FOREST HILLS
neighborhood
The Forest Hills neighborhood is home to some of Columbia’s prettiest streets, splendid homes, and lush gardens – all combined in a historic, in-town neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Conveniently located just a couple of miles east of downtown Columbia, Forest Hills offers shady streets perfect for strolling, a variety of home styles and sizes, an active neighborhood association, and a chance to get a taste of Columbia’s history. An added bonus? The several small triangles of greenspace located throughout the neighborhood, filled with trees, flowers, and native plants.
While there is some fill-in new construction, most of the nearly 300 homes in the neighborhood were built from the 1930s to the 1950s, and many have been renovated to include up-to-date amenities while holding on to their historic charm. Forest Hills is home to young families, retirees, professionals, and many long-time Columbia residents who have lived in Forest Hills for generations.
Today, Forest Hills remains a close-knit neighborhood where residents know and look out for each other, and participate in community events such as the annual Lights of Forest Hills during the holiday season.
FOREST HILLS
neighborhood
The Forest Hills neighborhood is home to some of Columbia’s prettiest streets, splendid homes, and lush gardens – all combined in a historic, in-town neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Conveniently located just a couple of miles east of downtown Columbia, Forest Hills offers shady streets perfect for strolling, a variety of home styles and sizes, an active neighborhood association, and a chance to get a taste of Columbia’s history. An added bonus? The several small triangles of greenspace located throughout the neighborhood, filled with trees, flowers, and native plants.
While there is some fill-in new construction, most of the nearly 300 homes in the neighborhood were built from the 1930s to the 1950s, and many have been renovated to include up-to-date amenities while holding on to their historic charm. Forest Hills is home to young families, retirees, professionals, and many long-time Columbia residents who have lived in Forest Hills for generations.
Today, Forest Hills remains a close-knit neighborhood where residents know and look out for each other, and participate in community events such as the annual Lights of Forest Hills during the holiday season.
RECREATION & PARKS
As the neighborhood developed in the first half of the 20th century, it stayed true to Walker and Kelsey’s vision, creating graceful homes in natural, park-like settings. Rolling hills and serpentine avenues are planted with live oaks, pines, hollies, and river oaks. Forest Hills is home to many small triangle “islands” tucked into the neighborhood to add green space, trees, and native plants and to slow traffic on the winding streets. Nearby Mays Park, at Beltline Boulevard and Trenholm Road, features a picnic shelter, playground equipment, and tennis and basketball courts.
FUN FACT
Diamond Hill, the original home in what is now Forest Hills, was built as a “country home” by South Carolina politician and Confederate veteran Wade Hampton III. It was destroyed by Union troops in 1865 during the Civil War. A stone pillar to commemorate the site of the original home stands on the island at Westminster and Stratford roads. A live oak in the neighborhood dates to Hampton’s home.
what’s in a name
The neighborhood’s roots stretch back to 1859 when Wade Hampton III, a Confederate military officer and politician from a wealthy planter family, bought 100 acres just outside of the city to build a country home on what is now Westminster Drive. That home, called Diamond Hill, was destroyed by Union troops in 1865. In 1925, Joseph Walker purchased about 100 acres and began developing Forest Hills on the land that was formerly known as Abney Park. Walker hired a landscape architect and conservationist Harlan P. Kelsey of Massachusetts to design the suburb, which featured curving streets that mirrored the land’s topography and triangle areas for preserving or planting trees and greenery.
RECREATION & PARKS
As the neighborhood developed in the first half of the 20th century, it stayed true to Walker and Kelsey’s vision, creating graceful homes in natural, park-like settings. Rolling hills and serpentine avenues are planted with live oaks, pines, hollies, and river oaks. Forest Hills is home to many small triangle “islands” tucked into the neighborhood to add green space, trees, and native plants and to slow traffic on the winding streets. Nearby Mays Park, at Beltline Boulevard and Trenholm Road, features a picnic shelter, playground equipment, and tennis and basketball courts.
