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• The first corn oil mill was built in Decatur
• The first patented flyswatter was made in Decatur
• The Chicago Bears originated in Decatur as the Decatur Staley's (it wasn't until 1920 that Coach George Hallas took the Staley's to Chicago and became franchised in the NFL as the Chicago Bears)
• The first slot machine was made in Decatur
• Abraham Lincoln make his first political speech in Decatur
• Decatur is the birthplace of the Grand Army of the Republic
• Lincoln was nominated for the presidency at the Illinois Republican Convention in Decatur in 1860, and when elected became the nation's first Republican President
• Decatur is part of the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Trail
• In 1869 & 1870 the Illinois State Fair was held in Decatur
• The first cattle dehorner was made in Decatur
• The first hog ring was made in Decatur
• Lake Decatur has 32 miles of shoreline
• During WWII, the city police chief banned women from wearing shorts in public in Decatur
• The highest point in Decatur is 684" above see level (at Belmont & Cantrell Streets)
• Decatur was ranked #1 out of 94 smaller metropolitan Best Places in Forbes Magazine
• The average winter temperature is 31.17 degrees
• The mission of the Convention & Visitors Bureau is to promote Decatur/Forsyth as a convention, event and tourist destination