Forest, Texas
Forest is a community located in southeastern Cherokee County Texas. Its coordinates are (31.51601, -95.01188). It has an elevation of 292 feet.
History
In 1847, Wiley Thompson (1799–1866), an Alabama farmer, brought his wife, eight children, and numerous slaves, and settled a 636 acre tract of land along Larrison Creek. This land became the community of Forest.
By the mid 1870s, the Thompson family had opened the first businesses; consisting of a store, saloon, watermill, gristmill, and cotton gin. The first postmaster of Forest was appointed in 1879. The Forest Baptist Church was established in 1888.
During the 1920s and 1930s the Forest area produced tomatoes, and two tomato packing sheds were built beside the St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas.
The post office was transferred to Wells, Texas in 1980. As of 2010, Forest is mostly a cattle community, and its only store is in and out of business.
Forest has 2 cemeteries; Arnold Cemetery and Thompson Cemetery.
Population
Forest's population was reported as around 100 in the early twentieth century. In the 1950s, the population rose to its peak of 120. By 2000, it had dropped to 85.
Education
Forest School was established in 1888 in the Forest Baptist Church, and later occupied a separate building on a lot donated by J. S. Derrough, Jeff Latham, and Hugh Henry.
In 1922, Forest School consolidated with the Wildhurst School from the Chronister Lumber Company Camp and a new building was built on the old Jim Hogg Highway north of the Baptist Church in Forest. The new building housed the elementary and three unaccredited high school grades.
Forest School consolidated with Wells ISD in 1949.
Coordinates: 31°30′58″N 95°00′43″W / 31.51611°N 95.01194°W