The City of Fulton, established in 1837, is named for Robert Fulton, the steamboat inventor. Located in the northeastern part of Mississippi, Fulton is smack-dab between Birmingham and Memphis on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Fulton boasts a modest population of nearly 4,000 but entertains bypassers and visitors stopping to take advantage of the waterway sports such as boating, skiing, canoeing, and fishing.
The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route Marker is unique to Fulton, located at the end of the Tenn-Tom bike trail near the corner of Camp Ground Road and John Rankin Highway. The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route memorializes the Underground Railroad, a network of clandestine routes by which African freedom seekers attempted to escape slavery before and during the Civil War. It is a 1,997.1-mile cycling route from Mobile, Alabama, to Owen Sound, Ontario, running through Fulton, Mississippi!
What’s not unique to Fulton is that most of its small, family-owned, and operated businesses are suffering from a shortage of workers, like in all small towns. And Fulton’s Mayor Emily Quinn understands that when those businesses cannot thrive, the entire community suffers. That is why she got to car-hopping when the going got tough for Fulton’s local Sonic.
Quinn became aware of the reduced stall options at the local Sonic and reached out to the manager to better understand the situation. After learning she couldn’t keep up with community demand due to a shortage of employees, Quinn offered to help. Picking up shifts allowed the business to serve more customers but also showed the community what public service looks like in action. Quinn’s simple at of service has been catching the public’s attention for all the right reasons.
Quinn compares her love for her city to that of a parent’s love for their child, and in doing so, she believes that it is essential to nurture the small businesses in her city. That kind of leadership is something every small town deserves!
You can help support small Mississippi towns, like Fulton, too. When traveling to bigger cities, make a point to stop by and refuel and refresh in the smaller ones along the way. Support a small town by attending their events. Many festivals or special events can be enjoyed on a day trip or used as an excuse for a weekend getaway. You can plan a trip to catch Fulton’s Firework Festival on July 1st at the ICC Grove. There will be plenty of food, fun, and of course, fireworks!
Enjoy a Mississippi staycation in Fulton on the waterway by boat at the Midway Marina or by RV and Tent Camping at the Jamie L. Whitten Campground or one of four hotels. For assistance with arranging your stay, you may contact our Itawamba Welcome Center.
- Photos are courtesy of The City of Fulton & Emily Quinn for Mayor’s FB page
