Fulton is named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.[4] The city was incorporated on May 11, 1837.[5] The U.S. post office was established on July 26, 1837, marking the official launch of the service in Fulton.[6]
Interstate 22/U.S. Route 78 passes through the southern part of the city, with access from Exit 104 (S. Adams Street). I-22 leads west 19 miles (31 km) to Tupelo and east 25 miles (40 km) to Hamilton, Alabama. Mississippi Highway 25 passes through the southeastern part of Fulton, leading south 14 miles (23 km) to Smithville and north 26 miles (42 km) to Belmont.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Fulton has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.6 km2), of which 8.5 square miles (22.0 km2) are land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2), or 2.46%, are water.[3]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,542 people, 1,255 households, and 797 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 3,882 people, 1,357 households, and 891 families residing in the city. The population density was 450.3 inhabitants per square mile (173.9/km2). There were 1,508 housing units at an average density of 174.9 per square mile (67.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.69% White, 14.61% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 1,357 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 21.3% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,449, and the median income for a family was $42,287. Males had a median income of $33,490 versus $23,278 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,540. About 9.7% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.
^Mona Robinson Mills, Itawamba County (Arcadia Publishing, 2013), p. 8.
^The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi: The "Blue Book," 2016-2020. Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State. 2017. p. 356.
^Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives.
United States
Mississippi
