Forrest City, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Forrest City, Arkansas
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| Motto(s):
One Forrest City, moving forward, one step at a time
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Location of Forrest City in St. Francis County, Arkansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | St. Francis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.31 sq mi (52.60 km2) |
| • Land | 20.25 sq mi (52.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,015 |
| • Density | 642.87/sq mi (248.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
72335
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| FIPS code | 05-24430 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403637 |
Forrest City is a city in St. Francis County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located. The city was named after General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was a famous Confederate general who helped build a railroad between Memphis and Little Rock.
In 2020, about 13,015 people lived in Forrest City. The city is proud to call itself the "Jewel of the Delta".
Contents
History of Forrest City
How Forrest City Began
St. Francis County, where Forrest City is located, was officially created on October 13, 1827. This happened in Little Rock by the Arkansas government.
After the American Civil War, General Nathan Bedford Forrest became interested in the area. In 1866, he helped finish building the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad. This railroad went through a challenging area called Crowley's Ridge. By 1868, trains were running through what would become Forrest City.
General Forrest also built a supply store in the area. A person named Colonel V.B. Izard helped design the town at the same time. People started calling the area "Forrest's Town." This name later became Forrest City, and the city was officially formed on May 11, 1870.
The county seat moved a few times before settling in Forrest City in 1874. Sadly, the courthouse burned down shortly after, destroying many county records.
Important Events in the 1900s
In 1910, an organization for African Americans called the Imperial Council of Jugamos was founded. Its main office was in Forrest City. This group worked to support its members and community.
Forrest City was a stop for a passenger train called the Choctaw Rocket in 1940. This train was operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. However, the train service stopped in 1964.
In 1949, something exciting happened! Workers digging for sewer improvements found bones of huge ancient animals called giant mastodons. This showed that these massive creatures once roamed the area.
A big change happened in 1988 at Forrest City High School. They held their first integrated prom. For many years, after schools were ordered to integrate in the 1960s, the school stopped having dances. Instead, social clubs and families organized separate proms for different racial groups. The integrated prom was a step forward for the community.
Forrest City in the 2000s
In 2018, Cedric Williams was elected as the mayor of Forrest City. He is the third African American mayor in the city's history.
Geography of Forrest City
Forrest City covers about 16.3 square miles (42.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The city is located on a special landform called Crowley's Ridge. This ridge is a unique geological feature that stands out from the flat land around it. It's about three miles wide and rises about 300 feet (91 meters) above sea level. You can find several types of trees here that are not common in other parts of Arkansas. These include beech, butternut, sugar maple, and cucumber trees.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 903 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,021 | 13.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,361 | 33.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,484 | 82.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,377 | 36.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,594 | 36.0% | |
| 1940 | 5,699 | 24.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,607 | 33.5% | |
| 1960 | 10,544 | 38.6% | |
| 1970 | 12,521 | 18.8% | |
| 1980 | 13,803 | 10.2% | |
| 1990 | 13,364 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 14,774 | 10.6% | |
| 2010 | 15,371 | 4.0% | |
| 2020 | 13,015 | −15.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Details
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 3,046 | 23.4% |
| Black or African American | 9,184 | 70.56% |
| Native American | 42 | 0.32% |
| Asian | 78 | 0.6% |
| Other/Mixed | 219 | 1.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 446 | 3.43% |
According to the 2020 U.S. census, there were 13,015 people living in Forrest City. There were 4,358 households and 2,655 families in the city.
Local Landmarks and Important Places
The Forrest City Chamber of Commerce is located in the Becker House. This building is over 100 years old! It has been used for many different things over the years. It was once an antique shop and a home furnishings store before becoming the Chamber of Commerce.
Forrest City has five places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important sites that have been preserved because of their historical value. They include:
- Campbell House
- First United Methodist
- Forrest City High School (also known as "Old Central")
- Mann House
- Stuart Springs
Education in Forrest City
The Forrest City School District manages the public schools in the area. This includes Forrest City High School.
Around 2014, a school called KIPP Forrest City College Preparatory School opened for grades 5-8. It used temporary buildings and part of a Catholic church. In 2018, KIPP Delta decided to close the Forrest City school. Students then went to their facility in Helena-West Helena.
Notable People from Forrest City
Many interesting people have come from Forrest City, including:
- Barrett Astin, a former professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds
- Little Buddy Doyle, a blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter
- Lewis P. Featherstone, a former U.S. Representative
- Al Green, a famous singer and minister
- Willie Hale, a rhythm and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter
- John W. Henry, the main owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team
- Chris Hicky, a director of music videos
- Mark W. Izard, the 3rd Governor of the Nebraska Territory
- Jason Jones, a professional football player
- Don Kessinger, born in Forrest City, a professional baseball player and manager
- Albert King, a blues artist
- Henry Loeb, a mayor of Memphis, Tennessee
- Cara McCollum, who was crowned Miss New Jersey in 2013
- Gilbert Morris, an award-winning Christian author
- King Perry, a jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, and bandleader
- Jimmy Rogers, a football player
- Cal Slayton, a comic book artist
- Vernon Sykes, a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
- Dwight Tosh, a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Winston P. Wilson, a U.S. Air Force Major General
- Dennis Winston, a professional football player
- G. Wood, an actor who appeared in both the M*A*S*H movie and TV show
- Marshall Wright, a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
Images for kids
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Forrest City skyline
See also
In Spanish: Forrest City para niños
