DECATUR SISTER CITIES

Over three decades ago, Sister Cities International was launced to encourage an exchage of ideas between citizesn of cites around the globe.

The city of Decatur, IL has had the good fortune of enjoying a very special relationship with each of its two siter citeis- Seeveal, Germany and Tokorozawa, Japan.

The siter ccities program offers an opportunity to visit a foreign country, not as a tourist, but as a member of a family and community. Each year high schoool students from Decatur visit our sister cities, staying wtih host families and learning about daily life in a foreign country. Likewise, students from Seevetal and Tokorozawa visit Decatur and and become part of a Decatur family for several weeks. These exchanges create an atmosphere of respect and build towards a dialogue between communities that is vial in our understanding of glbabl intra-dependency and the world.

In addition, the Sister Cities program is involved in adult exchanges. In 2009, adults from Decatur will visit Seevetal.

The city of Decatur (pop. 125,0000) was founded in 1829 in the seat of Macon County. It took its name from Commodore Stephen Decatur , a United States Naval hero of the battle of Tripoli.

Decatur is located in central illinois and is surrounded by many small farming communities. The city is centered between many corn and soybean fields. It is the home to Archer Daniels Midland and Tate and Lyle, two large agricultural processors. Decatur is often reffered to as the "soybean capital of the world."

Features of Decatur include a man-made lake,restored downtown commercial area and a historic district. Decatur is also the home to Millikin University.

The city's symbol is the tranfer house, a red Victorian buiding that was originally built in the city's center where mass transit lines met. The transfer house was moved in 1963 to downtown Decatur where it now sits in central park.