Decatur County was established by the Alabama Legislature on December 17, 1821.[1] In 1822, Woodville was selected as the county seat. Several years later, however, a survey showed the county did not have the minimum constitutional area, and so Decatur County was abolished on December 28, 1825[2][3] and divided between Madison County and Jackson County. The section added to Madison County was known informally for many years as "New Madison".