Fultondale, Alabama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fultondale
City
Logo
Motto(s):  "A Friendly City"
Location of Fultondale in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Jefferson
Area
• Total	12.14 sq mi (31.43 km2)
• Land	12.14 sq mi (31.43 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	505 ft (154 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,876
• Density	813.78/sq mi (314.19/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	35068
Area code(s)	205 & 659
FIPS code	01-28552
GNIS feature ID	2403671
Website	City of Fultondale

Fultondale is a city located in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It's a northern suburb of Birmingham. In 2020, about 9,876 people lived here.

History

Fultondale started as a mining town in the early 1900s. It officially became a city in 1947. The city's name comes from combining two older community names: Fulton Springs and Glendale.

Before the big Interstate 65 was built, US 31 was the main road for people traveling north from Birmingham. Because of this, hotels like the Keystone Lodge and Buchmann Motor Inn did very well. There was even a drive-in movie theater called the "Skyview" on the city's south side. This theater was taken down when I-65 was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Pine Bowl bowling alley is a long-standing place in the city. You can still see parts of the old US 31 road today, often called Stouts Road.

Fultondale didn't grow much for a while. But in the last ten years, it has seen a lot of new homes built, especially west of Interstate 65. New shops and restaurants have also opened near the I-65/Walkers Chapel Road exit. Many new neighborhoods have been built, including Chapel Hills, Black Creek Station, Town Square, and Fulton Springs.

On January 25, 2021, a strong tornado hit Fultondale. It caused a lot of damage to homes, cars, and businesses. Sadly, one person died, and 30 others were hurt.

Geography

Fultondale covers about 12.2 square miles (31.4 square kilometers) of land. It sits on one of the many ridges that are part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. This area has been mined for coal and other minerals for over a hundred years.

Two main highways, Interstate 65 and US Highway 31, run through the city from north to south. A newer highway, Interstate 22, is on the western edge of Fultondale. An interchange connecting I-22 with I-65 opened in 2016. I-22 makes it easier to travel directly to Memphis, Tennessee. Once I-22 is fully completed, Fultondale will be one of the few cities in Alabama served by two major interstate highways (I-65 and I-22).

The main east-west road is Walkers Chapel Road (west of US 31) and New Castle Road (east of US 31). Train tracks also run north-south along the city's eastern side. For air travel, the Birmingham International Airport is nearby.

Population Facts

2020 Census Information

In 2020, Fultondale had 9,876 people living in 3,879 households. About 2,393 of these were families.

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 8,380 people living in Fultondale. The city had 3,504 households. About 28.3% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.39 people.

The median age in Fultondale was 34.5 years old. This means half the people were younger than 34.5, and half were older.

Local News and Media

Fultondale is part of the Birmingham TV and radio area. Local newspapers include The Birmingham News, which comes out on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There is also The North Jefferson News, which is a weekly paper. Many people also get their news from the website al.com.

Schools in Fultondale

Fultondale is served by the Jefferson County Schools system. Fultondale High School is located on Carson Road. Fultondale Elementary School serves students from Pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade. It is located on US Highway 31.

In 2020, it was announced that Fultondale High School would get a new building. The Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School will move into the current high school building after it's updated. The school teams are called the Wildcats (and Junior Wildcats). Both schools use orange and navy blue as their colors.

Shopping and Businesses

For a long time, it was hard for Fultondale to grow because of its hilly land. But with new technology, it became possible to build on this land. The Colonial Promenade Fultondale is a large shopping area that opened in 2007. It has many big and small stores, shops, and restaurants.

Other businesses, like chain restaurants and large stores, have also opened nearby. Older, local businesses like supermarkets, fast-food places, banks, a bowling alley, and a skating rink are located along US 31 in the middle of the city.

Fun and Parks

Fultondale has a great place called Black Creek Park. It is next to Black Creek. The park has batting cages, a Senior Center, and walking trails. There's also a Children's Park and the Fultondale Bark Park, which has separate play areas for small and large dogs. The dog park hosts an event called the annual Barking at the Moon Festival.

The nature trail along Black Creek is about three miles long. It was built on an old railway line and crosses historic Stouts Road. The city also has a park and sports complex across from Fultondale Elementary School. This is where the Fultondale Youth Football and Cheer Association games are held.

See also

In Spanish: Fultondale (Alabama) para niños