FUN FACT
Diamond Hill, the original home in what is now Forest Hills, was built as a “country home” by South Carolina politician and Confederate veteran Wade Hampton III. It was destroyed by Union troops in 1865 during the Civil War. A stone pillar to commemorate the site of the original home stands on the island at Westminster and Stratford roads. A live oak in the neighborhood dates to Hampton’s home.
what’s in a name
The neighborhood’s roots stretch back to 1859 when Wade Hampton III, a Confederate military officer and politician from a wealthy planter family, bought 100 acres just outside of the city to build a country home on what is now Westminster Drive. That home, called Diamond Hill, was destroyed by Union troops in 1865. In 1925, Joseph Walker purchased about 100 acres and began developing Forest Hills on the land that was formerly known as Abney Park. Walker hired a landscape architect and conservationist Harlan P. Kelsey of Massachusetts to design the suburb, which featured curving streets that mirrored the land’s topography and triangle areas for preserving or planting trees and greenery.
HOME STATS
Homes in Forest Hills were mainly constructed in the first half of the 20th century, and the neighborhood reflects the styles of homes popular in that era. House styles include Tudor, French Renaissance, Colonial Revival, Craftsman bungalow, Mission/Spanish Revival, and homes with an art deco influence. The neighborhood has a range of home sizes, with the original development closer to downtown featuring large homes on winding streets, while the other side of the neighborhood has more traditional brick homes and tidy bungalows.
HOME STATS
Homes in Forest Hills were mainly constructed in the first half of the 20th century, and the neighborhood reflects the styles of homes popular in that era. House styles include Tudor, French Renaissance, Colonial Revival, Craftsman bungalow, Mission/Spanish Revival, and homes with an art deco influence. The neighborhood has a range of home sizes, with the original development closer to downtown featuring large homes on winding streets, while the other side of the neighborhood has more traditional brick homes and tidy bungalows.
1
Homes for Sale
52
New Listings
50
Homes Sold
$337,707
Average Sales Price
24
Days on Market
99.3%
List Price to Sales Price Ratio
These numbers are provided by CMLS and collected by The Moore Company for 2022. They were updated on January 24, 2022. The information contained herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
1
Homes for Sale
52
New Listings
50
Homes Sold
$337,707
Average Sales Price
24
Days on Market
99.3%
List Price to Sales Price Ratio
These numbers are provided by CMLS and collected by The Moore Company for 2022. They were updated on January 24, 2022. The information contained herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
NEARBY
AMENITIES
RESTAURANTS & MORE
Forest Hills is located between several bustling shopping, dining, and entertainment districts. It is just a few miles from downtown, Five Points, the University of South Carolina, and the Columbia Vista, where there are myriad shops, eateries, nightlife, and cultural options. In the other direction, it’s adjacent to the Forest Drive shopping and dining district, home to dozens of shops and restaurants.
NEIGHBORHOODS SCHOOLS
Forest Hills students attend Satchel Ford Elementary, Crayton Middle, and A.C. Flora High schools in Richland School District One.
NEED GROCERIES?
Nearby Forest Drive is home to many grocery stores, including a Kroger, Publix, Lowes Foods, Fresh Market and Trader Joe’s.
NEARBY
AMENITIES
RESTAURANTS & MORE
Forest Hills is located between several bustling shopping, dining, and entertainment districts. It is just a few miles from downtown, Five Points, the University of South Carolina, and the Columbia Vista, where there are myriad shops, eateries, nightlife, and cultural options. In the other direction, it’s adjacent to the Forest Drive shopping and dining district, home to dozens of shops and restaurants.
NEIGHBORHOODS SCHOOLS
Forest Hills students attend Satchel Ford Elementary, Crayton Middle, and A.C. Flora High schools in Richland School District One.
NEED GROCERIES?
Nearby Forest Drive is home to many grocery stores, including a Kroger, Publix, Lowes Foods, Fresh Market and Trader Joe’s.
EXPLORE THE AREA
Forest Hills is just east of downtown Columbia and is bounded by Forest Drive, Glenwood Road, Gervais Street, and Manning Avenue. From the neighborhood on Gervais Street, it’s just 2 miles to the South Carolina State House and downtown Columbia. The convenient location has easy access to I-77, I-20, and I-26.
EXPLORE THE AREA
Forest Hills is just east of downtown Columbia and is bounded by Forest Drive, Glenwood Road, Gervais Street, and Manning Avenue. From the neighborhood on Gervais Street, it’s just 2 miles to the South Carolina State House and downtown Columbia. The convenient location has easy access to I-77, I-20, and I-26.