| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Georgia |
| County | Monroe |
| Mayor | Eric S. Wilson |
| Unit pref | Imperial |
| Area total | 15.30 km² |
| Area land | 15.29 km² |
| Area water | 0.01 km² |
| Area total | 5.91 sq mi |
| Area land | 5.91 sq mi |
| Area water | 0.00 sq mi |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 4384 |
| Population density | 286.65 km² |
| Population density | 742.42 sq mi |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| Time zone (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Coordinates | 33°2′6″N 83°56′17″W |
| Elevation | 219 m |
| Elevation | 719 ft |
| ZIP code | 31029 |
| Area code | 478 |
| FIPS code | 13-30732[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331748[2] |
| Website | cityofforsyth.net |
Forsyth is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Georgia, United States.[3][4] The population was 4,384 at the 2020 census,[5] up from 3,788 in 2010. Forsyth is part of the Macon metropolitan statistical area.
The Forsyth Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a tourist attraction. It includes the Monroe County Courthouse and Courthouse Square as well as the surrounding area, including several examples of 19th-century architecture. Forsyth is also home to the Confederate Cemetery, Tift College, and Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area.[4]
History
Forsyth was established in 1823.[6] That same year, the seat of Monroe County was transferred to Forsyth from Johnstonville. Forsyth was named for John Forsyth, governor of Georgia from 1827 to 1829 and Secretary of State under presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.[7]
Geography
Forsyth is located in central Monroe County at 33.035108°N 83.938085°W.[8] The city is located along Interstate 75 and U.S. Route 41 northwest of Macon. I-75 runs southeast to northwest through the eastern part of town, with access from exits 185 through 188. The interstate leads southeast 23 miles (37 km) to downtown Macon and northwest 61 miles (98 km) to Atlanta. US 41 runs through the downtown area from east to west, leading southeast to Macon and west 13 miles (21 km) to Barnesville. Other highways that run through the city include Georgia State Routes 18, 42, and 83.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Forsyth has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23 km2), of which 0.004 square miles (2.6 acres), or 0.04%, are water.[9] The city sits atop a ridge which drains southwest to tributaries of Tobesofkee Creek and northeast to tributaries of Rum Creek; both creeks are southeastward-flowing tributaries of the Ocmulgee River.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Forsyth had a population of 4,384.[10] The median age was 39.1 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 79.5 males age 18 and over.[11]
82.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 17.2% lived in rural areas.[12]
There were 1,789 households in Forsyth, including 883 families. Of all households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 33.3% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 43.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 1,943 housing units, of which 7.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.[11]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,914 | 43.66% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,144 | 48.91% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.07% |
| Asian | 50 | 1.14% |
| Other/Mixed | 157 | 3.58% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 116 | 2.65% |
Government
The Georgia Department of Corrections has moved into the former Tift College site in 2010.[13][14] Burruss Correctional Training Center is located in Forsyth next to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.[15]
In November 2011, Forsyth elected John T. Howard, II. Howard, the first African-American elected to the seat, took office in 2012. City Councilman Eric Wilson became mayor in 2015.[16]
Monroe County School District
The Monroe County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school.[17] The district has 225 full-time teachers and over 3,872 students.[18]
- Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School
- Katherine B. Sutton Elementary School
- T.G. Scott Elementary School
- Banks Stephens Middle School
- Mary Persons High School
Higher education
- Tift College was located in Forsyth.
Notable people
- G. Holmes Braddock, politician[19]
- Harold G. Clarke, jurist and legislator
- 7 Little Johnstons, reality TV personality family
- Eugene Talmadge, 67th governor of Georgia 1933–1937, 1941–1943
- Malik Herring, a defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs
References
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Forsyth Archived December 7, 2013 at the Wayback Machine Georgia.gov
- ^ "P1. Race – Forsyth city, Georgia: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins. Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 80. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
- ^ Hellmann, Paul T. (May 13, 2013). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 230. ISBN 978-1135948597. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ^ Morgan, Carly. Forsyth Prepares for Dept. of Corrections Arrival. WMAZ. November 2009. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.
- ^ GDOC. "|| Georgia Department of Corrections || - Tift College Relocation". Archived from the original on 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-01-05..
- ^ Burris Correctional Training Center Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ McCrummen, Stephanie (2018-10-07). "'We are here!' From a blue dot in a sea of red comes a hopeful pitch for a politician's visit.". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
- ^ Georgia Board of Education[dead link], Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ Cohen, Howard (July 24, 2025). "'He shaped the futures of millions of students.' G. Holmes Braddock dies at 100". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 27, 2025.