# Forsyth County, North Carolina

Forsyth County (/foʊrˈsaɪθ/ fohr-SYTH) is a county located in the northwest Piedmont of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 382,590, making it the fourth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Winston-Salem. Forsyth County is part of the Winston-Salem, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point, NC, Combined Statistical Area. Portions of Forsyth County are in the Yadkin Valley wine region.

## History

The county was formed in 1849 from Stokes County. It was named for Colonel Benjamin Forsyth, who was killed in the War of 1812.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county is in the outer Appalachian Mountains, and has a total area of 412.35 square miles (1,068.0 km$^2$), of which 407.85 square miles (1,056.3 km$^2$) is land and 4.50 square miles (11.7 km$^2$) (1.09%) is water.
The northeast section of Forsyth County, including Belews Creek and parts of Rural Hall, Walkertown, and Kernersville, is drained by tributaries of the Dan River. A small portion of Kernersville is in the Cape Fear River basin. Most of the county is drained by tributaries of the Yadkin River, which forms the western boundary of the county. The lowest elevation in the county is 660 feet, on the Yadkin River at the southwest corner of the county. The highest is 1100 feet, at a point just off Jefferson Church Road on the outskirts of King, immediately south of the county line.

### State and local protected areas/sites

* Cascades Preserve (part)
* Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve
* Historic Bethabara Park
* Kaleideum
* Old Salem Museums & Gardens
* Shell-Shaped Shell Station
* Tanglewood Park

### Major water bodies

* Abbotts Creek
* Belews Creek
* Belews Lake
* Beaver Dam Creek
* Brushy Creek
* Blanket Creek
* Buffalo Creek
* Crooked Run Creek
* Lick Creek
* Little Creek
* Little Yadkin River
* Mill Creek
* Muddy Creek
* Old Field Creek
* Reedy Fork
* Salem Creek
* Silas Creek
* South Fork Muddy Creek
* Yadkin River

### Adjacent counties

* Stokes County – north
* Rockingham County – northeast
* Guilford County – east
* Davidson County – south
* Davie County – southwest
* Yadkin County – west
* Surry County – northwest

### Major highways

* I-40
* I-74 / Future I-74 (designated section from I-40 to county line with Guilford County)
* Future I-274 (future loop around Winston-Salem)
* I-285
* Future I-685
* US 52
* US 158
* US 311
* US 421
* NC 8
* NC 65
* NC 66
* NC 67
* NC 74 (temporary highway designation for I-74)
* NC 109
* NC 150
* NC 192 (future designation between I-40 and I-74)
* NC 452 (future temporary highway designation for I-274)

### Major infrastructure

* Amtrak Thruway (Winston-Salem)
* Smith Reynolds Airport

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Forsyth County racial composition :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 208,126 | 54.4% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 93,738 | 24.5% |
| Native American | 978 | 0.26% |
| Asian | 9,179 | 2.4% |
| Pacific Islander | 233 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 15,648 | 4.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 54,688 | 14.29% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 382,590 people, 148,151 households, and 90,837 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile (288 people/km$^2$). There were 133,093 housing units, at an average density of 325 units per square mile (125 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup was 68.47% White, 25.61% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 6.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 123,851 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age was 36 years, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.
The median household income was $42,097, and the median family income was $52,032. Males had a median income of $36,158, versus $27,319 for females. The per capita income was $23,023. About 7.90% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Law and government

The Forsyth County Government Center is located at 201 North Chestnut Street in Downtown Winston-Salem. Forsyth County is a member of the regional Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments.
The Forsyth County Public Library, founded in 1906, is free for residents of Forsyth and surrounding counties, while all others must pay a small yearly fee for a library card. The library runs Adult, Children's, and Hispanic Outreach programs. Its main "Central Library" is in downtown Winston-Salem, with branches all across the county.
Forsyth County Public Library is part of NC Cardinal, a consortium of many other library systems in North Carolina.
The Forsyth County Department of Public Health is located at 799 North Highland Avenue near downtown Winston-Salem.

