| Fultondale | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location in Jefferson County and the state of Alabama | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.3 sq mi (31.7 km2) |
| • Land | 12.3 sq mi (31.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 610 ft (186 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 6,595 |
| • Density | 536.2/sq mi (208/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 35068 |
| Area code(s) | 205 |
| FIPS code | 01-28552 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0118760 |
| Website | http://www.cityoffultondale.com/ |
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.
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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. The next scheduled municipal election for the City of Fultondale is August 28, 2012.
To expedite new commercial development, officials with the City of Fultondale have created five non-profit corporations which deal in buying, improving, and re-selling property to attract new business into the City. These corporations are:
1)The Commercial Development Authority of the City of Fultondale [1] 2)The Cooperative District of the City of Fultondale-Gas Board and Commercial Development Authority Project [2] 3)The Cooperative District of the City of Fultondale-Walker Chapel Road, Head Road and Main Street Area Project [3] 4)The Downtown Redevelopment Authority of the City of Fultondale [4] 5)The Public Building Authority of the City of Fultondale [5]
In order to buy and improve property for future development, these corporations are able to raise capital for new commercial development through bank loans and bond issues. These entities have been very useful in facilitating Fultondale's rapid growth in the last few years. Mayor Lowery and the City Council are to be congratulated for their visionary leadership in creating these corporations to bring in new chain-stores, restaurants, etc. and rid the City of older buildings and businesses which could be viewed as hindrances to new commercial development. Fultondale's City Council should also be recognized for their extraordinary unity demonstrated by unanimous votes on all resolutions suggested by Mayor Lowery for the last eight years.
However, as a result of the "unity" between the Mayor and his council - many citizens, whose tax dollars make the city's "visionary leadership" possible, feel that their opinions have been overlooked as council meetings have made a trend of voting first before addressing the comments / concerns of citizens.
Fultondale is located at (33.615202, -86.801293)[6].
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (32 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.
Fultondale is located in the Birmingham TV and Radio market. Newspapers include The Birmingham News (daily) and The North Jefferson News (twice weekly).
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 navy blue.
As of the census[7] 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 per square mile (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.
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 HomeStores 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 Dress For Less. Additionally, there are several restaurants opening in and around this development including: Chili's, Stix (Japanese), Logan's Roadhouse, and Full Moon BBQ.
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 and 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.
This 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 (the "Skyview") This was torn down when I-65 was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Pine Bowl bowling alley is still a long time fixture in the city.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 this city's northern side, most of this old routing is known as Stouts Road or in some case simply "old US 31."
The City was damaged by a tornado on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 during the multi-state Southern U.S. April 2011 tornado outbreak- the same powerful EF4 tornado that obliterated parts of Tuscaloosa and the western suburbs of Birmingham.
As a result of this storm, City Building Inspectors have condemned many homes and several businesses in Fultondale. Most homeowners whose structures were condemned have since moved out, and their homes demolished. While some businesses whose structures sustained minimal damage have repaired and reopened, there are two businesses which desired to reopen, but have met with substantial opposition from the City.
1) The Fultondale American Legion Post 255, it appears, has decided to relocate from their location on US Hwy 31 (Decatur Hwy)
2) Home Field Sports Grill (est 1990) - also on Decatur Hwy - is attempting to repair and resume their business, however City Building Inspectors are requiring numerous and costly code upgrades which threaten the owners' ability to reopen. [8] Since the April 27, 2011 tornado, the Fultondale City Council, at Mayor Jim Lowery's suggestion, has passed two ordinances that the owners of Home Field think are directed at discouraging the reopening of their 21 year old business. The first, a city smoking ban, was passed in July, 2011[9] The second is a "Night-Club" ordinance which was passed by the Council on 10/12/2011. [10] A pool table ordinance is also being considered by the City Council. [11]
Home Field Sports Grill - prior to the April 27th tornado - allowed smoking, offered live music with a dance floor, and also had pool tables.[12]
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