Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. Traditionally referred to as "The Forest City," Rockford is classified as a mid-sized city as it has 150,115 residents, while the metro area has 320,204 residents (2000 Census). It is the third largest city in Illinois and county seat of Winnebago CountyTemplate:GR. The mayor is Lawrence J. Morrissey, an independent elected to a four year term in April 2005.
Geography & Climate
Rockford is located at 42°16′11″N 89°4′11″W / 42.26972°N 89.06972°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (42.269770, -89.069754)Template:GR.
Due to its location in the midwest, Rockford's climate contains four clearly defined seasons. Summers are usually very warm with the high temperature in July, the hottest month, being 83°F (28°C). The winter months can bring bitterly cold air masses from Canada. The average high temperature in January, the coldest month, is 27°F (-3°C). June is Rockford's wettest month while February is the driest. During a typical year, Rockford receives 36.3in (922mm) of precipitation.
Rockford and surrounding areas are prone to violent thunderstorms during the months of March, April, May, and June. On April 21, 1967, the neighboring town of Belvidere was struck by a violent F4 tornado, in which thirteen were killed and hundreds more injured at Belvidere's High School. Other severe weather events, such as hail and strong winds are common in these storms. On July 5, 2003 at around two o'clock in the morning, microbursts caused major damage on both the east and west sides of Rockford. Approximately 70,000 people were without power, with many on the west side suffering in the heat for weeks. It took months for the damage to be completely cleared, but because the storm struck so early in the morning there were no injuries or fatalities. However, these sometimes violent storms bring the majority of summer rainfall. Severe flooding on September 4th 2006 led to portions of Rockford being declared disaster areas.
The city is also prone to severe snowstorms in winter, and blizzards are frequent winter occurrences. On January 13, 1979 over 9 inches (.23m) of snow fell on Rockford in just a few hours during one of the strongest blizzards in the city's history. The city averages approximately 36 inches (.92m) of snowfall in a normal winter, but greater amounts are common. The snowiest winter in the history of the city was the winter of 1978-1979, when 75 inches (1.91m) of snow fell.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 150,115 people, 59,158 households, and 37,328 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,034.8/km² (2,680.4/mi²). There were 63,570 housing units at an average density of 438.2/km² (1,135.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.81% White, 17.37% African American, 0.32% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.80% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.18% of the population.
There are 59,158 households of which 31.5% include children under the age of 18, 43.8% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,667, and the median income for a family was $45,465. Males had a median income of $37,098 versus $25,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,781. 14.0% of the population and 10.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.6% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Rockford surpassed Peoria as Illinois' second largest city in the late 1950s, and held onto that position for nearly half a century before being dislodged by a special census being held in Aurora in 2003. Note that Rockford was not recounted at the same time so this is not a true ranking.
History
Rockford was first settled in 1834-1835 by Germanicus Kent, Thatcher Blake, and Lewis Lemon, who came from Galena and established themselves on the west bank of Rock River; and Daniel Shaw Haight, who founded a settlement on the east bank. (Lemon, a slave, later bought his freedom, but stayed in the area as a truck farmer.) Halfway between Chicago and Galena, the community was briefly known as Midway, but quickly became known as Rockford, because of the excellent ford across the Rock River. A post office was established in 1837. The settlement was incorporated as a village in 1839, and chartered as a city in 1852.
The first weekly newspaper was published in 1840 and the first successful daily newspaper appeared in 1877. Between 1890 and 1930 the city had three daily newspapers. Rockford Female Seminary was chartered in 1847, became Rockford College in 1892, and became fully coeducational in 1958. Best known of the college's graduates is Jane Addams (RFS Class of 1881), the founder of Chicago's Hull House and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Rockford Public Library, the second such institution in Illinois, first opened to the public in August 1872; the library's first dedicated building, a Carnegie library, was completed by 1902.
