Five Forks, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Five Forks, South Carolina
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 Five Forks, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Greenville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.61 sq mi (19.72 km2) |
| • Land | 7.57 sq mi (19.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 876 ft (267 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,737 |
| • Density | 2,342.76/sq mi (904.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
29681 (Simpsonville), 29651 (Greer)
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| Area code(s) | 864 |
| FIPS code | 45-25540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1222418 |
Five Forks is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP) in Greenville County, South Carolina, USA. It's not a city or town with its own government, but it's a recognized area.
The population of Five Forks was 17,737 people in 2020. This number has grown a lot from 14,140 in 2010 and 8,064 in 2000. It is a quickly growing and wealthy suburb of Greenville. Five Forks is also part of the larger Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Exploring Five Forks Geography
Five Forks is located in the eastern part of Greenville County. You can find it at these coordinates: 34°48′21″N 82°13′49″W / 34.80583°N 82.23028°W. It is about 11 miles (18 km) east of Downtown Greenville.
The area of Five Forks is surrounded by important roads and natural features. SC 14 is to the west. Roper Mountain and Anderson Ridge roads are to the north. Jonesville Road is to the east. To the south, you'll find Gilder Creek, which is a small stream that flows into the Enoree River.
The United States Census Bureau says that Five Forks covers a total area of about 19.7 square kilometers (7.6 square miles). A very small part of this area, about 0.1 square kilometers (0.04 square miles), is water.
The History of Five Forks
How Five Forks Got Its Name
The name "Five Forks" comes from a place where five roads meet. The The Post and Courier newspaper in Greenville says these roads were Woodruff Road (the main road going east and west), Batesville Road, Scuffletown Road, Bennetts Bridge Road, and a road now called Five Forks Road.
Growth and Development in Five Forks
Until the early 1990s, Five Forks was mostly a rural area with lots of open land. But then, it started to grow very quickly. Now, it's a popular spot with many shops, restaurants, and entertainment options for people to enjoy.
An old map from 1983 by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) shows how the roads used to look. It showed a star-shaped intersection where Woodruff, Adams Mill, Five Forks, and Scuffletown roads met. Later, a bypass for Woodruff Road and other changes made the roads look different.
Five Forks as a Great Place to Live
In 2019, a website called Niche.com ranked Five Forks very highly. It was named the best place to live in South Carolina. It was also ranked as the second-best place to raise a family out of 190 places in the state.
Weather Events in Five Forks
In April 2019, an EF1 tornado was confirmed to have touched down. This tornado started in Simpsonville and ended its path in Five Forks.
Planning for the Future of Five Forks
In March 2021, Greenville County shared a new plan for the Five Forks area. This plan had been worked on since 2018 by a group of local residents. They wanted to solve problems like heavy traffic, the loss of trees, and uneven growth in the area.
The plan covers ideas for commercial building design, protecting the environment, and goals for how homes should be built. All three county council members who represent parts of Five Forks supported the plan. No one spoke against it at a public meeting in May 2021.
The county decided to add "overlay districts" based on this plan. These are special rules that will legally guide how new buildings and developments happen in Five Forks in the future. In August 2021, the county council voted to officially adopt the plan as part of the county's main development plan.
Population and People in Five Forks
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 8,064 | — | |
| 2010 | 14,140 | 75.3% | |
| 2020 | 17,737 | 25.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 14,140 people living in Five Forks. There were 4,630 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. The area had about 1,860 people per square mile (718 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Five Forks were White (87.5%). There were also African American (5.5%), Asian (4.4%), and people of other backgrounds. About 4.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (53.6%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (78.3%) were married couples living together. The average household had 3.05 people.
The population was quite young, with 33.3% of people under 18 years old. The average age was 37.3 years.
Population in 2020
| Race | No. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 13,555 | 76.42% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,029 | 5.8% |
| Native American | 34 | 0.19% |
| Asian | 1,122 | 6.33% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 800 | 4.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,191 | 6.71% |
By the 2020 United States census, the population of Five Forks had grown to 17,737 people. There were 5,627 households and 5,029 families. About 27.2% of the people living there were under the age of 18.
In 2021, the average income for households in Five Forks was twice as much as the average income for the rest of Greenville County. This shows that Five Forks is a well-off community.
Education in Five Forks
Public and Private Schools
Public schools in Five Forks are managed by the Greenville County School District. One of the schools in Five Forks is Monarch Elementary School. There is also a large private school called Southside Christian School. Additionally, Primrose Schools has a local campus for younger children.
Libraries in Five Forks
Five Forks also has its own public library. It is a branch of the Greenville County Library System, where you can find books and other resources.
Safety Services in Five Forks
Fire and Rescue Services
The community of Five Forks is protected by two fire departments. These are Clear Spring Fire and Rescue, and Pelham Batesville Fire Department station 3. They help keep everyone safe from fires and other emergencies.
Law Enforcement
Five Forks does not have its own police force. Instead, law enforcement is provided by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. They are responsible for keeping the peace and responding to calls in the area.
See also
In Spanish: Five Forks para niños
