Tennessee: Decatur County

Decatur County, Tennessee is located on the west side of the Tennessee River as it leaves Alabama and travels north to join into the Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky. It was created in November 1845 from a portion of Perry County that was on the west side of the Tennessee River. It was named for Stephen Decatur, Jr. who had gained national recognition in the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War as well as the War of 1812.