Official Name: | Forest Park, Georgia |
Settlement Type: | City |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Map: | Metro Atlanta |
Pushpin Label: | Forest Park |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Metro Atlanta |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Georgia |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Clayton |
Government Type: | Council-Manager |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Angelyne Butler, MPA |
Leader Title1: | City Manager |
Leader Name1: | Ricky L. Clark, Jr. |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 24.27 |
Area Land Km2: | 24.11 |
Area Water Km2: | 0.16 |
Area Total Sq Mi: | 9.37 |
Area Land Sq Mi: | 9.31 |
Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.06 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 19932 |
Population Density Km2: | 826.65 |
Population Density Sq Mi: | 2140.92 |
Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Timezone Dst: | EDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
Coordinates: | 33.6197°N -84.3658°W |
Elevation M: | 301 |
Elevation Ft: | 988 |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
Postal Code: | 30297-30298 |
Area Code: | 404/678/470 |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank Info: | 13-30536[2] |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank1 Info: | 0331743[3] |
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[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]
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 1465acres Fort Gillem was founded nearby in 1941 and was annexed into the city in 1973.
Forest Park is located at .[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4sqmi, of which 9.4sqmi is land and 0.04sqmi (0.43%) is water.
White alone (NH) | 7,557 | 3,555 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2,467 | 35.24% | 19.25% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 12.38% | |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 7,883 | 6,808 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 9,268 | 36.76% | 36.86% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 46.50% | |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 56 | 23 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 47 | 0.26% | 0.12% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.24% | |
Asian alone (NH) | 1,268 | 1,448 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 1,375 | 5.91% | 7.84% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 6.90% | |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 7 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 9 | 0.01% | 0.04% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.05% | |
Some other race alone (NH) | 26 | 34 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 102 | 0.12% | 0.18% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 0.51% | |
Mixed race or multi-racial (NH) | 332 | 250 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 467 | 1.55% | 1.35% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 2.34% | |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,322 | 6,343 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 6,197 | 20.15% | 34.35% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 31.09% | |
Total | 21,447 | 18,468 | style='background: #ffffe6; | 19,932 | 100.00% | 100.00% | style='background: #ffffe6; | 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
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.
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.