South Fulton is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Union City, TN–KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

South Fulton is located at (36.496716, -88.879193).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, South Fulton had a population of 2,245. The median age was 43.5 years, 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.0 males age 18 and over.

85.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 14.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,008 households in South Fulton, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.4% were married-couple households, 19.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 1,799 || 80.1%

|-

| Black or African American || 330 || 14.7%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 7 || 0.3%

|-

| Asian || 3 || 0.1%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 11 || 0.5%

|-

| Two or more races || 95 || 4.2%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 35 || 1.6%

|}

2000 census

As of the census

Education

It is in the Obion County School District.

"Pay for Spray" controversy

Starting in the early 1990s, South Fulton adopted a policy of allowing people outside the city limits to be protected by the fire department, in return for a $75 annual fee. But unlike neighboring towns, which would even protect someone who had not paid (while charging them a larger fee covering expenses), The South Fulton Fire Department did show up, but refrained from helping, only protecting the property of a neighbor who had paid the tax. The Cranicks lost three dogs and the family cat, along with the house and most of their possessions.

In 2011 this happened again, with Vicky Bell, the homeowner, reporting that the fire department actually pulled up and watched, but did not help.

This policy has been decried by media nationally, including Keith Olbermann, and Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, who said "Professional, career firefighters shouldn’t be forced to check a list before running out the door to see which homeowners have paid up...They get in their trucks and go."

Conversely, this policy was defended by some, including Glenn Beck and the National Review

Two years after this controversy started, the city of South Fulton changed their policy. Going forward, any homeowner who didn't pay the $75 tax must pay $3,500 per call.

References

  • NBC News