Fulton's Dutch heritage on the Mississippi River
The first thing most people notice about Fulton is the windmill. The local landmark, called De Immigrant, symbolizes the Dutch heritage shared by many of the city’s 3,500 residents. The small city and its windmill sit on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, while the larger city of Clinton sits just over the river on the Iowa side. The river plays a big part of life in the region. In fact, Fulton is named in honor of steamboat inventor Robert Fulton — a fitting tribute, since boating is still a major draw to the area. “It’s a cute little river town with parks everywhere,” says Chris McDanel, a real estate agent with eXp Realty with five years of local experience.
Boating, biking and baseball near Fulton’s riverfront landmarks
The Fulton Marina offers year-round public access to the river with docking slips, boat ramps, picnic areas and plenty of parking. Residents can purchase annual launching passes, and fuel and pump-out services are available. Near the marina, kids play baseball at Kiwanis Park, and cyclists and rollerbladers cruise along a paved riverside path. Visitors to the Windmill Cultural Center can tour the landmark to learn more about its operation. The playground, basketball courts and picnic areas at School Park are within walking distance of many homes, and the nine-hole golf course at Fulton Country Club is open to the public. Heritage Canyon, a re-creation of an 1800s village, is built into a quarry near the river. Fulton is on the Great River Trail, a popular cycling route that stretches over 60 miles from Savanna to the Quad Cities.
National and ranch-style homes with river views
Most houses in Fulton are Nationals from the early 1900s or midcentury ranch-style homes. A few New Traditional builds were added in the last 25 years. Some properties are on the river, offering splendid views and boating opportunities, but flood risk is also high in these areas. The land slopes upward as it moves away from the riverbank, so some homes have river views even if they don’t have direct access. Lot sizes typically measure under a quarter-acre with small patches of lawn, but mature trees offer shade and privacy. Many residential streets are too narrow for two cars to pass at once, and while a lot of them have sidewalks, the pavement is cracked and overgrown in places. Fulton’s median home sale price is more than twice as high as Clinton’s. “It’s a desirable area, but there are a lot of inflated prices,” McDanel says. “Sellers love it there, so a lot of them think their house is worth more than it is.” Investment properties sell for $25,000 to $75,000, and Nationals and small ranch-style homes cost $75,000 to $150,000. Larger single-story, raised ranch-style or two-story houses sell for $150,000 to $350,000.
Fulton High School is the home of the Steamers
Fulton Elementary School receives a B from Niche, and River Bend Middle School receives a B-minus. Fulton High School, home of the Steamers, is rated B. The high school mascot — the “Fulton Steamer” — is a three-decker steamboat on wheels, fashioned out of an old golf cart. The Steamer putters up and down the sideline during football games, tooting its horn when the home team scores.
Wooden clogs and street scrubbing at the Dutch Days Festival
Since 1974, the city has celebrated its heritage with the Dutch Days Festival, usually held the first weekend of May. The two-day event features live music, folk dancing, a pedal tractor pull, train rides and other kid-friendly activities. “They wear wooden clogs and scrub the street before the parade,” McDanel says. “For the street scrubbing, they set big troughs up on every corner to dip their brooms in.” Cars do burnouts in the pit at the Fulton Police Department’s Sick Summer Street Party, a June event with food trucks and a beer garden.
Fulton’s shops and eateries line its compact main streets
Fulton’s small downtown is crammed with antique and thrift stores, boutiques and salons. Krumpets Restaurant and Bakery starts days off with coffee and freshly baked pastries, switching gears at lunchtime with sandwiches served on house-made bread. Down the street, Don Julio’s offers Mexican specialties, and gamers hit the slots at Johnnie’s Tap, a neighborhood bar. Anglers can stock up on bait at the Shell gas station on 17th Street, near the Dollar General. Groceries are available at Hy-Vee across the river in Clinton.
Major highways lead to amenities in Clinton and the Quad Cities
Several major highways intersect in Fulton, including U.S. Routes 30 and 136. Both lead across the river to Clinton, about 4 miles away on the Iowa side of the border. It’s roughly 45 miles to Quad Cities International Airport in Moline. Health care services are available at Morrison Community Hospital, about 12 miles away. Fulton County Rural Transit provides residents with on-demand public transportation.
