Forest Hills, Tennessee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Forest Hills
City
Location of Forest Hills in Davidson County, Tennessee.
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Davidson
Area
• Total	9.24 sq mi (23.93 km2)
• Land	9.24 sq mi (23.92 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	653 ft (199 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,038
• Density	545.47/sq mi (210.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	47-27020
GNIS feature ID	1269581

Forest Hills is a city located in Davidson County, Tennessee. In 2020, about 5,038 people lived there. It is known for its beautiful, hilly, and wooded areas.

History of Forest Hills

How Forest Hills Began

The area around Nashville was settled by Europeans in 1780. Over the next 20 years, settlers claimed land that was once used by Native Americans. Many soldiers from the American Revolutionary War received land here. They often sold their land or passed it to their families.

One early settler, Thomas McCrory, came in 1790. He built a two-story log house in 1798. This house is the oldest building still standing in Forest Hills today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The Natchez Trace Trail

Long ago, settlers needed a way to travel from New Orleans back home. They would float goods down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Before steamboats, they had to walk back through the wilderness. So, a path called the Natchez Trace was built from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi.

Building the Natchez Trace started in 1802 and finished in 1809. For about 20 years, it was the main north-south road in central Tennessee. When steamboats became popular, people used the Natchez Trace less. Parts of the old road became local farm roads.

Historians have found that the Natchez Trace actually had a few different routes in Davidson County. Two of these routes went through what is now Forest Hills. One important route followed what is now Hillsboro Pike.

Early Farms and Families

Even though many travelers used the Natchez Trace, not many people settled in Forest Hills at first. This was because the area had steep, forested hills. It was hard to grow crops there. However, some parts had fertile land, especially along Otter Creek.

Farmers mostly grew oats, Indian corn, and potatoes. Since growing crops was difficult, most farms also raised animals. Pigs were very common, and many farmers raised sheep for wool. There were fewer cattle, mostly for milk and butter.

The Compton family was one of the most important early families. Henry Compton Sr. settled in Forest Hills around 1815. He built a two-story log house around 1819. His family grew, and he became a very successful landowner. By 1860, his farm was very large and produced a lot of crops and livestock.

Another important family was the Scruggs family. William Scruggs bought land along Hillsboro Pike in the 1830s. His nephew, Edward Scruggs, later built a beautiful Queen Anne style house in 1890. This house, with its fancy details, was a landmark along Hillsboro Pike. It is still standing today.

Geography and Landscape

Forest Hills is located in a beautiful area. It is surrounded by Old Hickory Boulevard to the south and Granny White Pike to the east. Harding Place is to the north, and Chickering Road/The City of Belle Meade is to the west. The city hall is located where Hillsboro Pike and Old Hickory Blvd meet.

The city covers about 9.3 square miles (23.9 square kilometers), and it's all land. Forest Hills is considered a "satellite city" of Nashville. This means it's a separate city but close to Nashville. Residents here handle some services themselves, like garbage collection. However, the city of Forest Hills provides other services, like road maintenance.

Forest Hills grew as a suburb of Nashville after World War II. Many people moved to the suburbs, and Forest Hills became a city because of this growth.

As its name suggests, Forest Hills has many steep, wooded hills. These hills were covered with forests until the early 1900s. That's when more homes started to be built south of Nashville. You can see water towers and cell towers on some of these hills. Also, TV and radio towers are located on a tall hill north of Old Hickory Boulevard.

Even though there are many hills, the central part of Forest Hills used to have fertile farmland. This area, near Otter Creek, supported many small farms in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Nashville has grown a lot, and Forest Hills has grown too. Since 1970, many homes have been built here. There are not many open spaces or farms left. Most homes are on large plots of land, usually between 1 and 2 acres.

Population Information

How Many People Live Here?

The population of Forest Hills has grown over the years. In 1960, about 2,101 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 5,038 people.

Who Lives in Forest Hills?

According to the 2020 census, there were 5,038 people living in Forest Hills. These people lived in 1,796 households, and 1,470 of those were families.

Important Historic Homes

Many old homes from the 1700s and 1800s in Forest Hills are no longer standing. But a few important ones remain.

• The McCrory-Mayfield House at 1280 Old Hickory Boulevard is one of the most famous. It was built around 1798 and is the oldest house left in Forest Hills. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

In the early 1900s, as cars and roads improved, Forest Hills became a popular place for large country estates. Wealthy business people and professionals built beautiful homes here.

• Longleat at 5819 Hillsboro Pike is a great example. It was finished in 1932 for an insurance executive named Thomas Tyne. This house is important for its architecture and was listed on the National Register in 1984.
• The Hibbettage at 2160 Old Hickory Boulevard is another notable home. Built in 1939, this brick house looks like a smaller version of The Hermitage, which was President Andrew Jackson's home. It was added to the National Register in 1998 for its architectural style.

Education

Students in Forest Hills attend schools that are part of the Metro Nashville Public Schools district. Percy Priest Elementary School is located within Forest Hills.

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See also

In Spanish: Forest Hills (Tennessee) para niños