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History · Forestburg

Forestburg’s post office opened in 1875, and 52% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1898 on.

1875first post office
0on the National Register
52%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Forestburg began

When was Forestburg founded?

1875

The Forestburg post office opened in 1875, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 54151 years
Founding year: the first Forestburg post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).

What stands out about Forestburg’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 Forestburg are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18983 editions of the USGS map, 1898 to 1985. Watch Forestburg change.Old housesHalf of Forestburg’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Forestburg’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Forestburg on the map, 1898 to 1985

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

Forestburg on the 1898 USGS mapForestburg on the 1957 USGS mapForestburg on the 1985 USGS map1898Huron sheet · 1:125,000

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

The story so far

Forestburg, in brief

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

Forestburg is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Sanborn County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 54 at the 2020 census. The community was named for a tract of forest near the original town site.

Its first post office opened in 1875. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 73 to 54 (-26%).

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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Famous people

Famous people close to Forestburg

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

See all →
Shane OsbornAmerican politician · b. 1974
Volney F. WarnerUnited States general · b. 1926
Eleanor McGovernSpouse of American politician · b. 1921
M
Marion McDonaldAmerican football and basketball coach · b. 1914

Questions about Forestburg’s history

What year was Forestburg founded?

The Forestburg post office opened in 1875, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

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. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.