Forest City, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Forest City, formerly known as "Burnt Chimney," is a town in Rutherford County
, North Carolina
, United States
. The population was 7,549 as of the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) are land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (0.24%) is water.
In 1999, Alexander Mills
merged with and became a part of Forest City, but now Alexander Mills has closed down due to the poor economy in Rutherford County.
of 2000, there were 7,549 people, 3,245 households, and 2,028 families residing in the town. The population density
was 918.6 people per square mile (354.6/km²). There were 3,638 housing units at an average density of 442.7 per square mile (170.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.37% White, 28.83% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.72% of the population.
There were 3,245 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples
living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $14,243, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $16,952 versus $12,601 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,248. About 15.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
art museum. An attraction is the Bennett Classical Auto Museum. Another is the Rutherford County Farm Museum, a museum dedicated to historical farm artifacts. During the Christmas season the downtown Forest City area is filled with over 500,000 lights and horse-drawn carriage rides. Many people from other counties come to see this every year; it is also on many Christmas Light tours as well.
Forest City is also home to the Forest City Owls
baseball club which is a member of the Coastal Plain League
, a collegiate summer league. The Owls who play at McNair Field
in Forest City, won the CPL championship in 2009 with a record of 51-9, again in 2010 and were ranked as the #1 collegiate summer team in America.
Free public WiFi Internet has been provided by City Computer in the DownTown business district in parking areas and inside restaurants since August 2006.
, which is based in Forest City.
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 7,549 as of the 2000 census.
Geography
Forest City is located at 35°19′52"N 81°52′12"W (35.331128, -81.870107).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) are land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (0.24%) is water.
In 1999, Alexander Mills
Alexander Mills, North Carolina
Alexander Mills, North Carolina, was a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in the USA. It was incorporated in 1925 and named after a textile mill established by J.F. Alexander. In 1999 Alexander Mills merged with and became a part of Forest City, North Carolina.-Sources:*The North Carolina...
merged with and became a part of Forest City, but now Alexander Mills has closed down due to the poor economy in Rutherford County.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,549 people, 3,245 households, and 2,028 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 918.6 people per square mile (354.6/km²). There were 3,638 housing units at an average density of 442.7 per square mile (170.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.37% White, 28.83% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.72% of the population.
There were 3,245 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $14,243, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $16,952 versus $12,601 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $15,248. About 15.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Attractions
Forest City has various museums, ranging from farm museums to an African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
art museum. An attraction is the Bennett Classical Auto Museum. Another is the Rutherford County Farm Museum, a museum dedicated to historical farm artifacts. During the Christmas season the downtown Forest City area is filled with over 500,000 lights and horse-drawn carriage rides. Many people from other counties come to see this every year; it is also on many Christmas Light tours as well.
Forest City is also home to the Forest City Owls
Forest City Owls
The Forest City Owls are a baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The team played its inaugural 2008 season in Forest City, North Carolina after the same franchise , owned by Ken Silver, moved from Spartanburg, South Carolina in the offseason...
baseball club which is a member of the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
, a collegiate summer league. The Owls who play at McNair Field
McNair Field
McNair Field is a 1,494-seat baseball stadium located in Forest City, North Carolina. It was built in 2008 as the home of the Forest City Owls baseball team...
in Forest City, won the CPL championship in 2009 with a record of 51-9, again in 2010 and were ranked as the #1 collegiate summer team in America.
Free public WiFi Internet has been provided by City Computer in the DownTown business district in parking areas and inside restaurants since August 2006.
Fire Department
The mission of the Forest City Fire Department is provide aggressive, twenty-four hour a day protection to the lives and property of the citizens and visitors of Forest City from the devastation of fire, hazardous materials incidents, and mitigation of the effects of natural and man made disasters. The department has been saving lives in Forest City for a hundred years.Education
The local school district is Rutherford County SchoolsRutherford County Schools (North Carolina)
Rutherford County Schools is a school district based in Forest City, North Carolina, United States.Former superintendent Dr. John Kinlaw retired effective June 30, 2010. Dr...
, which is based in Forest City.