Although Rockford was a sleepy country village up until the 1850s, the city is now the seat of Winnebago County. In 1851, the Rockford Water Power Company was organized and in 1852 the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad reached the city. These two events, which brought inexpensive power and inexpensive transportation to the area, changed Rockford forever. By 1860 Rockford had become a significant, growing industrial center, noted for production of the John H. Manny reaper and other agricultural machinery. By the 1880s a furniture industry was begun, using the talents of Swedish craftsmen and capitalists, and by the first half of the 20th century Rockford was the second largest furniture-manufacturing center in the United States. Many of the furniture companies were cooperatives, reflecting a different business approach from that of the old Yankee entrepreneur, with laborers and craftsmen holding significant power. The agricultural implement industry was already in decline by the First World War, and the furniture industry was severely damaged by the Great Depression and the Second World War. By the end of the 1960s both were extinct in the city.
Rockford's 20th Century industry revolved around machine tools, heavy machinery, automotive, aerospace, fastener and cabinet hardware products, and packaging devices and concepts. The city's industrial background has produced many important and interesting inventions, among them the Nelson knitting machine, airbrush, electric brake, electric garage door opener, dollar bill changer, and electronic dartboard. Some defunct Rockford concerns of historical interest are: Air Brush Manufacturing Company, Free Sewing Machine Company, Haddorff Piano Company, Hanson Clock Company, Hess & Hopkins Leather Company, Norse Pottery Company, Rockford Brewing Company, Rockford Silver Plate Company, and Rockford Watch Company. Rockford has been known as a town that makes toys. The Testors company still makes model kits and paint and glue supplies for these kits. The Nylint company produced heavy duty metal scale toys of contstruction equipment, such as dump trucks, from 1946 to about 2001, when they went out of business. Tootsie toys, headquartered in Chicago, had a satellite factory in Rockford, where small single piece die cast cars where made for many years.
The USS Rockford, a Tacoma class frigate named for the city, was commissioned in March 1944 and earned two service stars during World War II. Camp Grant, a training depot used during World Wars I and II, was torn down in 1947 and became the site of the Chicago/Rockford International Airport by late 1954, and of Seth B. Atwood Park in 1956.
During the early to late 1940s the Rockford Peaches (of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) were one of the first all-female baseball teams in the world. They played their home games at Beyer Stadium which was razed several years ago. A placard displays where the stadium once stood, along with additional historical information. Although the 1992 motion picture "A League of Their Own" features the Rockford Peaches, all of the characters playing on the team were fictional. The team, however, did lose the league championship in 1943 as depicted in the film. The Peaches won the league championship in 1945, 1948, 1949, and 1950.
The number of impressive movie palaces built in the 1920's and early 1930's speaks to the thriving economy Rockford had at the time. The Coronado Theater theater was the largest and most expansive of all these movie theaters in Rockford, complete with an orchestra pit, double balcony, highly ornate design and full array of theatrical and stage equipment. Other remarkable theaters in Rockford included the Midway, Times, and State theaters.
Rockford was well known for its Elm trees, this being the reason for its nickname the Forest City. But in the mid 1950s an epidemic of Dutch Elm disease more or less wiped out the population of Elm trees.
In the 1990's Rockford had the ignaminious honour of being listed as one of America's ten worst cities by the Rand McNally corporation. This may have been due to the lack of jobs and high number of outdated or closed factories. Crime on the west side of town is endemic to this day, with huge areas of old established neighborhoods in extreme blight. The homicide rate in these areas is quite high. Many houses are vacant with no one wishing to buy them. The city government also seems to be not spending much money on public works, such as sidewlaks in these areas.
Becoming a Transportation Center
The Chicago/Rockford International Airport (known for most of its hsitory as RFD, or the Greater Rockford Airport) serves the region with daily non-stop flights to major U.S. cities in addition to offering seasonal vacation service to international destinations. Current scheduled airlines include United Airlines and Allegiant Air. Festival Airlines, a low-cost, vacation-oriented airline has announced that RFD will be the home of its new hub. As of August 2006 airport leaders are courting additional airlines (rumored to be Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways). The airport is undergoing a major effort to recruit travelers from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison metropolitan areas as well as from western Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and eastern Iowa.
