It has retained a distinct identity and character, and the majority of the settlement is in the Fulwood Conservation Area.

The extract below by John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870–72) described Fulwood and its history during its early Victorian foundations: "FULWOOD, a township-chapelry in Lancaster parish, Lancashire; on the Lancaster and Preston railway, 1.5 mile N of Preston.

Fulwood has expanded in the 20th century, and has been popular with housing and business developers, with its close links to the M6 and M55 motorways.

Since the 1970s when the Central Lancashire New Town was proposed, large sites have been made available for development, such as Longsands, which is a residential area, and "East Preston", where many businesses are currently located, including the Lancashire Evening Post (LEP), Asda, Royal Mail sorting office, Independent Inspections, Xchanging, CPC,[4] EDS and Holiday Inn.

[5] The B6241 (Eastway) provides a vital route, bypassing much of the residential and central areas of Preston, and a road via Longsands connects it to the M6 motorway (at junction 31A which was opened in the 1990s) and the Bluebell Way business park on the boundary with Brookfield.

[7] A notable former resident was Major John Rouse Merriott Chard, of the Royal Engineers, V.C., officer commanding at Rorke's Drift in 1879.

Due to large investments during the late Victorian era, Fulwood was an area of much development by wealthy Preston industrialists.

The electoral wards which make up the area of Fulwood are; Sharoe Green, College, Cadley, Greyfriars and Garrison.

Until 2010, the wards which make up Fulwood were split unevenly between three Westminster constituencies; Following the Boundary Commission for England's review of parliamentary representation in Lancashire, the Boundary Commission moved the whole of Fulwood into a new constituency of Wyre and Preston North from the 2010 General Election.

The men's 1st XI play in the West Lancashire League Premier Division (Level 11 in the English football pyramid).

[16] Hoppers are one of the oldest rugby clubs in the north of England, and in the 2021-22 season, they won the John Burgess Lancashire Cup.