Fulton, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Fulton is a city in Fulton County
, Kentucky
, United States
. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census. It was once known as the "Banana Capital of the World" because 70% of imported bananas to the U.S. used to be shipped there http://www.prx.org/pieces/16882. U.S. Route 51
runs through the center of downtown.
Fulton is part of the Union City
-Hickman
, TN
–KY
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
Mayor: Dan Voegeli
Commissioners: David Prater, Jeff Vaughn, Martha Vowell, Mike Farmer
City Manager: Kenny Etherton
City Clerk: Helen Lee
City Accountant: Lisa Morgan
City Attorney: Alison Whitledge
Police Chief: Terry Powell
Fire Chief: Mike Gunn
Public Works Director: Richard Tidwell (deceased).. see Fulton, KY website.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.35% is water.
of 2000, there were 2,775 people, 1,225 households, and 753 families residing in the city. The population density
was 983.0 people per square mile (379.9/km²). There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of 491.7 per square mile (190.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.35% White, 29.41% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.86% from other races
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 1,225 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples
living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 75.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,345, and the median income for a family was $27,625. Males had a median income of $26,029 versus $21,696 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,260. About 22.4% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Fulton. Fulton is one of only four cities in Kentucky
provided passenger rail service by Amtrak. The station is unmonitored and served by the City of New Orleans
route running between New Orleans and Chicago.
, a team in the KIT League
, a minor league baseball
league. The Railroaders play their home games in Lohaus Field.
From 1962 through 1992, Fulton held the International Banana Festival. The largest banana pudding in the world at 2000 pounds was even part of the banana parade. For pictures of the 1 ton pudding see:
Fulton County, Kentucky
Fulton County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1845 from Hickman County, Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 7,752. Its county seat is Hickman. The county is named for American inventor Robert Fulton...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census. It was once known as the "Banana Capital of the World" because 70% of imported bananas to the U.S. used to be shipped there http://www.prx.org/pieces/16882. U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
runs through the center of downtown.
Fulton is part of the Union City
Union City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
-Hickman
Hickman, Kentucky
Hickman is a city in Fulton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,560 at the 2000 census. Named for Captain Paschal Hickman, a Kentucky officer who was killed by Indians in the Massacre of the River Raisin during the War of 1812, it is the county seat of Fulton County.Hickman is...
, TN
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
–KY
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Union City micropolitan area
The Union City Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in northwest Tennessee and one in southwest Kentucky – anchored by the city of Union City, Tennessee...
.
Government
The City of Fulton uses The Commission Plan form of government, which is composed of a mayor elected to a four-year term and 4 commissioners elected to two-year terms. The executive and legislative authority of the city are exercised by the city commission, and administrative responsibilities are the province of the city manager.Mayor: Dan Voegeli
Commissioners: David Prater, Jeff Vaughn, Martha Vowell, Mike Farmer
City Manager: Kenny Etherton
City Clerk: Helen Lee
City Accountant: Lisa Morgan
City Attorney: Alison Whitledge
Police Chief: Terry Powell
Fire Chief: Mike Gunn
Public Works Director: Richard Tidwell (deceased).. see Fulton, KY website.
Geography
Fulton is located at 36°30′33"N 88°52′44"W (36.509156, -88.878768).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.35% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,775 people, 1,225 households, and 753 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 983.0 people per square mile (379.9/km²). There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of 491.7 per square mile (190.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.35% White, 29.41% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.86% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 1,225 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 75.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,345, and the median income for a family was $27,625. Males had a median income of $26,029 versus $21,696 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,260. About 22.4% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.2% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.
Rail Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Fulton. Fulton is one of only four cities in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
provided passenger rail service by Amtrak. The station is unmonitored and served by the City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans
The City of New Orleans is a nightly passenger train operated by Amtrak which travels between Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana. Before Amtrak's formation in 1971, the train was operated by the Illinois Central Railroad along the same route . The train currently operates on a 19½ hour...
route running between New Orleans and Chicago.
Points of interest
Fulton is home to the Fulton RailroadersFulton Railroaders
The Fulton Railroaders are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Fulton, Kentucky. The team, a member of the Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games in Lohaus Field, located in Fulton.-History:...
, a team in the KIT League
KIT League
The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...
, a minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
league. The Railroaders play their home games in Lohaus Field.
Banana Capital of the World
The United Fruit Co, now Chiquita, began shipping bananas from South America by ship to New Orleans. The bananas were loaded onto railcars on top of 162 pound blocks of ice for the trip north. Fulton had the only ice house on the route north to Chicago. The bananas were re-iced with blocks from the Fulton Ice Plant, now closed. Empty railcars were pulled up to the side of the ice house and these large blocks of ice were loaded end up covering the entire box car. The bananas were then laid on top of the ice to continue their journey. At one point, over 70% of the bananas that were consumed in the US passed through Fulton.From 1962 through 1992, Fulton held the International Banana Festival. The largest banana pudding in the world at 2000 pounds was even part of the banana parade. For pictures of the 1 ton pudding see: