Forest City

History

Forest City was officially founded in 1855. Formerly known as “Puckerbrush”, Robert Clark the official founder/surveyor deemed it “Forest City” because it was cut right out of the trees. It was then platted in 1856, and later incorporated on June 14, 1878. The population started to grow when immigrants from Sweden and Norway settled in the Forest City area because of the similar topography. Its growth continued as city leaders convinced the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad to come through Forest City. Although the Civil War stunted the area's growth, many immigrants found the city attractive. Later on churches, banks, a college (Waldorf University), electricity, and the telephone turned Forest City into an ideal country town. In 1960, investors took over a failing travel trailer factory and created Winnebago Industries, creating what would become one of the largest employers in the region and causing the population to grow. Winnebago's corporate headquarters were later relocated to Eden Prairie, Minnesota causing the population to decline. Today, Forest City's population is around 4,200.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Forest City has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  624
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  535
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  510
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  479
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  424
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  374
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  368
• Common Grackle

  Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  324