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About the Community
Forrest City sits atop Crowley's Ridge, the rugged and beautiful outcropping that runs from Missouri through Arkansas. The Ridge rises from the rich Delta farmland surrounding the city, creating interesting landscape contrasts in the area. With friendly people, little traffic congestion, and a down-home atmosphere, Forrest City is the ideal spot to live. Just 45 minutes from Memphis and a little over an hour from Little Rock, the town offers small town convenience and big city access. Zipping around town to run errands or conduct business is a breeze, and you'll find that you can be home from work in time to play ball with the kids or walk your pets. However, there is also sufficient cultural, social and recreational activity to keep those who like a busy social calendar active. Excellent public and private schools and quality healthcare are taken for granted in the area. Recreational opportunities abound. The area is home to Village Creek State Park, Arkansas' largest and the area has bragging rights for fishing and hunting areas frequented by outdoorsmen from all over the United States. Visit Forrest City and meet our people. Find out for yourself why we like to call Forrest City, "Home". About the Area Our area topography is generally flat, fertile, agricultural land with the exception of the unique geological formation known as Crowley's Ridge. The ridge forms a north-south highland some 300 feet above sea level and three miles wide through the middle of St. Francis County, and is the only formation of its kind in the United States. Some of the earliest inhabitants of our area were Cherokee Indians who lived on a beautiful, clear creek now known as Village Creek. The area where the Indians lived is now the largest state park in Arkansas, Village Creek State Park. Originally recognized by the Arkansas Territorial Legislature on October 13, 1827, St. Francis County was originally a part of Phillips County. The history of the county is displayed at the St. Francis County Museum, one of the designated hospitality centers for the Arkansas Scenic Byway that winds through Forrest City. Named for the St. Francis River, a major route for pioneer traffic, the county is currently divided into ten municipalities. Forrest City incorporated in 1871, is the county seat. The county also encompasses the towns of Caldwell, Colt, Goodwin, Heth, Hughes, Madison, Palestine, Wheatley, and Widener, each town with its own distinct identity. Nathan Bedford Forrest, a famous Confederate general, became interested in the area around Crowley's Ridge during the Civil War. After the war was over, he contracted with railroad companies in Memphis and Little Rock to cut through the ridge and succeeded in linking the two cities by rail. The first trains came through in 1868. General Forrest later built a commissary on what is now known as Front Street. Forrest City got its name from General Forrest's workers who were mostly former Confederate soldiers and Irish immigrants. Forrest's "camp" was incorporated as Forrest City, May 11, 1870 and now has a population of over 14,000. Climate Seasonal Averages Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Degrees Spring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Degrees Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Degrees Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Degrees Rainfall, Annual Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Inches Snowfall, Annual Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Inches Frost Free Growing Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 |
