Fulton Hill facts for kids
Fulton Hill is a neighborhood in the East End of Richmond, Virginia. It stretches from Gillies Creek to the edge of Richmond city. The larger area, known as Greater Fulton Hill, includes Fulton Bottom, parts of Montrose Heights, and parts of Rocketts.
Fulton Hill is located south of Church Hill and Shockoe Bottom. It is north of Varina, east of the James River, and west of Sandston. The zip code for this area is 23231.
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A Look Back: Fulton Hill's History
This Richmond neighborhood is named after James Alexander Fulton. He was born in Ireland and built a large estate around 1800 where Powhatan Park is today.
Early Days and First Meetings
In the 1600s, Powhatan Park was home to Powhatan Village, which had twelve dwellings. People believe that Christopher Newport and John Smith first met Parahunt, the son of Powhatan, here in May 1607.
In the early 1700s, a ferry started operating from a property at the bottom of the hill. This ferry, owned by Robert Rocketts, connected the north and south sides of the James River.
Growing Pains and Changes
After the American Civil War, many single-story homes were built here. Richmond took over this area from Henrico County in 1905.
By the 1960s, the area at the base of the hill, near Gilies Creek, was home to many African Americans. Their homes were not in good condition. After severe flood damage in the early 1970s, many families received government help to move. They relocated to other parts of the city.
Eventually, the entire Fulton Bottom community was torn down. This was part of a big city plan to rebuild, which meant removing many homes. People had been promised new homes, but the land where Fulton Bottom once stood remained empty for ten years. Many people believe that the city's failure to replace these homes was a major problem with its rebuilding plans.
Fulton Hill Today
The part of Fulton Hill that is above the flood plain is a lively neighborhood. Many working families live there. Homes are being fixed up after a long time. This is happening because people in the community have worked hard to make it safer. Also, property prices are rising in other parts of the city.
Most people in Fulton Hill are African Americans. However, more white residents have bought homes here recently. This makes Fulton Hill one of Richmond's most diverse neighborhoods.
Life in the Neighborhood
Neighborhood businesses are mostly found along Williamsburg Road. These include a Bank of America branch, several convenience stores, and service stations. There is also a Family Dollar store, Top Shelf Smoke shop, and the popular Krispies Fried Chicken restaurant. The Neighborhood Resource Center, a longtime community nonprofit, is also located here.
Fulton Hill is also home to the east coast hub for Stone Brewing, a large brewery.
Homes and Landmarks
Fulton Hill has many homes built in the early 1900s. You can find many 1- and 1½-story bungalows. There are also some Sears Catalog homes and older, connected Federal-style homes.
The neighborhood is also home to Richmond National Cemetery. This is a cemetery for veterans that dates back to the American Civil War. It has 9,322 burials. An album by the band Alabama Thunderpussy is named "Fulton Hill" after this community.
