Forest, MS: Population, ZIP Codes & Nearby Cities

Forest, MS is an incorporated town-sized municipality located in Scott County in the state of Mississippi. Our data estimates 5,536 residents, places it at 32.359°N, 89.476°W, and lists it in Central time. This page explains its population rank, ZIP codes, nearby cities and distance to big metros.

What are the key facts about Forest, MS?

What is the population of Forest, MS?

Forest has an estimated population of 5,536. That makes it the 65th largest of the 361 places we list in Mississippi, and the largest place in its county. The typical place in Mississippi has about 1,164 residents, so Forest is roughly 4.8 times the size of a typical neighbor in the state.

Estimates for places of this size carry wider margins of error than those for big cities, so treat the figure as a guide to scale. Our guide to understanding city population numbers explains why sources disagree.

Places in Mississippi with a similar population include Pontotoc (6,169), Louisville (5,983), Ripley (5,273), Aberdeen (5,205), Saltillo (5,062). Comparing these pages is a quick way to see how Forest differs from communities of the same scale.

How dense is Forest?

Forest has about 422 people per square mile (163 per square kilometer), which we classify as small-town or exurban. Within Mississippi, it is denser than about 47% of the listed places. Homes at this level are spread out with larger lots, and most daily trips involve a car, though a small central area may still be walkable. Read how to interpret population density to see how we draw these lines.

What ZIP codes does Forest use?

Forest uses one ZIP code: 39074. A single code usually means a compact delivery area, but the same code may also serve addresses just outside the town line. Codes beginning with 3 are assigned to the Southeast (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee). Learn more in our guide to how ZIP codes work or check any code with the ZIP code lookup.

What time zone is Forest in?

Forest is in the Central time zone, which is UTC−6 from Coordinated Universal Time in standard time (IANA zone America/Chicago). The area observes daylight saving time, so clocks move forward in March and back in November. The nearest listed place in a different time zone is LaGrange, GA, about 262 miles away, which gives a sense of how far the nearest zone boundary may be. Current local time: see the Central time hub. For the rules behind these zones, read US time zones explained.

Where is Forest located in Mississippi?

Forest lies in the central part of Mississippi, at 32.359° north latitude and 89.476° west longitude. The state capital, Jackson, is about 43 miles to the west. The closest listed place in another state is Demopolis, AL, roughly 96 miles to the east, which shows how near Forest is to a state line. For big-city services, the nearest place with more than 100,000 people is Jackson, MS, 43 miles to the west.

Which cities are near Forest, MS?

The closest listed place to Forest is Brandon, MS, 30.5 miles to the west. Of the eight nearest places below, 0 are in the same county. Distances are straight-line (great-circle) miles measured between place centers; see how distance is calculated.

Which county is Forest in?

Forest is in Scott County, which has the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code 28123. The county contains 5 places in our data, 1 of which have their own page here and 4 smaller communities that appear only in county and state lists. Other places in the county include Morton (3,527), Hillsboro (1,255), Lake (324), Sebastopol (276). Codes like this one help separate places that share a name; see the guide to counties and FIPS codes.

How far is Forest from major US cities?

Among six major hubs, Forest is closest to Atlanta, GA at about 308 miles and farthest from Los Angeles, CA at about 1,671 miles in a straight line. Road distances are usually 10 to 30 percent longer. Try the distance calculator for any other pair.

Are there other places called Forest?

Yes. Our data lists 3 other places named Forest: Forest, VA (10,836), Forest, OH (1,431), Forest, LA (337). When you search for Forest, add the state or county so you land on the right one. This page covers the Forest in Scott County, Mississippi.

Planning a move to Forest?

If you are weighing Forest, start with the practical numbers: how far it is from where you live, whether it changes your time zone, and how its size and density compare with your current city. Use the distance calculator to measure the trip from where you live. The radius search tool lists every place within any distance of it. Our checklist for comparing cities explains what to check next.

Where to go next

Population and density come from a compiled dataset and are estimates. They may differ from official Census Bureau counts. Verify important figures at census.gov.