Forest, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Forest is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Bedford County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.61%) is water.
containing many subdivided properties carved from and around surrounding farms and woodlands. The Ivy Hill community is the largest development and is built around the Ivy Hill Golf Course. The town has been experiencing rapid growth and development over the past 10 years, which is expected to continue into the near future. The recent construction of shopping centers such as Cavalier Corner and a large strip mall
beside the Post Office evidence this recent growth. Forest is home to Jefferson Forest High School
(the Cavaliers, ~1400 students), Forest Middle School (the Knights, ~1100 students), Forest Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, and New London Academy.
Forest has no real town center, but the area along U.S. Route 221
from the Post Office to the Forest Library is generally regarded as the central part of the community; however, technically the town extends all the way along Rt. 221 from the middle school to Graves Mill Shopping Center. The political attitudes of the majority of the population are conservative.
The most popular attraction of the town is Poplar Forest
, the summer home of Thomas Jefferson
, which is open to the public for visitation and is the subject of ongoing archaeological studies. The home is also used for events. Nearby attractions include Point of Honor
in Lynchburg, the National D-Day Memorial
in Bedford, and the Peaks of Otter
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
. The nearest urban center is in downtown Lynchburg, approximately 10 miles northeast of town. Forest is accessed via Route 221 and U.S. Route 460
. The nearest rail line is Amtrak's Crescent Train
at the station in Lynchburg. The nearest major airport is Lynchburg Regional Airport
offering commercial service through US Airways Express
to Charlotte, North Carolina
. Private charter flights are available through Virginia Aviation. There is also a public GA
airport, New London Airport
, which is open for all GA pilots.
of 2000, there were 8,006 people, 3,172 households, and 2,293 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 547.8 people per square mile (211.6/km²). There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 225.4/sq mi (87.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.79% White, 5.65% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 3,172 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% 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 3.03.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,089, and the median income for a family was $67,055. Males had a median income of $46,057 versus $30,720 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $25,735. About 2.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Bedford County
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Forest is located at 37°22′15"N 79°16′0"W (37.370723, -79.266801).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 CDP has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.61%) is water.
Community
Forest is most recognized as a rural suburb of Lynchburg, VirginiaLynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
containing many subdivided properties carved from and around surrounding farms and woodlands. The Ivy Hill community is the largest development and is built around the Ivy Hill Golf Course. The town has been experiencing rapid growth and development over the past 10 years, which is expected to continue into the near future. The recent construction of shopping centers such as Cavalier Corner and a large strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
beside the Post Office evidence this recent growth. Forest is home to Jefferson Forest High School
Jefferson Forest High School
Jefferson Forest High School is one of the three high schools in Bedford County, Virginia. Jefferson Forest HS opened in 1972 with a population of 970 students.-Characteristics:...
(the Cavaliers, ~1400 students), Forest Middle School (the Knights, ~1100 students), Forest Elementary School, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, and New London Academy.
Forest has no real town center, but the area along U.S. Route 221
U.S. Route 221
U.S. Route 221 is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for 734 miles from Perry, Florida at US Routes 19/98/ALT 27 to Lynchburg, Virginia at U.S. Route 29 . It passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia...
from the Post Office to the Forest Library is generally regarded as the central part of the community; however, technically the town extends all the way along Rt. 221 from the middle school to Graves Mill Shopping Center. The political attitudes of the majority of the population are conservative.
The most popular attraction of the town is Poplar Forest
Poplar Forest
Poplar Forest was Thomas Jefferson's plantation and plantation house in what is now Forest, Virginia, near Lynchburg. He designed it and treated it as a private retreat, working on it from 1806 until his death 20 years later. "It is the most valuable of my possessions," Jefferson once wrote a...
, the summer home of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, which is open to the public for visitation and is the subject of ongoing archaeological studies. The home is also used for events. Nearby attractions include Point of Honor
Point of Honor
Point of Honor is a historic home located at Lynchburg, Virginia. It is an irregular shaped two-story Federal mansion of stuccoed brick. The facade is composed of a three-bay center section flanked by two octagonal ended projections. Construction was started in 1806, and completed in 1815. The...
in Lynchburg, the National D-Day Memorial
National D-Day Memorial
The National D-Day Memorial is a war memorial located in Bedford, Virginia. It serves as the national memorial for American D-Day veterans. However, its scope is international in that it states, "In Tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of Allied Forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944" and commends...
in Bedford, and the Peaks of Otter
Peaks of Otter
The Peaks of Otter are three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, overlooking the town of Bedford, Virginia, nine miles to the southeast along State Route 43. These peaks are...
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. The nearest urban center is in downtown Lynchburg, approximately 10 miles northeast of town. Forest is accessed via Route 221 and U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460 is a spur of U.S. Route 60. It currently runs for 655 miles from Norfolk, Virginia at U.S. Route 60 at Ocean View to Frankfort, Kentucky at U.S. Route 60. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky...
. The nearest rail line is Amtrak's Crescent Train
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
at the station in Lynchburg. The nearest major airport is Lynchburg Regional Airport
Lynchburg Regional Airport
Lynchburg Regional Airport , also known as Preston Glenn Field, is a public airport located five miles southwest of the city of Lynchburg in Campbell County, Virginia, USA...
offering commercial service through US Airways Express
US Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
to Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Private charter flights are available through Virginia Aviation. There is also a public GA
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airport, New London Airport
New London Airport (Virginia)
New London Airport is a public-use airport located six miles southwest of the central business district of Forest, a city in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. It is privately owned by Associated Wheels Inc....
, which is open for all GA pilots.
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 8,006 people, 3,172 households, and 2,293 families residing in the CDP. 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 547.8 people per square mile (211.6/km²). There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 225.4/sq mi (87.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.79% White, 5.65% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% 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 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There were 3,172 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% 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 3.03.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,089, and the median income for a family was $67,055. Males had a median income of $46,057 versus $30,720 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 CDP was $25,735. About 2.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.