Forrest City is located in St. Francis County (of which it is the county seat) northeast of Pine Bluff between West Memphis and Brinkley off of I-40, near the St. Francis River.

The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 13,064, a decrease of 300 since 1990.

Some popular places of interest throughout the Forrest City area include: Village Creek State Park, St. Francis Co. Museum, Forrest City Country Club and Ridgecrest Club, Inc. (swimming, tennis, golf, social events), Broadway Cinema, Forrest City Public Library, sporting clays range and hunting (duck, whitetail deer).

Forrest City offers excellent educational opportunities at East Arkansas Community College and Crowleys Ridge Technical Institute.