[5] Forbestown's heyday was the last half of the nineteenth century, when it was a large mining center.

[8] The 2010 United States Census[9] reported that Forbestown had a population of 320.

The racial makeup of Forbestown was 262 (81.9%) White, 4 (1.3%) African American, 15 (4.7%) Native American, 10 (3.1%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4 (1.3%) from other races, and 25 (7.8%) from two or more races.

32 households (23.2%) were made up of individuals, and 17 (12.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

246 people (76.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 74 people (23.1%) lived in rental housing units.

In the California State Legislature, Forbestown is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil,[10] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.