State and local protected areas/sites

• Cascades Preserve (part)
• Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve
• Historic Bethabara Park
• Kaleideum
• Old Salem Museums & Gardens
• Shell-Shaped Shell Station
• Tanglewood Park

Major water bodies

• Abbotts Creek
• Belews Creek
• Belews Lake
• Beaver Dam Creek
• Brushy Creek
• Blanket Creek
• Buffalo Creek
• Crooked Run Creek
• Lick Creek
• Little Creek
• Little Yadkin River
• Mill Creek
• Muddy Creek
• Old Field Creek
• Reedy Fork
• Salem Creek
• Silas Creek
• South Fork Muddy Creek
• Yadkin River

Adjacent counties

• Stokes County – north
• Rockingham County – northeast
• Guilford County – east
• Davidson County – south
• Davie County – southwest
• Yadkin County – west
• Surry County – northwest

Major highways

• I-40
• 
  I-74 / Future I-74 (designated section from I-40 to county line with Guilford County)
• 
  Future I-274 (future loop around Winston-Salem)
• I-285
• 
  Future I-685
• US 52
• US 158
• US 311
• US 421
• NC 8
• NC 65
• NC 66
• NC 67
• NC 74 (temporary highway designation for I-74)
• NC 109
• NC 150
• NC 192 (future designation between I-40 and I-74)
• NC 452 (future temporary highway designation for I-274)

Major infrastructure

• Amtrak Thruway (Winston-Salem)
• Smith Reynolds Airport

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 382,590 people, 148,151 households, and 90,837 families residing in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,^[15] there were 306,067 people, 123,851 households, and 81,741 families residing in the county. The population density was 747 people per square mile (288 people/km²). There were 133,093 housing units, at an average density of 325 units per square mile (125 units/km²). The racial makeup was 68.47% White, 25.61% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.25% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 6.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 123,851 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age was 36 years, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.

The median household income was $42,097, and the median family income was $52,032. Males had a median income of $36,158, versus $27,319 for females. The per capita income was $23,023. About 7.90% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Forsyth County typically favors Democratic candidates in national elections, though Republicans remain competitive in local races.^[17]

Cities

• Winston-Salem (county seat and largest community)
• High Point (mostly in Guilford County; also in Randolph County and Davidson County)
• King (mostly in Stokes County)

Towns

• Bethania
• Kernersville (partially in Guilford County)
• Lewisville
• Rural Hall
• Stokesdale (mostly in Guilford County)
• Walkertown

Villages

• Clemmons
• Tobaccoville (also in Stokes County)

Townships

Census-designated place

• Germanton

Unincorporated communities