The Forrest County Mississippi map frames Hattiesburg and Petal on opposite sides of the Leaf River while three regional highways converge nearby. Rawls Springs and Glendale extend the reference beyond the central cities, helping users distinguish the urban core from pine lands and military-training areas farther south.
Forrest County Mississippi map download
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- File: County reference map
- Format: JPG
- Print layout: A3
Quick Facts
- State and identifier: Mississippi, Forrest County; FIPS 28035
- County seat: Hattiesburg
- Selected map labels: Hattiesburg, Petal, Rawls Springs, Glendale
- 2020 census population: 78,158
- July 2025 population estimate: 79,034
- 2025 Gazetteer area: 466.042 sq mi land and 4.198 sq mi water
- 2020 land-area density: 167.7 residents per sq mi
- Primary route references: I-59, US 49, US 98, and MS 42
- Landscape references: Leaf River, Bouie River, Hattiesburg urban area, and Camp Shelby pine lands
The decennial count and the July 2025 estimate represent different reference dates. Land and water values come from the 2025 Gazetteer. The density of 167.7 residents per square mile uses the 2020 population and land area; it does not imply an even distribution among towns, farms, forests, or floodplain.
Forrest County Mississippi map: What It Shows
Hattiesburg anchors the west bank, and Petal forms a distinct city across the Leaf River. Rawls Springs marks the northern US 49 approach, whereas Glendale points southeast. I-59, US 98, and US 49 cross at different angles, so the map should be read as a networked regional hub rather than one linear corridor.
County Layout and Location
The Leaf and Bouie rivers organize the Hattiesburg area before joining the Pascagoula drainage. South of the urban core, Camp Shelby and extensive pine land reduce the density of settlement labels. The built-up area also crosses west into Lamar County, illustrating why municipal, county, and metropolitan boundaries should be kept distinct.
Where Leaf River and Bouie River shapes the county, 466.042 square miles of land contrast with a water share of about 0.9 percent. Leaf River and Bouie River is therefore a directional clue, not merely a patch of blue. Hattiesburg and Petal establish an internal baseline, while the side facing Jones supplies an outer reference. Small roads beside Leaf River and Bouie River are generalized so the larger settlement and boundary cues remain legible.
Local Context: Hattiesburg at the River Junction
Hattiesburg began as a rail and timber center and developed into a regional hub for education, health care, and commerce. The University of Southern Mississippi and Camp Shelby broadened its role, while Petal’s growth across the Leaf River produced a two-city pattern within Forrest County.
Ways to Use This Map
- Compare Hattiesburg and Petal across the Leaf River
- Explain the meeting of three regional highway corridors
- Place Camp Shelby relative to the urban and pine landscapes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petal a neighborhood of Hattiesburg?
No. Petal is a separate municipality east of the Leaf River, although the two cities form a connected urban area.
How does Leaf River complement Hattiesburg when orienting the map toward Jones?
A symbol at Hattiesburg fixes one named point; Leaf River adds a broader frame that can be followed toward Jones without treating every local road as mapped.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files
- Mississippi Encyclopedia: Forrest County
- Mississippi Department of Transportation official highway map
Related County Maps
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These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
