatur, with the one closest to Decatur listed first.

  • Kirkwood
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Kirkwood is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkwood
  • Edgewood
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Edgewood is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
  • Clifton
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Clifton is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
  • East Atlanta
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • East Atlanta is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Atlanta
  • Clarkston
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Atlanta
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Peachtree Park ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Peachtree Park is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peachtree Park
  • Edwardsville ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Edwardsville is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwardsville
  • Roseland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Roseland is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
  • Constitution
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Constitution is located in DeKalb County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Constitution
  • Cornell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Cornell is located in Fulton County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
  • Stone Mountain
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Woodward
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Woodward is located in Fulton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodward
    • Chamblee
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Snapfinger
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Snapfinger is located in DeKalb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snapfinger

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Decatur. See our List of 1890's Communities around Decatur.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Decatur ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 273 newspapers that have been published in the area around Decatur.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Decatur. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Decatur and those printed in the larger area surrounding Decatur.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 8 miles [12.9 km]<4> of Decatur.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Decatur:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Decatur, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Decatur) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.