Forest, Mississippi

About Forest

Forest, MS is a close-knit town located in central Mississippi, home to 5,364 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

Forest holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 13.08 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 410 residents per square mile.

📰 Forest News Today

• Joanne S. Jones Obituary Aug 17, 2026 Ott & Lee Funeral Homes · Aug 17
• Breland Spivey - Forest Bearcats Football (Forest, MS) Sports Illustrated · Aug 13
• Aubert C. "Bert" Atkison Obituary Aug 12, 2026 Ott & Lee Funeral Homes · Aug 12
• Ulhma "Plookie" Lee Havard Obituary (2026) - Forest, MS - Wolf Funeral Services - Lake Legacy obituary · Aug 2
• National Forests in Mississippi nationalforests.org · Mar 20

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Forest Unique

• One of 5 places in the US named Forest — but the Mississippi one has a character all its own.
• Part of the fabric of Mississippi — one of 427 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 5,364.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 10 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Forest

• Donna Jean's — american
• Waffle House — american

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Forest

• Bienville Pines Scenic Area reviews ★
• Caney Creek State Wildlife Management Area reviews ★
• Harrell Prairie Botanical Area reviews ★

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

🏫 Schools in Forest

• FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
• FOREST SCOTT CO VOC TECH CENTER
• HAWKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL
• SCOTT CENTRAL ATTENDANCE CENTER

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

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• S E Lackey Memorial Hospital · 24/7 ER · Critical Access Hospitals

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Forest

🏘️ Nearby Communities