Shalkespeaare Mine Forbestown CA ca1860, c. 1860
Forbestown’s story
172 years in pictures
The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 1860 and 4 maps from 1948 on.
- 1854Forbestown is settled
ForbestownCA
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author. Photo fron CSU Chico archives · Public domain
Population
90
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$264K
−0.8% in a year
Median age
42.8
years
Jobs based here
19
A commuter town
Is Forbestown a good place to live?
100% of households own their home in Forbestown, where California’s towns sit at 64% and U.S. towns at 73%. Forbestown has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Forbestown stand out
Where Forbestown beats most towns.
Small town
90 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Forbestown: who provides what
Forbestown is unincorporated, so Butte County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Yuba Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesButte CountyButte County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereButte County ElectionsButte County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP codes95941, 9596695941 90% · 95966 10%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Forbestown.
$264KZillow home value
Typical home value
Forbestown$264K
California$762K
−0.8%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Forbestown, with wildfire at the top
Compared with 98% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in Forbestown is higher. FEMA puts nearly two thirds of the town’s expected hazard losses down to wildfires, and 26% to inland flooding. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Forbestown after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2023.
98risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireInland flooding
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
With only 0.3 jobs per working resident, most people in Forbestown work out of town
Among residents in Forbestown, 14% live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Oroville (11%), Oroville East (11%) and Chico (8%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 36 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Forbestown0%
Oroville11%
Oroville East11%
Chico8%
San Francisco5%
36 mi
median commute distance
19
jobs based in Forbestown
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Forbestown, expect four seasons and hot summers
The peak summer temperature for Forbestown is 89°F.
9″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter37–53°
Spring43–65°
Summer59–86°
Fall49–72°
Nov 17
typical first frost
Apr 1
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Forbestown stands out in California and nationally, with more of its adults who smoke cigarettes
The share of adults in Forbestown who report frequent physical distress is 20%. Against the California average, Forbestown comes out ahead on 1 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 19.
| Forbestown | Typical California town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 11% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 22% | 19% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better12 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Forbestown | CA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 75.7% | 71.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 12% | 5.1% |
Oroville Hospital
14.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Forbestown
15pages on Forbestown
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Forbestown; the nearest are
Butte CollegeCommunity college · Public · Oroville21.9 mi$1,356 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-ChicoUniversity or college · Public · Chico33.8 mi$8,472 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Forbestown residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Forbestown for work
Where Forbestown’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
19jobs based in Forbestown
0%of working residents work in town
36 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Forbestown
Census-designated place in California, United States
Forbestown (formerly, Boles Dry Diggins and Forbes Diggins) is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. It lies at an elevation of 2772 feet (845 m). Its zip code is 95941 and its area code is 530. Forbestown had a population of 396 at the 2020 census. Forbestown is named for B.F. Forbes, who opened a store there in 1850. The post office was established in 1854, closed in 1925, and re-opened in 1936. Forbestown's heyday was the last half of the nineteenth century, when it was a large mining center. By the late 1930s, it was nearly a ghost town. The site has foundations and debris from its mining era.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,772 ft
- ZIP code
- 95941
- Area code
- 530
Questions about Forbestown
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Forbestown, CA a good place to live?
Forbestown has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.