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.
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
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
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
| 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] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | 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 or 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
Education
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 middle schools and one high school.
Elementary schools
- Hendrix Drive Elementary
- Fountain Elementary
- Edmonds Elementary
- Huie Elementary
Middle schools
- Babb Middle School
- Forest Park Middle School
High school
Transportation
Air
Highways
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
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
- General Philip M. Breedlove, Commander, U.S. European Command
- Russel L. Honoré, retired Lieutenant General and former Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina
- Lil Gotit, rapper
- Lil Keed, rapper
- 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
See also
References
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Location". 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
- City of Forest Park, Georgia - official site
- "Municipality Statistics by Race and Gender," Georgia Secretary of State
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Municipalities and communities of Clayton County, Georgia, United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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