### Politics

Forsyth County typically favors Democratic candidates in national elections, though Republicans remain competitive in local races.
United States presidential election results for Forsyth County, North Carolina :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 87,292 | 42.64% | 114,145 | 55.76% | 3,289 | 1.61% |
| 2020 | 85,064 | 42.26% | 113,033 | 56.16% | 3,173 | 1.58% |
| 2016 | 75,975 | 42.61% | 94,464 | 52.98% | 7,873 | 4.42% |
| 2012 | 79,768 | 45.83% | 92,323 | 53.04% | 1,978 | 1.14% |
| 2008 | 73,674 | 44.35% | 91,085 | 54.83% | 1,374 | 0.83% |
| 2004 | 75,294 | 54.12% | 63,340 | 45.53% | 491 | 0.35% |
| 2000 | 67,700 | 55.98% | 52,457 | 43.37% | 785 | 0.65% |
| 1996 | 59,160 | 52.81% | 46,543 | 41.54% | 6,330 | 5.65% |
| 1992 | 52,787 | 45.40% | 49,006 | 42.15% | 14,481 | 12.45% |
| 1988 | 57,688 | 59.02% | 39,726 | 40.65% | 321 | 0.33% |
| 1984 | 59,208 | 61.54% | 36,814 | 38.26% | 189 | 0.20% |
| 1980 | 42,389 | 49.99% | 38,870 | 45.84% | 3,539 | 4.17% |
| 1976 | 38,886 | 49.34% | 39,561 | 50.20% | 361 | 0.46% |
| 1972 | 46,415 | 67.69% | 20,928 | 30.52% | 1,226 | 1.79% |
| 1968 | 31,623 | 46.79% | 20,281 | 30.01% | 15,681 | 23.20% |
| 1964 | 30,276 | 48.92% | 31,615 | 51.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 33,374 | 58.13% | 24,035 | 41.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 29,368 | 64.99% | 15,819 | 35.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 26,436 | 51.86% | 24,535 | 48.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 10,147 | 41.04% | 12,201 | 49.35% | 2,377 | 9.61% |
| 1944 | 10,014 | 37.93% | 16,390 | 62.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 7,125 | 25.64% | 20,664 | 74.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 5,256 | 21.91% | 18,734 | 78.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 5,727 | 28.49% | 14,016 | 69.73% | 357 | 1.78% |
| 1928 | 13,258 | 66.63% | 6,639 | 33.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 5,315 | 40.33% | 7,404 | 56.18% | 459 | 3.48% |
| 1920 | 6,792 | 45.54% | 8,123 | 54.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 3,585 | 45.16% | 4,115 | 51.84% | 238 | 3.00% |
| 1912 | 1,689 | 26.72% | 3,042 | 48.12% | 1,591 | 25.17% |
| 1908 | 2,876 | 52.28% | 2,472 | 44.94% | 153 | 2.78% |
| 1904 | 2,209 | 47.94% | 2,301 | 49.93% | 98 | 2.13% |
| 1900 | 2,588 | 50.77% | 2,482 | 48.70% | 27 | 0.53% |
| 1896 | 3,888 | 57.85% | 2,778 | 41.33% | 55 | 0.82% |
| 1892 | 2,447 | 42.13% | 2,880 | 49.59% | 481 | 8.28% |
| 1888 | 2,613 | 53.28% | 2,238 | 45.64% | 53 | 1.08% |
| 1884 | 1,941 | 48.46% | 2,060 | 51.44% | 4 | 0.10% |
| 1880 | 1,791 | 49.42% | 1,778 | 49.06% | 55 | 1.52% |

## Education

Forsyth County is served by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools School district.

## Communities
### Cities

* Winston-Salem (county seat and largest community)
* High Point (mostly in Guilford County; also in Randolph County and Davidson County)
* King (mostly in Stokes County)

### Towns

* Bethania
* Kernersville (partially in Guilford County)
* Lewisville
* Rural Hall
* Stokesdale (mostly in Guilford County)
* Walkertown

### Villages

* Clemmons
* Tobaccoville (also in Stokes County)

### Townships

* Abbots Creek
* Belews Creek
* Bethania
* Broadbay
* Clemmonsville
* Kernersville
* Lewisville
* Middle Fork I
* Middle Fork II
* Old Richmond
* Old Town
* Salem Chapel
* South Fork
* Vienna
* Winston

#### Former township

* Middle Fork Township was split into Middle Fork I Township and Middle Fork II Township in 2003.

### Census-designated place

* Germanton

### Unincorporated communities

* Belews Creek
* Bethabara
* Dennis
* Donnaha
* Dozier
* Horneytown
* Pfafftown
* Seward
* Stanleyville
* Union Cross
* Vienna