Forest Park, Georgia
Forest Park is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. It is located approximately nine miles (14 km) south of Atlanta[4] and is part of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 19,932.
Forest Park, Georgia | |
|---|---|
Forest Park city hall | |
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia | |
Forest Park Location in Metro Atlanta | |
| Coordinates: 33°37′11″N 84°21′57″W / 33.61972°N 84.36583°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Clayton |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Angelyne Butler, MPA |
| • City Manager | Dr. Marc-Antonie Cooper |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.37 sq mi (24.27 km2) |
| • Land | 9.31 sq mi (24.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 988 ft (301 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 19,932 |
| • Density | 2,140.92/sq mi (826.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 30297-30298 |
| Area code(s) | 404/678/470 |
| FIPS code | 13-30536[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331743[3] |
| Website | http://forestparkga.org/ |
In the 1800s, Forest Park was named Stump Town, due to the large number of stumps left behind from trees being cut for fuel for the trains passing to and from Atlanta. After being charted and incorporated in 1908, it became known as several names, such as Quick Station, Aster, and Forrest Station. Until the 1950s, Forest Park was spelled with two "R's" instead of just one.[5]
History edit
Forest Park has its origins as a "wood and water stop" for the nation's burgeoning railroad system in the early- to mid-1800s. Originally the third stop from Atlanta on the Macon and Western Railroad, the city was incorporated in 1908. The community was named for the parklike setting of the original town site.[6] The 1,465-acre (5.93 km2) Fort Gillem was founded nearby in 1941 and was annexed into the city in 1973.
Geography edit
Forest Park is located at 33°37′11″N 84°21′57″W / 33.619659°N 84.365782°W.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24 km2), of which 9.4 square miles (24 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.43%) is water.
Demographics edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 173 | — | |
| 1920 | 308 | 78.0% | |
| 1930 | 388 | 26.0% | |
| 1940 | 577 | 48.7% | |
| 1950 | 2,653 | 359.8% | |
| 1960 | 14,201 | 435.3% | |
| 1970 | 19,994 | 40.8% | |
| 1980 | 18,782 | −6.1% | |
| 1990 | 16,925 | −9.9% | |
| 2000 | 21,447 | 26.7% | |
| 2010 | 18,468 | −13.9% | |
| 2020 | 19,932 | 7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
2020 census edit
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 7,557 | 3,555 | 2,467 | 35.24% | 19.25% | 12.38% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 7,883 | 6,808 | 9,268 | 36.76% | 36.86% | 46.50% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 56 | 23 | 47 | 0.26% | 0.12% | 0.24% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,268 | 1,448 | 1,375 | 5.91% | 7.84% | 6.90% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 7 | 9 | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 26 | 34 | 102 | 0.12% | 0.18% | 0.51% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 332 | 250 | 467 | 1.55% | 1.35% | 2.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,322 | 6,343 | 6,197 | 20.15% | 34.35% | 31.09% |
| Total | 21,447 | 18,468 | 19,932 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 19,932 people, 6,618 households, and 4,038 families residing in the city.
2010 census edit
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 18,468 people, 6,877 households, and 4,839 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,990.9 inhabitants per square mile (768.7/km2). There were 7,233 housing units at an average density of 771.5 per square mile (297.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 19.2% White, 37.7% African American, 0.50% Native American, 7.9% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.3% of the population.
There were 6,845 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,556, and the median income for a family was $36,029. Males had a median income of $27,381 versus $23,104 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,778. About 12.0% of families and 30.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education edit
Public education in the city of Forest Park is provided by Clayton County Public Schools. Schools in the Forest Park area include four elementary schools, two middles schools and one high school.
Elementary schools edit
Hendrix Drive Elementary, Fountain Elementary, Edmonds Elementary, and Huie Elementary.
Middle schools edit
Babb Middle School, Forest Park Middle School
High school edit
Transportation edit
Air edit
Highways edit
- Interstate 75
- Interstate 285
- U.S. Route 19
- U.S. Route 41
- State Route 3
- State Route 54
- State Route 331
- State Route 401 (unsigned designation for I-75)
- State Route 407 (unsigned designation for I-285)
Transit systems edit
MARTA serves the city.
There is commuter rail service in the planning stages along the Norfolk Southern line, with proposed stations in Forest Park, Morrow, Jonesboro, and initially ending at Lovejoy.
Notable people edit
- General Philip M. Breedlove, Commander, U.S. European Command
- Russel L. Honoré, retired Lieutenant General and former Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina
- Cindy Schreyer, professional golfer and NCAA women's champion
- Tanya Snyder, Co-Owner and Co-CEO of the Washington Commanders
- Terrell Starr, Georgia State Senate
- Roscoe Thompson, retired NASCAR Cup Series driver
- Hines Ward, NFL wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Lil Keed, Rapper
- Lil Gotit, Rapper
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ . City of Forest Park, Georgia. July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ Staff (November 26, 2007). "Forest Park celebrates 100 years of history". Clayton News. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 80. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Forest Park city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Forest Park city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Forest Park city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
External links edit
- City of Forest Park, Georgia - Official site.
- "Municipality Statistics by Race and Gender," Georgia Secretary of State