Fultondale, Alabama

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Fultondale, Alabama
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Jefferson County and the state of Alabama


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Alabama
subdivision_name2 = Jefferson
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 31.7
area_total_sq_mi = 12.3
area_land_km2 = 31.7
area_land_sq_mi = 12.3
area_water_km2 = 0
area_water_sq_mi = 0
elevation_ft = 610
elevation_m = 186
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6595
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 208
population_density_sq_mi = 536.2
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 33 |latm = 36 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 48 |longs = 4 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 35068
area_code = 205
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 01-28552
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0118760
footnotes =
website =

Fultondale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States and a northern suburb of Birmingham. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 6,595 and, as of 2006, was estimated to be 6,905. Fultondale was a relatively stagnant community until the last decade. Growth has occurred in residential areas mainly west of Interstate 65, while retail development has focused along and near the I-65/Walkers Chapel Road exit.

Government

The current mayor is Jim Lowery, who is serving his third four-year term. Members of the City Council are Greg Morris (mayor pro tem), Joe Bolton, William Howell, Darrell Hubbert and Tommy Loden. The mayor and council were all re-elected in 2004, with the exception of Howell. Long-time councilman W.J. Alexander died shortly after being re-elected in 2004, and Howell was appointed to take his place. The next election for mayor and council would have been in August 2008, but no one qualified to run against Lowery or any of member of the council, so the entire leadership team will be in place for the next four years.

Geography

Fultondale is located at coor dms|33|36|55|N|86|48|5|W|city (33.615202, -86.801293)GR|1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.7 km²), all of it land. Fultondale is located along one of the many ridgelines that comprise the southern end of the Appalachian Mountain chain. The area has been thoroughly mined for coal and other minerals in the past 100 years. The city is served by two major north/south highways, Interstate 65 and US Highway 31. The new Interstate 22 encroaches on the city's western edge and by the year 2011 will intersect with I-65 just south of Fultondale. I-22 will provide direct interstate access to Memphis, Tennessee. Upon completion of Interstate 22, Fultondale will become the only Alabama city besides Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile to be directly served by more than one two-digit interstate highway (I-65 & I-22). The only east/west thoroughfare of note is Walkers Chapel Road (west of US 31) and New Castle Road (east of US 31). Rail lines run north/south along the city's eastern edge from Boyles Yard in Tarrant to points north and east. Air travel is available from nearby Birmingham International Airport.

Media

Fultondale is located in the Birmingham TV and Radio market. Newspapers include The Birmingham News (daily) and The North Jefferson News (twice weekly).

Education

Fultondale has a new elementary school located along US 31 in the southern part of the city. Fultondale High School is located on Carson Road on the northeast side of the city. The school nickname is Wildcats and the school colors are orange and blue.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,595 people, 2,722 households, and 1,927 families residing in the city. The population density was 538.3 people per square mile (207.9/km²). There were 2,871 housing units at an average density of 234.3/sq mi (90.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.60% White, 5.34% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 1.00% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 1.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,722 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,006, and the median income for a family was $44,073. Males had a median income of $33,447 versus $25,700 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,656. About 7.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Due to the growth spurt of commercial businesses, Fultondale is also experiencing strong growth in new residential development throughout the city.

Colonial Promenade Fultondale

The development is a project of Colonial Properties and a portion opened in the fall of 2007. Target is the anchor tenant in the development along with Books-A-Million and Best Buy. Target features a Starbucks and Books-A-Million a Joe Muggs. Ashley Furniture is located at the southern end of the shopping complex. Phase II of the Promenade opened in the fall of 2008 with a JCPenney and Ross. Additionally, there are several restaurants opening in and around this development including: Chili's, Stix (Japanese), Logan's Roadhouse, and Full Moon BBQ.

Retail & Commercial

Due to difficult topography, for many years Fultondale was limited in its ability to grow. However, as technology improved, the ability to convert what had been difficult to unusable land for retail and commercial purposes improved. Besides the retail development of Colonial Promenade, other retail development nearby includes Lowe's and various chain restaurants such as O'Charley's & Outback Steakhouse. Other older, more mature business establishments line US 31 in the center of the community including supermarkets, casual fast food, banks, a bowling alley and skating rink. Overshadowed for many years by its neighbor to the north, Gardendale, the city has now vastly outgrown its neighbor and has seen a dramatic increase in retail sales and sales tax dollars while Gardendale witnessed a sales tax drop of over 5% during the past 52 weeks.

History

The area was once known as Fulton Springs. Prior to the building of Interstate 65, US 31 was the main route for travelers northbound from Birmingham towards Nashville, Tennessee. As a result, hotels such as the Keystone Lodge and Buchmann Motor Inn prospered. On the city's southern edge was located one of the few drive-in theatres in the Birmingham area. This was torn down when I-65 was built in the late 60's and early 70's. The Pine Bowl bowling alley is still a long time fixture in the city. The city once operated its own city pool and recreation center. The pool was the only municipally operated public pool in northern Jefferson county. Traces of the old routing of US 31 are still noticeable in the city. From just south of the city hall to an old bridge on the city's northern side, most of this old routing is known as Stouts Road or in some case simply "old US 31."

References

External links

* [http://www.cityoffultondale.com official website of the City of Fultondale]