Forrest County, MS
78,110 residents · 466 sq mi · 167.6/sq mi · 35% rural
About Forrest County
Forrest County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 78,158. Its county seat and largest city is Hattiesburg. The county was created from Perry County in 1908 and named in honor of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general in the American Civil War and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Forrest County is part of the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Prepper Assessment
Living in this area offers a humid subtropical climate with an annual mean temperature of 66.1°F and ample rainfall at 62.1 inches per year. The growing season is favorable for a variety of crops, supported by USDA zone 9b. However, the population density of 167.6 people per square mile may limit opportunities for extreme remoteness. The terrain is generally flat, which could be beneficial for farming but may also increase exposure to severe weather events.
Forrest County faces significant natural hazards, including tornadoes (FEMA rank 93) and hurricanes (rank 90), which pose threats to property and safety. The area also has a high violence percentile at 86/100, indicating that residents should be mindful of personal security. Although housing is relatively affordable, with a median home price of $144,000, the overall prepper suitability score of 19/100 suggests that self-sufficient living may be challenging due to these risks.
This county may suit those who prioritize affordability and a warm climate over absolute safety and remoteness. Individuals with experience in disaster preparedness and resilience may thrive here. However, those seeking a low-risk environment or extreme isolation might find the combination of high natural hazard rankings and population density to be dealbreakers for their homesteading plans.