Fulton, Mississippi, boasts a rich tapestry of history woven from its early settlement, agricultural roots, and cultural evolution. Established in 1837 and named after steamboat pioneer Robert Fulton, the city began as a modest settlement in Itawamba County. The first settler, Malachi Crawford “M.C.” Cummings, known as the “Father of Fulton,” arrived in 1836. He and his wife, Sarah, cultivated 10,000 acres, built the town’s first hotel, and played pivotal roles in local governance and community development.

 

By the mid-19th century, Fulton had become a bustling center of commerce in Itawamba County. The town square hosted public events, including a notable 1845 celebration honoring President Andrew Jackson, which drew around 2,000 attendees. Local businesses flourished, with establishments such as carriage makers, blacksmiths, and grocers contributing to the town's economic vitality.

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In the realm of education, Fulton is home to Itawamba Community College, founded in 1948. Originally an extension of Itawamba County Agricultural High School, the college has grown to serve over 5,600 students across its main campus in Fulton and additional campuses in Belden and Tupelo.

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Fulton also holds a significant place in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1967, Itawamba Agricultural High School became one of the first in Mississippi to integrate its football team, marking a pivotal moment in the state's educational desegregation efforts.

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Today, Fulton continues to honor its historical roots while embracing progress. The Fulton Lock and Dam, part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, symbolizes the city's ongoing development and its connection to regional transportation networks. From its early days as a frontier settlement to its current status as a vibrant community, Fulton's history is a testament to resilience, innovation, and cultural richness.

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Fulton is on the threshold of incredible change.  The post-COVID economic dynamics of the local population provide a backdrop for an immensely important initiative regarding how the city will grow and change over the coming years and decades.  In 2022, the City of Fulton began the process to comprehensively update its 1994 General Plan.  This process, known as Fulton Forward, is an effort to establish a policy framework that will guide Fulton to become a more sustainable, resilient, healthy, and progressive community in the years and decades ahead.