Forest Heights, Maryland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Forest Heights, Maryland
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Forest Heights, Maryland


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maryland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Prince George's
government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.2
area_land_km2 = 1.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.5
area_land_sq_mi = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2585
population_density_km2 = 2084.2
population_density_sq_mi = 5398.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 49
elevation_ft = 161
latd = 38 |latm = 48 |lats = 43 |latNS = N
longd = 76 |longm = 59 |longs = 49 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 20745
area_code = 301
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 24-28725
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0597408
website =
footnotes =

Forest Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, with an African-American majority population, and part of the larger postal designation Oxon Hill, MD. Students attend Oxon Hill High School. The town straddles both sides of dual-lane Maryland Route 210 and includes two elementary schools. The population was 2,585 at the 2000 census, a decline from approximately 3,600 in 1960 when households had more children. A few homes were built in the 1930s, but most of the town developed in the 1940s and early 1950s, consisting of single-family homes with some streets of duplex homes. In those days many town residents were either military band musicians or scientists (as its first Mayor was) at the adjacent U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, but virtually none are now. The Capital Beltway (I-95/495) was opened in the early 1960s south of the town, including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge crossing to Alexandria, Virginia, which when fully widened in mid-2008 will provide relief from today's horrendous commuter traffic backups. Forest Heights is bordered on the North by the aging Eastover Shopping Center and by several miles of low-income, high-crime areas (see Anacostia), but fortunately has its own town police, in addition to a County police station right at the town limits. Rivertowne Shopping Center with a K-Mart, Home Depot, movie complex, and very large public library, is one mile away. Forest Heights is bordered on the South by the gigantic under-construction National Harbor conference center and resort of the Gaylord Corporation, which opened its first phase in April 2008. After decades of former governmental stability, in the 2000's the town made headlines repeatedly as its two most recent mayors were embroiled in clashes with the town council. In 2007 Mayor Spires was convicted of dishonest activities with public funds.

Bordering Areas

*Oxon Hill-Glassmanor (Southeast)
*Hillcrest Heights (Northeast)
*Temple Hills (East)
*Marlow Heights (Northeast)
*Bellevue, Congress Heights and Anacostia (North)

Geography

Forest Heights is located at coor dms|38|48|43|N|76|59|49|W|city (38.811863, -76.996809)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,585 people, 897 households, and 670 families residing in the town. The population density was 5,398.2 people per square mile (2,079.3/km²). There were 945 housing units at an average density of 1,973.4/sq mi (760.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 13.38% White, 79.11% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.37% Asian, 0.35% Pacific Islander, 1.74% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.

There were 897 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,697, and the median income for a family was $60,313. Males had a median income of $35,705 versus $35,273 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,556. About 2.8% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

References

External links