Forest, Ohio

Forest, Ohio
Village
Aerial view of Forest
Location of Forest, Ohio
Detailed map of Forest
Coordinates: 40°48′18″N83°30′42″W / 40.80500°N 83.51167°W / 40.80500; -83.51167
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Counties	Hardin, Wyandot [1]
Area [2]
• Total	1.44 sq mi (3.74 km2)
• Land	1.44 sq mi (3.74 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [3]	929 ft (283 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,350
• Estimate  (2023) [4]	1,331
• Density	934.90/sq mi (360.97/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	45843
Area code	419
FIPS code	39-27636 [5]
GNIS feature ID	2398894 [3]
Website	www.villageofforest.com

Forest is a village in Hardin and Wyandot counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,350 at the 2020 census.

History

A post office has been in operation at Forest since 1854. ^[6] Forest was platted in 1855 when the railroad was extended to that point. ^[7] The village most likely was named for the fact the original town site was a forest. ^[8] Forest was incorporated in 1865. ^[7]

Forest was directly in the path of totality during the solar eclipse of April 8, 2024 for almost four minutes, making it one of sites with longest duration of totality. ^[9]

Geography

Lima Street downtown

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.61 square miles (4.17 km²), all land. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	987		—
1890	1,126		14.1%
1900	1,155		2.6%
1910	1,285		11.3%
1920	1,143		−11.1%
1930	1,103		−3.5%
1940	1,083		−1.8%
1950	1,114		2.9%
1960	1,314		18.0%
1970	1,535		16.8%
1980	1,633		6.4%
1990	1,594		−2.4%
2000	1,488		−6.6%
2010	1,461		−1.8%
2020	1,350		−7.6%
2023 (est.)	1,331	[4]	−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 1,461 people, 550 households, and 387 families living in the village. The population density was 907.5 inhabitants per square mile (350.4/km²). There were 646 housing units at an average density of 401.2 per square mile (154.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.0% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 550 households, of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the village was 34.2 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[5] of 2000, there were 1,488 people, 591 households, and 410 families living in the village. The population density was 1,253.4 inhabitants per square mile (483.9/km²). There were 644 housing units at an average density of 542.5 per square mile (209.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.52% White, 0.40% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.34% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.

There were 591 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $38,631. Males had a median income of $31,071 versus $22,260 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,342. About 8.1% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Jim Karcher, American football player.

References

1. Hardin County, Ohio: Online Auditor - Map, Hardin County, January 25, 2011. Accessed 2011-01-25.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Forest, Ohio
4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Hardin County". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
7. Kohler, Minnie Ichler (1910). A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Principal Interests. Lewis Publishing Company. p.  165.
8. Overman, William Daniel (1958). Ohio Town Names. Akron, OH: Atlantic Press. p. 46.
9. Gerlett, Kristy (April 1, 2024). "Small Ohio village to experience one of the longest periods in totality". 10 WBNS. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 6, 2013.

External links

Media related to Forest, Ohio at Wikimedia Commons