Downtown Decatur has grown from two different historical downtowns – Old Decatur and New Albany. Old Decatur is what is now considered the Bank Street district and New Albany is the 2nd Avenue district. These two distinct downtown areas are linked together by Lee Street which runs from one district to the other.

Old Decatur was the original downtown of Decatur, built in the early 1800s. The neighborhood was nearly destroyed during the civil war, with only four structures remaining. One of those structures is the Old State Bank, which was occupied by troops during the war. The neighborhood is now known for its historic Bank Street shopping district.

New Albany has its origins in post-Civil war times. The neighborhood was built near the railroad and was a center for a lot of the city’s early commercial activity. Today, the district is still a favorite choice for new entrepreneurs opening stores, restaurants, and other businesses in the downtown area.