Forest City, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forest City, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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436 Main Street
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| Motto(s):
One Mile Of Hospitality
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Location of Forest City in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
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 Forest City, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Forest City, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Susquehanna |
| Settled | 1871 |
| Incorporated | 1888 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.94 sq mi (2.44 km2) |
| • Land | 0.92 sq mi (2.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,780 |
| • Density | 1,945.36/sq mi (751.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip code |
18421
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| Area code(s) | 570 |
| FIPS code | 42-26560 |
| Website | |
Forest City is a small town, called a borough, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It sits where three counties meet: Susquehanna, Lackawanna, and Wayne. A special marker in the Forest City Industrial Park shows this unique spot.
The main part of Forest City is about four avenues wide and ten blocks long. In 2020, about 1,748 people lived here, with most living in the town itself. Long ago, in the early 1900s, Forest City was a very busy place. Its population was almost 6,000 because of its strong timber, silk, lumber, and coal industries. Main Street was full of activity back then!
Contents
History of Forest City
The land where Forest City now stands was once home to the Delaware-Munsee Indian Tribe. Before it became a town, it was untouched, wild land.
Early Settlements and Industries
Since the 1850s, this area was known as "Forest Mills." From 1879 to 1886, the local post office was called "Pentecost." This name honored William Pentecost, one of the first settlers. He started the lumber and milling businesses in the area. The post office was renamed Forest City in 1886, and the town officially became a borough in 1888.
Between 1866 and 1871, a railroad line called the Jefferson Branch was built. It was part of the D & H Canal Company. This railroad ran between Susquehanna Depot and Carbondale. It was used to transport harvested lumber, which was the main industry here. There was also a small mining operation run by William Pentecost, but it only dug up enough coal for local farmers to use for winter heat.
The Coal Mining Boom
In 1871, a large amount of coal was found in the area. The Hillside Coal and Iron Company bought a lot of land and started the first successful coal mining business in 1872. A small building called a breaker was built to process the coal. It handled about 75 tons of coal each day until 1883.
In 1886, a second mine shaft, called Shaft No. 2, was opened. This brought many new miners to the area, especially from Wales. Soon, about 300 men and boys were working to produce coal.
Challenges and Changes
On April 1, 1916, there was a mine collapse at Shaft #2. Sadly, seven young Welsh boys, aged 6 to 11, died in this accident. This tragic event inspired a song called "Crugybar o frynian caersalem," which was performed in 1922. The song remembers the boys, who had recently arrived from the Salem's Hills area of Northeast Wales.
Coal mining continued in Forest City until the Great Depression. This economic downturn hit towns that relied on basic products like lumber and coal very hard. As coal mining stopped, the town's population slowly became smaller. Today, the Forest City Area Historical Society helps people remember the town's past as a busy coal mining center.
At the start of the 1900s, coal mining and silk making were the main jobs. But after the Great Depression in the 1920s, many businesses closed. Only a few family-owned stores remained.
Recent Changes
The year 2017 brought big changes to Forest City. In August, a large fire destroyed many storefronts downtown. Then, in September, many lower-priced houses in town were quickly bought. Also, for the first time since 1910, the number of younger adults (ages 35 to 59) became higher than the number of older adults. This often means that a town is starting to change and attract new residents.
Geography of Forest City
Forest City is located about 23 miles (37 km) northeast of Scranton.
The town's exact location is at 41°39′3″N 75°28′5″W / 41.65083°N 75.46806°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Forest City covers a total area of about 0.9 square miles (2.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part (about 3.23%) being water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 993 | — | |
| 1880 | 990 | −0.3% | |
| 1890 | 2,319 | 134.2% | |
| 1900 | 4,279 | 84.5% | |
| 1910 | 5,749 | 34.4% | |
| 1920 | 6,004 | 4.4% | |
| 1930 | 5,209 | −13.2% | |
| 1940 | 4,266 | −18.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,122 | −26.8% | |
| 1960 | 2,651 | −15.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,322 | −12.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,924 | −17.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,846 | −4.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,855 | 0.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,911 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,748 | −8.5% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,741 | −8.9% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2010, the census showed that 1,911 people lived in Forest City. There were 817 households, and 462 of these were families.
About 28.3% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.23 people, and the average family had 2.91 people.
The average age of people in Forest City was 47 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 84 males.
Churches in Forest City
Forest City was once known as "the town with the most churches." This was because many immigrants came to live in towns like Forest City, and each group often built its own church.
For a long time, Forest City had five Roman Catholic churches. Each church was for a different ethnic group: St. Agnes for the Irish, St. Anthony's for the Lithuanians, St. Michael's for the Slovak people, St. Joseph's for the Slovenians, and Sacred Heart for the Polish. In 2010, these churches merged into one new parish called Ascension of Our Lord Parish. St. Joseph's Church was updated to become the main worship place for this new parish.
Forest City also has an Episcopal church, a Byzantine Catholic church, and a non-denominational church. The Methodist Church closed in May 2013. Its building was given to the Forest City Area Historical Society, which now uses it as their headquarters and museum.
Senior Care in Forest City
Forest City has places for older adults to live and receive care. The William Penn apartment complex on Main Street is for seniors. The Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center is on Delaware Street. These places care for a significant part of the town's population.
Education in Forest City
The Forest City Regional School District serves students from preschool all the way through 12th grade. This public school district provides education for the children living in Forest City.
According to information from 2010, there are at least 17 students in each grade level living in Forest City.
Notable People
- Samuel Rothafel, who founded the famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
See also
In Spanish: Forest City (Pensilvania) para niños
