Forest City, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forest City, Iowa
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| Motto(s):
Where Nature's Close and
Friends are Closer |
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Location of Forest City, Iowa
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 Forest City, Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| Counties | Winnebago, Hancock |
| Incorporated | June 14, 1878 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.59 sq mi (11.90 km2) |
| • Land | 4.59 sq mi (11.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,257 ft (383 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,285 |
| • Density | 932.54/sq mi (360.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50436
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| Area code(s) | 641 |
| FIPS code | 19-28380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0456667 |
Forest City is a city in Iowa, a state in the United States. It is located in both Hancock and Winnebago counties. Forest City is also the county seat of Winnebago County. In 2020, about 4,285 people lived there. This was a small decrease from the year 2000.
Contents
History of Forest City
Forest City was officially started in 1855. Before that, people sometimes called the area "Puckerbrush." Robert Clark, who surveyed the land, named it "Forest City." He chose this name because the city was built right out of a forested area.
The city's plan was laid out in 1856. It officially became a town on June 14, 1878. Many immigrants from Sweden and Norway moved to Forest City. They liked the area because it looked similar to their home countries. The city grew even more when leaders convinced the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad to build tracks through Forest City.
Even though the American Civil War slowed growth, many new people still found the city appealing. Over time, Forest City added churches, banks, and a college. It also got electricity and telephones. These things helped turn it into a great country town.
In 1960, some investors took over a factory that was not doing well. They started Winnebago Industries. This company made motorhomes, which are like homes on wheels. Winnebago Industries became one of the biggest employers in the area. This helped the city's population grow a lot. Later, Winnebago moved its main office to Minnesota. This caused the population of Forest City to become a bit smaller. Today, about 4,200 people live in Forest City.
Geography and Location
Forest City is located in northern Iowa. Its exact position on a map is 43.262077 degrees north and -93.640302 degrees west.
The United States Census Bureau says that Forest City covers about 4.64 square miles (11.90 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Climate in Forest City
Forest City has a type of weather called a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The weather changes a lot between the seasons.
People of Forest City (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 155 | — | |
| 1880 | 688 | 343.9% | |
| 1890 | 895 | 30.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,758 | 96.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,691 | −3.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,145 | 26.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,016 | −6.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,545 | 26.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,766 | 8.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,930 | 5.9% | |
| 1970 | 3,841 | 31.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,270 | 11.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,430 | 3.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,362 | −1.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,151 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,285 | 3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2020
In 2020, the census counted 4,285 people living in Forest City. There were 1,714 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 932 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Forest City were White (85.8%). Other groups included Black or African American (4.0%), Asian (1.9%), and Native American (0.3%). About 6.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Forest City was 36.2 years old. About 25.9% of the people were under 20 years old. About 19.0% were 65 years or older. The number of males and females in the city was almost equal.
Economy and Jobs
Forest City is known as the home of Winnebago Industries. This company makes motorhomes, which are large vehicles used for travel and living. John K. Hanson, a local resident, started the company.
In 2021, Winnebago announced that its main office would move to Eden Prairie, Minnesota. However, the company still keeps its manufacturing factories in Forest City. This means many jobs stay in the city.
Fun Things to Do
Forest City has many ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Bike Trails
There are three bike trails for cycling fans:
- The Hanson Trail, which is 9.0 miles long.
- The Hynes Spur, which is 2.0 miles long.
- The Pilot Knob Loop, which is 4.0 miles long.
Disc Golf
If you like disc golf, Forest City has a course with 21 holes. It's a fun way to play golf using flying discs.
Education in Forest City
Forest City has good schools and a university.
Local Schools
The Forest City Community School District runs the public schools. They even have a wind turbine! This turbine creates 60% of the energy needed for the elementary, middle, and high schools.
Forest City Christian School is another school option in the city. It is an independent school.
Waldorf University
Forest City is also home to Waldorf University. This is a four-year university where students can study many different subjects. It focuses on a "liberal arts" education, which means learning a wide range of topics.
Transportation
Forest City Municipal Airport
The Forest City Municipal Airport helps people travel by air. It is located about 2 miles south of the city's main business area. The airport opened in 1958.
As of 2011, it has two asphalt runways. One runway is very long, at 5,796 feet (1,767 meters). The other is 2,708 feet (825 meters) long. These runways are used by smaller planes for general aviation.
Famous People from Forest City
Many interesting people have come from Forest City:
- Bob Baker (1910–1975), an actor who was a singing cowboy in old Western movies.
- Lute Barnes (born 1947), who played Major League Baseball for the New York Mets.
- Dean Borg (1938 – 2020), a well-known journalist.
- Terry Branstad (born 1946), who used to be the governor of Iowa.
- Mike Stensrud (born 1956), an American football player who played in the NFL.
- Henry Teigan (1881–1941), a leader for workers and a U.S. Representative from Minnesota.
See also
In Spanish: Forest City (Iowa) para niños
