Decatur in Morgan County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Austinville High School
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, May 10, 2026
1. Austinville High School Marker
The pride of its community, Austinville High School opened at this site in 1937, on land donated by A. J. Roper. It continued as a high school for students in the surrounding countryside for more than two decades. In 1959, after the Austinville community was incorporated into Decatur, it became an elementary school; Austin High School opened nearby in 1962.
Upon these grounds, dedicated teachers imbued hundreds of students with fundamental lessons of truth, honesty, and dependability, as well as the lasting value of the bonds of friendship, teamwork, citizenship, and patriotism. Austinville's basketball program excelled. Under Coach J.A. Jones. the team won a state championship in 1953 and earned a fourth-place finish in 1956. His successor, Earl Morris, led the team to three consecutive championships in 1957, 1958, and 1959. During tournaments, the residents of the working-class Austinville community rallied in support of their team.
Graduates of Austinville High School contributed to nearly every aspect of society, including industry and the armed services during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. They
this page online
Erected 2019 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 34° 34.114′ N, 86° 59.832′ W. Marker is in Decatur, Alabama, in Morgan County. It is on Clara Avenue Southwest north of Clearview St SW, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2320 Clara Ave SW, Decatur AL 35601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, May 10, 2026
2. Austinville High School and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Recreation and Refreshment (approx. 2.3 miles away); the "Chicago of the South" (approx. 2.3 miles away); Social and Cultural Opportunities (approx. 2.3 miles away); Beauty and Hope (approx. 2.3 miles away); Health and Civic Welfare (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Land of the Indians (approx. 2.3 miles away); Albany (approx. 2.3 miles away); St. John's Episcopal Church (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decatur.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 14, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
