Forest Park Real Estate

Forest Park, Georgia

Forest Park sits in Clayton County, about nine miles south of downtown Atlanta and a straightforward drive of around 15 minutes via Interstate 75. Interstate 285 also passes through the city, along with U.S. Routes 19 and 41 and several state routes, giving Forest Park some of the best highway access in Clayton County. From Tucker, the drive covers about 23 miles using Interstate 285, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is only a few minutes further down the interstate.

From Stump Town to Forest Park

The city's story begins as a wood and water stop for steam locomotives along the Macon and Western Railroad in the early to mid-1800s, the third such stop out of Atlanta. Early residents called the settlement Stump Town, a nod to the many tree stumps left behind after timber was cut to fuel passing trains. As the community matured, it took on a more park-like character and was renamed Forest Park, officially incorporating in 1908.

Fort Gillem's New Chapter

For much of the twentieth century, Fort Gillem shaped the local economy. The 1,465-acre Army installation opened in 1941 as a satellite of Fort McPherson, named for Lieutenant General Alvan Cullom Gillem Jr., and it later housed the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory before its annexation into Forest Park in 1973. When the base closed in 2011, the city purchased more than 1,100 acres of the property in 2012, with plans to redevelop the land for industrial, manufacturing, and business park use, a project that continues to reshape the southern part of the city. A roughly 250-acre enclave remains under federal control, housing the Army's Criminal Investigation Division forensic laboratory, a Military Entrance Processing Station, and Army Reserve units, while environmental cleanup work continues on portions of the former base.

Home to the Region's Produce Market

Forest Park has hosted the Atlanta State Farmers Market since it opened in January 1959. Spanning about 140 acres along Forest Parkway, it ranks among the largest markets of its kind anywhere, drawing wholesale buyers and everyday shoppers alike for fresh produce and plants. The market operates as a Georgia Department of Agriculture facility and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks tied to the city's name, giving Forest Park a distinct identity within Clayton County built around fresh food and agricultural trade. It runs deliveries around the clock, with vendor stalls generally open to shoppers from morning into early evening every day of the week.

Downtown, Parks, and What's Ahead

Forest Park's Main Street District anchors downtown redevelopment efforts, with local shops and eateries filling out the corridor near City Hall. Starr Park offers a public pool and green space for residents, giving the community a gathering spot outside of downtown. Longer term, regional planners have discussed commuter rail service along the Norfolk Southern line with proposed stops in Forest Park, Morrow, and Jonesboro, extending toward Lovejoy, a project still in the planning stages that reflects the area's ongoing growth and its central position within Clayton County.

Housing in Forest Park

Housing in Forest Park ranges from established single-family neighborhoods built in the decades following incorporation to newer construction near the city's commercial corridors. Ranch and traditional-style homes make up much of the older housing stock, set along tree-lined streets that date to the mid-twentieth century, while redevelopment around the former Fort Gillem property is expected to bring new commercial and residential uses to the southern part of the city over time. Multifamily and townhome options are also part of the mix along the city's major commercial corridors, broadening the range of choices for buyers who want a shorter commute to the airport or downtown without sacrificing easy interstate access.

• Atlanta State Farmers Market on Forest Parkway


• Fort Gillem redevelopment area


• Main Street District downtown


• Starr Park


• Easy access to Interstate 75, Interstate 285, and the airport

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Forest Park in?

Forest Park is located in Clayton County, in the southern part of the Atlanta metro area.

How far is Forest Park from downtown Atlanta?

Downtown Atlanta is about nine miles from Forest Park, roughly a 15-minute drive via Interstate 75.

What is the Atlanta State Farmers Market?

It is a 140-acre wholesale and retail produce market operated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture on Forest Parkway, open since 1959 and considered one of the largest markets of its kind.

What happened to Fort Gillem?

The former Army installation closed in 2011, and the city of Forest Park purchased much of the land in 2012 for redevelopment into industrial, manufacturing, and business park space.

What kind of homes will I find in Forest Park?

Established neighborhoods feature ranch and traditional-style single-family homes built over the decades since incorporation, with newer development taking shape near the city's commercial corridors and the former Fort Gillem property.