COUNTY FEATURES Prepared by the Mississippi Development Authority County Seat(s) Forest Land area: 610 square miles/1,580 square kilometers County land area in commercial forests 66% State Parks: Roosevelt Ross Barnett Reservoir Tourism related information Call 1-800-WARMEST POPULATION Population: 1990 1993 1995 2000 2010 Forest 5,074 5,211 5,320 5,987 NA Scott County 24,192 24,596 25,987 24,423 24,279 Most populated cities in Scott County: City 2000 Population Forest 5,987 Morton 3,482 Sebastopol 233 Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, Census of Population, 1980 and 1990; United States Bureau of the Census, March 2000. LOCATION Distance to selected cities from Forest: Area Miles Kilometers Atlanta, Georgia 352 Miles 568 kilometers Chicago, Illinois 774 miles 1,248 kilometers Dallas, Texas 430 miles 694 kilometers Jackson, Mississippi 48 miles 77 kilometers Memphis, Tennessee 243 miles 392 kilometers New Orleans, Louisiana 184 miles 297 kilometers Source: Official Mississippi Highway Map Nearest cities with a population of 10,000 or more and distance from Forest: Philadelphia 43 miles Jackson (STATE CAPITAL) 42 miles Meridian 40 miles Pearl 36 miles Brandon 31 miles Age breakdown in Scott County, 2000: 0 to 17 28.6% 18 to 24 9.6% 25 to 44 27.9% 45 and 64 21.4% 65 and Over 12.4% Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, Census of Population, 1980 and 1990; United States Bureau of Census, March 2000. Median age of Scott County, 2000: ..... 33.8 CLIMATE The mean temperature 64.7 degrees The winter average 48 degrees The summer average 81 degrees Annual rainfall 52 inches Snow Rare occurrence UTILITIES AND SERVICES Electricity distributor(s): Mississippi Power Company, Southern Pine EPA Water/sewage: Utility name ..... City of Forest Source ..... Wells System capacity ..... 5,000,000 gallons (18,939 kiloliters) per day Average consumption ..... 2,900,000 gallons (10,985 kiloliters)per day Peak consumption ...... 4,500,000 gallons (17,045 kiloliters)per day Storage capacity ..... 1,500,000 gallons (5,682 kiloliters) Sanitary sewer capacity ..... 7,200,000 gallons (27,273 kiloliters) Sewer treatment type ..... Activated sludge Percent of community served ..... 100% Present load ..... 60% Natural gas distributor(s): Entex Telephone service provider: Bellsouth LABOR FORCE Annual Average, 1999 Scott County Commuting Area* Labor Force 12,460 157,090 Male Percentage 53% Female Percentage 47% Total Employment 12,050 151,780 Manufacturing 6,330 Services & Misc 1,450 Total Unemployed 410 5,310 Unemployment Rate 3.3% 3.4% U.S 3.3% Mississippi 5.4% 12 Month Moving Average,: April 2000 June 2002 May 2005 Labor Force 12,700 12,650 13,230 Total Employment 12,270 11,930 13,230 Total Unemployment 430 720 12,470 Unemployment Rate 3.4% 5.7% 5.7% *Commuting area includes contiguous counties. Source: Mississippi Employment Security Commission, Running Averages from May 2000 and Annual Averages for 1999, Employmnet information from neighboring states, Annual for 1999. WAGES Averages wage rates*, 2000: Manufacturing Scott County $369/week $9.23/hour Mississippi $548/week $13.70/hour United States $861/week $21.53/hour Services Scott County $388/week $9.70/hour Mississippi $464/week $11.60/hour United States $647/week $16.18/hour *All rates include management personnel. Source: Mississippi Employment Security Commission, Covered Employment and Wages 1998; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Annual Averages, 1998 RETAIL SALES Gross Retail Sales (in millions): 1990 1993 1995 1999 2001 Forest $86 $96 $109 $127 $121 Scott County $154 $180 $193 $212 $193 Source: State Tax Commission, Annual Report, Fiscal Years Ending June 1990-1999 INCOME Per Capita Personal Income 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 Scott County $16,357 $17,593 $18,004 $19,503 $17,653 Earnings, Scott County: Earnings by Place of Work, 2000 $371,368,000 Source of Earnings by Place of Work, 2000: Manufacturing 35.4% Services 10.4% Wholesale Trade 3.3% Retail Trade 7.4% Government 11.79% Construction 3.9% Transport.,Public Utilities 6.9% Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, May 2000. ASSESSED VALUE Grand Total Ad Valorem Assessment (in millions) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Scott County $91 $96 $94 $98 $105 $113 Source: Mississippi State Tax Commission, 1995 through 1999. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Banks based in Forest 2 Bank of Forest, Community Bank Banks with branches in Forest 2 Citizen's, Bankcorp South Source: Mississippi Bankers Association, Mississippi Financial Institutions Directory, 2000. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Banks Local Branch Number of establishments** 2 2 Total Assets Bank of Forest Community Bank $127,5884,000 $522,118,000 ** number shown represent the number of institutions as opposed to locations. PROPERTY COSTS Cost of Housing, Average Selling Price of Homes,1998: Forest(Based on Jackson Area) ..... $102,999 Mississippi ...... $92,303 Source: Mississippi Manufactures Database, MSA, October 2001. FIRE INSURANCE RATING Forest Class 7 Source: Mississippi State Rating Bureau, 2000 PROPERTY TAX Average County millage 96.13 Property tax: Counties and municipalities levy a property tax on real and personal tangible property. Most property is assessed at 15% of true value. Motor vehicles and utilities excluding railroads)are assessed at 30% and owner-occupied residential properties are assessed at 10% of true value. To calculate annual property tax: Tax = (V x A x M)/1000 V = property value ($), A = assessment percentage (%), M = millage rate Example: Home Value $102,999 millage rate 92.50 ($102,999 x 10% x 92.50)/1,000 = $952.74 Source: Mississippi State Tax Commission, 2000 CONTACTS MS. Department of Economic and Community Mid-Mississippi Development District Development East Central Field Office Post Office Box 119 Post Office Box 4398 Newton, Mississippi 39345 Meridian, Mississippi 39304 (601)469-4332 (601)482-7445 Forest Area Chamber of Commerce East Central Planning and Development District Post Office Box 266 Post Office Box 449 Forest, Mississippi 39074 Newton, Mississippi 39345 (601)469-4332 (601)683-2007 Last Updated: October 15, 2005 Click here to go to top of page

Community Bank BancCorp South Bank of Forest