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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Forrest City

Arkansas · 14,774 residents · 20.2 sq mi
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The short version

Forrest City is home to 14,774 people in Arkansas. The poverty rate is 33.4%, above the 12.4% national rate. Owners hold 51% of the housing stock. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value sits at $56,100. That trails the Arkansas median by roughly 28%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

14,774
+11%since 1990
from 13,364 in 1990
1990 – 2025
32.3
+6%since 1990
from 30.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
20.2 sq mi
Population, 19902024
12K13K14K15K16K19902000201020202024Forrest City
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.1%(1,202)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.5%(1,114)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.3%(1,084)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.1%(1,051)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247.9%(1,173)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3416.1%(2,374)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4416.2%(2,394)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.8%(1,745)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.7%(993)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.8%(850)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.6%(531)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.8%(263)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$23,111
+28%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $13,704 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$11,716
+58%since 1990
from $7,399 in 1990
US average: $21,522
33.4%
−8.2 ptssince 1990
from 41.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$56,100
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $39,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$426
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $278 in 1990
US average: $602
51.1%
−1.0 ptssince 1990
from 52.2% in 1990
48.9% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic42.2%(5,642)
Black56.9%(7,608)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(82)
Asian0.6%(76)
2000
White, non-Hispanic29.6%(4,370)
Black60.5%(8,934)
Hispanic / Latino8.3%(1,221)
Asian0.7%(108)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Salvadoran1.5%(196)
Mexican0.6%(82)
Guatemalan0.1%(12)
Ancestry
German3.8%(484)
American1.8%(231)
English1.2%(157)
Irish1%(128)
Italian0.8%(106)
French0.8%(101)
Dutch0.7%(89)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(45)
British0.3%(33)
Scottish0.1%(17)
Swedish0.1%(13)
+ 2 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.1%(12)
Section 05

Education

12.4%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 12.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
65.5%
+3.9 ptssince 1990
from 61.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.1%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 3.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.4 min
−4%since 1990
from 16.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.9%(1,490)
Married64.5%(4,022)
Widowed3.3%(204)
Divorced8.3%(518)
Women 15+
Never married28%(1,447)
Married44.8%(2,315)
Widowed14.8%(765)
Divorced12.3%(636)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

10.7%
−7.8 ptssince 2013
from 18.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
26.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 27.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
8.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 8.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
20.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2020
from 16.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
52.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 50.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
34.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2020
from 35.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
63.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 61.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)12.6%(48)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.3%(58)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era18.7%(71)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.4%(13)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 380 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Forrest City, Arkansas?

Forrest City, Arkansas has about 14,774 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Forrest City, Arkansas?

The typical household in Forrest City, Arkansas earns about $23,111 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forrest City, Arkansas expensive?

In Forrest City, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $56,100, and the typical rent is about $426 a month.

How educated are people in Forrest City, Arkansas?

About 12.4% of adults age 25 and over in Forrest City, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forrest City, Arkansas?

About 33.4% of people in Forrest City, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forrest City, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Forrest City, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,410 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →