Editing Forestville, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
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<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = Forestville
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[census-designated place]]
|motto                    = 
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|image_skyline            = ForestvilleEdit2739.jpg
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|image_caption            = Downtown Forestville in 2009

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|image_map                = Sonoma_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Forestville_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]] and the state of [[California]]
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma]]
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|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
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<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = US
| area_footnotes          = <ref>[https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt U.S. Census]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 5.257
| area_land_sq_mi         = 5.257
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0
| area_total_km2          = 13.615
| area_land_km2           = 13.615
| area_water_km2          = 0
| area_water_percent      = 0
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = 2010
|population_footnotes     = 
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|population_total         = 3293
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
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|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset               = -8
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|coordinates              = {{coord|38|28|54|N|122|53|46|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="gnis">{{gnis|1658564|Forestville}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = 171
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 95436
|area_code                = [[Area code 707|707]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-24960
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1658564
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Forestville''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]], [[California]], United States. It was settled during the late 1860s and was originally spelled '''Forrestville''' after one of its founders. The spelling long ago became standardized with one "r". The population was 3,293 at the 2010 census, an increase of nearly 1,000 since the 2000 census.

By 1900, the community was known for attracting writers and artists and had a bohemian reputation. The small town has a limited number of businesses.

==History and features==
[[File:Forestville, California (1909).jpg|thumb|left|Forestville, 1909]]
Forestville's unofficial motto is "Forestville, The Good Life." This phrase appears on license plate holders sold at the local hardware store. The major road through town is Front Street for the length of the town, a distance of about three blocks, between Covey Road and Mirabel Road. It has been made part of Highway 116. The "downtown" blocks were first developed during the 1870s and 1880s. A fire destroyed many of the older structures, and existing buildings date mostly to the early 20th century. According to [[Sonoma State University]] professor [[Jonah Raskin]], Forestville "was a gathering place for bohemians and writers and artists, circa 1900."<ref name=nytimes1/>

Today businesses in the town consist of one gas station, one bar, one hardware store, a grocery store, two convenience markets, a pharmacy, several churches, a number of restaurants, a post office, an assortment of small businesses, a full time fire station operated by Sonoma County Fire District, a volunteer-run Youth Park, and three [[Automated teller machine|ATMs]]. The annual Forestville Youth Park Parade is held each June as a fund-raising event. It is associated with two days of music, [[Bingo (US)|bingo]], and carnival rides in the Youth Park. Food and handicrafts booths are staffed by local vendors and non-profit organizations.

A number of [[bed and breakfast]] inns and [[wineries]] have been developed along the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] and to the east.<ref name=nytimes1/>

==Geography and environment==
Forestville is located in central Sonoma County, about {{convert|60|mi|km}} north of [[San Francisco]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|5.3|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land. Near Forestville is the confluence of the [[Laguna de Santa Rosa]] and [[Mark West Creek]] with the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]]. South of Forestville are found the [[endangered]] [[Pitkin Marsh lily]] and [[White sedge]]. To the north are the Russian River, Steelhead Beach Park, and Mount Jackson; to the west are the [[Coast Redwood|Redwood]] forests; and to the East and South are many rolling hills on which are planted [[wine]] [[grape]] [[vineyard]]s and [[apple]] [[orchard]]s.<ref name=nytimes1>{{cite news|first=Jane|last=Ciabattari|title=A Summer Place Draws Year-Round Attention|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/realestate/30havens.html?pagewanted=all |work=[[The New York Times]]  |date=June 30, 2006|access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 84
|1990= 2443
|2000= 2370
|2010= 3293
|2020= 3264
|estyear=2021
|estimate=3768
|estref=<ref name="2021est">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0624960&y=2021|title=ACS Survey Population Estimate 2021}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S Census 1880, 1990,<ref name="1860Census">{{cite web|url=https://dof.ca.gov/reports/demographic-reports/|title=Population Totals by Township and Place for California Counties: 1860 to 1950|publisher=dof.ca.gov}}</ref>
2000–2020<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0624960&y=2020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"   
|+ Race and Ethnicity
! Racial and ethnic composition
! 2000<ref name=datacensus2000p2>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0624960&y=2000&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)&tid=DECENNIALPL2000.PL002|publisher=US Census Bureau|title=2000: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)}}</ref>
! 2010<ref name=datacensus2010p2>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0624960&y=2010&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=US Census Bureau|title=2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)}}</ref>
! 2020<ref name=datacensus2020p2>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=1600000US0624960&y=2020&d=DEC+Redistricting+Data+(PL+94-171)&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=US Census Bureau|title=2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)}}</ref>
|-
! [[Non-Hispanic whites|White (non-Hispanic)]]
| 83.29%
| 82.05%
| 76.13%
|-
! [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino (of any race)]]
| 10.0%
| 12.33%
| 13.91%
|-
! [[Multiracial American|Two or more races (non-Hispanic)]]
| 2.62%
| 2.06%
| 6.16%
|-
! [[Asian American|Asian (non-Hispanic)]]
| 1.6%
| 1.55%
| 1.38%
|-
! [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American (non-Hispanic)]]
| 0.93%
| 0.7%
| 0.95%
|-
! [[African American|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)]]
| 1.1%
| 0.91%
| 0.67%
|-
! Other (non-Hispanic)
| 0.3%
| 0.21%
| 0.67%
|-
! [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)]]
| 0.17%
| 0.18%
| 0.12%
|}

===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Forestville had a population of 3,293. The population density was {{convert|626.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Forestville was 2,914 (88.5%) White, 32 (1.0%) African American, 36 (1.1%) Native American, 53 (1.6%) Asian, 6 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 153 (4.6%) from other races, and 99 (3.0%) from two or more races.  Hispanic or Latino of any race were 406 people (12.3%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0624960|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024951/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0624960|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Forestville CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The census reported that 99.0% of the population lived in households and 1.0% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 1,429 households, 335 (23.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 617 (43.2%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 124 (8.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 63 (4.4%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 127 (8.9%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 37 (2.6%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 446 households (31.2%) were one person and 110 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28.  There were 804 families (56.3% of households); the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 581 people (17.6%) under the age of 18, 242 people (7.3%) aged 18 to 24, 682 people (20.7%) aged 25 to 44, 1,325 people (40.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 463 people (14.1%) who were 65 or older.  The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

There were 1,605 housing units at an average density of {{convert|305.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 70.2% were owner-occupied and 29.8% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 70.4% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 28.5% lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 2,370 people, 941 households, and 592 families in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|578.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,010 housing units at an average density of {{convert|246.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the CDP was 89.28% White, 1.14% African American, 1.18% Native American, 1.60% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 2.78% from other races, and 3.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.00%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>

Of the 941 households 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 26.4% of households were one person and 6.9% were one person aged 65 or older.  The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 34.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% 65 or older.  The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median household income was $50,898 and the median family income was $60,417. Males had a median income of $45,170 versus $42,652 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,301.  About 5.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 2.9% over 64.

=== Presidential elections ===
Forestville staunchly supports the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in presidential elections. In the 2020 election, Forestville supported Democratic nominee [[Joe Biden]] over [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent [[Donald Trump]] by a margin of 56 percentage points, a slight increase from the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 election]] where Forestville supported [[Hillary Clinton]] by 5-6 percentage points less than they did Biden.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Alice |last2=Smart |first2=Charlie |last3=Taylor |first3=Rumsey |last4=Watkins |first4=Miles |date=2021-02-02 |title=An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Education==
The school districts are [[Forestville Union Elementary School District]]<!--ELM 14010--> and [[West Sonoma County Union High School District]]<!--SEC 02670-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06097_sonoma/DC20SD_C06097.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sonoma County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06097_sonoma/DC20SD_C06097_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Forestville has two schools: Forestville Elementary School and [[El Molino High School]]. The high school provides 9–12 grade education to the majority of students in the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] area. During the 2017–18 school year, enrollment was 595 students. With the start of the fall semester in 2021, the [[El Molino High School]] campus was permanently closed and its entire student body transferred to [[Analy High School]] in downtown [[Sebastopol, California|Sebastopol]]. The West Sonoma County Union High School District office and Laguna High School, a continuation school, were relocated to the former El Molino campus.

== Infrastructure and transport ==
Forestville's main road is [[California State Route 116]], known locally as the Pocket Canyon Highway, Front Street, and as the Gravenstein Highway. To the north of downtown is River Road, itself connecting the northern part of Forestville to the coastal community of Jenner in the west and access roads to both [[U.S. Route 101]] and the [[Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport|Sonoma County Airport]], the closest air link with commercial service to Forestville, to the east.<ref>{{Cite web |title=6518 Wayne Ct |url=https://maps.apple.com/place?address=6518%20Wayne%20Ct,%20Forestville,%20CA%20%2095436,%20United%20States&ll=38.475137,-122.894196&q=Dropped%20Pin |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=maps.apple.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Sonoma County Transit]] bus route 20 serves Forestville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian River Area, Forestville, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa {{!}} Sonoma County Transit |url=https://sctransit.com/maps-schedules/route-20/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=sctransit.com}}</ref>

==Government==
Forestville is represented by the following elected officials:
* Sonoma County Board of Supervisors: [[Lynda Hopkins]] (Nonpartisan){{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}
* [[California State Assembly]]: {{Representative|caad|2|fmt=usleader3}}<ref name=swd>{{Cite web
 | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | title = Statewide Database
 | publisher = UC Regents
 | access-date = December 5, 2014
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | archive-date = February 1, 2015
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
* [[California State Senate]]: {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=usleader3}}<ref name=swd/>
* [[United States House of Representatives]]: {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=usleader3}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|accessdate=March 8, 2013}}</ref>
* [[United States Senate]]: [[Alex Padilla]] and [[Adam B. Schiff]]

==Notable people==
*[[James Walker Benét]], reporter for the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' and [[KQED (TV)|KQED]], veteran of the [[Abraham Lincoln Brigade]] during the [[Spanish Civil War]]<ref name="sfgate">{{cite news|first=Carl|last=Nolte|title=Author, activist James Benét dies at 98 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Author-activist-James-Ben-t-dies-at-98-4141164.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]  |date=December 22, 2012 |access-date=January 8, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Rosemary Gladstar]], founder of an herbal school bearing her name
* [[Ben McKee]], bassist of the band [[Imagine Dragons]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/cms/pages/categories-rtn-sonoma-com-arg1-Communities-arg2-Forestville,%20California-article-1203.html |title=Imagine Dragons Ben McKee On Top of the World |website=www.sonomacountygazette.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810201752/http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/cms/pages/categories-rtn-sonoma-com-arg1-Communities-arg2-Forestville,%20California-article-1203.html |archive-date=2014-08-10}}</ref>
* [[Catherine Yronwode]], editor of comic books and non-fiction trading cards, author and graphics designer

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Sonoma County, California}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Russian River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Sonoma County, California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]