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History · River Forest

Half of River Forest’s homes were built after 1958

Most of River Forest was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1958. Below: maps from 1952 on and the census since 1960.

0on the National Register
0.0%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: ONUnicorn · CC BY-SA 4.0

What stands out about River Forest’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of River Forest are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of River Forest’s homes were built before 1958.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start River Forest’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how River Forest’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story so far

River Forest, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of River Forest yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

River Forest is a town in Anderson Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson metropolitan statistical area. The population was 26 at the 2020 census.

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 22 to 26 (+18%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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On the map

River Forest on the map, 1952 to 1981

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of River Forest. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

River Forest on the 1952 USGS mapRiver Forest on the 1961 USGS mapRiver Forest on the 1981 USGS map1952Anderson sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of River Forest.

People over time

River Forest, census by census

01960198020002020Peak: 29

Between 16 and 29 people in every census since 1960.

7 censuses, 1960–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on River Forest’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to River Forest

Nobody well known was born in River Forest itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
C
Cory EdwardsAmerican film director and comedian · b. 1968
Gary BurtonAmerican vibraphonist · b. 1943
Mack MattinglyAmerican politician · b. 1931
Z
Zachary AbelAmerican television actor · b. 1980
R
Ray EnrightAmerican film director, screenwriter and film e… · b. 1896
Bill GaitherAmerican singer and songwriter · b. 1936
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Anderson10 historic placesA

Questions about River Forest’s history

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.