Forestburg, Texas

Forestburg is an unincorporated community in Montague County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 50 in 2000.

History
Forestburg was first settled in the early 1850s. Austin Perryman, Wash Williams, and Bob Clark were the first cattle farmers to settle here. Because of nonstop Indian raids in the area, it remained underdeveloped until the 1870s. The community first went by the name of Horn Hill, but it was changed to Forest Hill due to a grove of live oak trees in the area. It rechanged its name to Forestburg when postal authorities found out that there was another Forest Hill in the state. A post office was established in 1876. The community then had 200 residents served by several businesses such as sawmills and cotton gins. The population grew to 372 in 1900 and had a telephone line connected. It went down to 212 in the mid-1920s then to 100 in the mid-1950s. It had eight businesses at that time. Its population returned to 100 from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s, in which it still had eight businesses and the post office. The population plunged to 50 in 2000.

On May 29, 1946, an F2 tornado struck Forestburg. One home was destroyed and another was unroofed. On May 7, 1995, an F3 tornado struck Forestburg. It killed two elderly people near the community, and an undetermined number of cattle and cows were also killed.

The ZIP Code for Forestburg is 76239.

On April 21, 2021, Mark and Jalise Middleton were arrested for their involvement in the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

Geography
Forestburg is located at the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 455, 1655, 922, and 677, 15 mi southeast of Montague, 23 mi east of Bowie, and 32 mi northwest of Denton in southeastern Montague County.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Forestburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Arts and culture
The Forestburg Rodeo is held each summer, featuring calf roping, barrel racing, and bull riding events.

Education
Forestburg had the county's first school in 1858.

The community of Forestburg is served by the Forestburg Independent School District and is home to the Forestburg High School Longhorns.

On May 17, 1889, two students at Forestburg School were killed in a tornado.