Forest Park, Georgia

Forest Park, Georgia
City
Forest Park city hall
Forest Park city hall
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia
Forest Park is located in Metro Atlanta
Forest Park
Forest Park
Location in Metro Atlanta
Coordinates: 33°37′11″N 84°21′57″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
GNIS feature ID 0331743
Website http://forestparkga.org/

Forest Park is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. It is located approximately nine miles (14 km) south of Atlanta 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.

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. 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.

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

Historical population
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

2020 census

Forest Park city, Georgia – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 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

As of the census 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

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

Hendrix Drive Elementary, Fountain Elementary, Edmonds Elementary, and Huie Elementary.

Middle schools

Babb Middle School, Forest Park Middle School

High school

Forest Park High School

Transportation

Air

Highways

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

See also