Forrest County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 466.6 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 160.6 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 25.5%. On the most recent census form, 98.6% of the population reported only one race, with 36.1% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 3.5% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.50 persons compared to an average family size of 3.10 persons. In 2010 health care and social assistance was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $53,642. Per capita income grew by 0.3% between 1999 and 2009 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2010) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2010 Census Count)	74,934	677	Covered Employment	36,085	586
Growth (%) since 1990	9.7%	1618	Avg wage per job	$35,199	1028
Households (2010)	28,746	738	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	5.9%	2008
Labor Force (persons) (2010)	37,865	703	Avg wage per job	$40,704	1416
Unemployment Rate (2010)	9.3	1440	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	3.7%	791
Per Capita Personal Income (2009)	$27,013	2563	Avg wage per job	$40,363	1456
Median Household Income (2009)	$33,909	2555	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	12.3%	1046
Poverty Rate (2009)	23.1	411	Avg wage per job	$53,642	87
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2010 ACS 5yr)	84.2	1,640	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	2.8%	1148
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2010 ACS 5yr)	25.9	550	Avg wage per job	$37,446	1657