Forest City has long been Rutherford County’s center of commerce, but it also has other distinctions. Originally known as Burnt Chimney, the town was named Forest City in 1887. The new name came from the remains of the McArthur home near the crossing of the Shelby - Rutherfordton and Spartanburg-Lincolnton Roads. Forest City proudly remembers its rich history. There is a burnt chimney replica in the square, a muster grounds monument, an avenue of trees for local World War II dead, and the Memorial Gardens honoring those who have died in battle. In 1927, the U.S. Department of Agriculture selected Forest City as one of the 10 best-planned towns in the United States. Explore the past and people of Forest City and join them in accepting the challenges of the present and future.