Forest City, Iowa

About Forest City

Set in the northern part of Iowa, Forest City is a small town counting 4,199 people who proudly call it home.

Forest City holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 4.59 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 915 residents per square mile.

📰 Forest City News Today

• Winnebago announces layoffs at Forest City plant The Des Moines Register · Aug 17
• Forest City vs Clear Lake Football - Aug 28, 2026 Sports Illustrated · Aug 14
• Forest City Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution IQAir · Jun 23
• Des Moines Christian 52, Forest City 46 IGHSAU · Mar 3
• Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand stops in Forest City as part of 100-town hall tour KTTC | Rochester, MN · Jul 10

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Forest City Unique

• One of 6 places in the US named Forest City — but the Iowa one has a character all its own.
• Positioned in northern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Iowa — one of 1,026 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• A tight community feel that bigger cities can't replicate.
• Cost of living typically runs below the big-metro average.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 7 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Forest City

• Scoopy Doo's Ice Cream & More — ice cream
• Shooterz — grill
• Bear Creek Restaurant — american
• The Lodge — american

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Heritage Park · Attraction
• Mansion Museum · Museum
• Holtan Farm Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Forest City

• Pilot Knob State Park reviews ★
• Boman Park reviews ★
• Eastwoods Park reviews ★
• Hanson Wildlife Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Meredith Marsh Waterfowl Production Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Meredith Marsh Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Merrick City Park reviews ★
• Nieman Wildlife Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Pammel Park reviews ★
• Pilot Knob State Preserve · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Pilot Knob Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Rotary-Westgate Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Forest City

• Forest City Elementary School
• Forest City High School
• Forest City Middle School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Forest City

🏘️ Nearby Communities