The airport is home to United Parcel Service's second largest air-hub. The Chicago/Rockford International Airport is presently ranked as the twenty-third largest cargo airport in the nation when measured by land weight.
Rockford is at the intersection of Interstate 90 (Northwest Tollway), U.S. Highway 20, and Interstate 39. In 2006 the Illinois Tollway is revamping all toll-collection by incorporating the method of Open Road Tolling using the I-Pass System. This is expected to reduce delays on the highway between Rockford and Chicago.
Passenger rail service is planned for expansion in Illinois and Rockford will likely become a destination. In 2006 governmental leaders proposed extending Metra train service from the western Chicago suburbs to Rockford. Additional passenger service is being considered via Amtrak through the Blackhawk Area Rail Coalition. While service (via Amtrak's Black Hawk) was cut in 1981, trains could begin carrying passengers in and out of Rockford as soon as 2010.
Rockford is served by several different freight railroad lines, such as Union Pacific, Canadian National, and the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern. Rochelle, a community of 10,000, 25 miles south of Rockford is home to Union Pacific Railroad’s Global III Intermodal Facility. The complex is one of the largest intermodal facilities in the world. Construction on the state-of-the-art facility was completed in 2003 in Rochelle due to the close proximity to interstate highways and rail routes.
Looking into the Future
The Rockford economy has suffered since the decline of the manufacturing industry in the late 1980s. Once a national leader in manufacturing and industry, the focus of the local economy has been forced to change. Many of the "family-owned" companies that once inhabited Rockford were bought out by larger companies, the larger companies then relocated the products being made to lower wage parts of the United States or sent them overseas altogether. The city's new focus relies on high-technology businesses, tourism generated by outstanding museums and a great park system, and the westward growth of the Chicago metropolitan area. As of 2006, studies are being conducted to determine the benefits of passenger train traffic, future commercial airline service, and highway infrastructure upgrades.
When the Northwest Tollway was constructed in the 1950s, many commercial businesses relocated from the city's center to the new thoroughfare six miles east. As a result, the downtown area is not the bustling center of commerce expected from a city of its size. The commercial center of Rockford is currently on East State Street, and more recently, Perryville Road, which boast closer proximity to the highway.
As of 2006, new commercial and residential development is planned in the downtown area. The city is also considering plans for a Convention Center, Casino, and Riverwalk. The Main Street Corridor (Illinois Route 2) is also expected to be redeveloped. Construction from the downtown area, south to US Highway 20 is expected to begin in 2007.
Rockford School System
Post-secondary
Rockford, Illinois is the site of Judson College, Northern Illinois University - Rockford, Rockford Business College, Rockford College, Rock Valley College, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford.
Rockford College is best known for graduating Jane Addams, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her efforts to promote international peace and justice. Laura Jane Addams (1860 - 1935) entered what was then Rockford Female Seminary in 1877 and became the first graduate to receive a B.A. degree from the newly accredited baccalaureate institution in 1882 (the school was renamed Rockford College in 1892).
- NIU Rockford
- Rockford Business College
- Rockford College
- Rock Valley College
- U-Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
- Judson College
Public School District 205
The Rockford Public School District covers about 170 square miles and serves over 27,000 students. It is the third largest school district in the state, with 40 elementary schools, six middle schools, and four high schools.
Currently, the superintendent of District 205 is Dr. Dennis Thompson.
Points of interest
The Rockford area is known as an outdoor destination, especially in the non-winter months. Numerous forest preserves surround the Kishwaukee River valley, five miles southeast of the downtown area. Rock Cut State Park is located within the county to the northeast. Both the Rockford Park District and Winnebago County Forest Preserve District own and operate numerous golf courses as well. In fact, Golf Magazine called Aldeen Golf Club one of 50 excellent national golf courses one can play for under $50. Aldeen was ranked #38 in the nation in 2004.
Rockford's Anderson Japanese Gardens has been ranked the top Japanese garden in North America. The garden was designed by Hoichi Kurisu. The Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden is also a popular attraction. The facility contains 150 acres of rare trees and shrubs.
Burpee Museum of Natural History, located just north of downtown, is home to Jane the Rockford T-Rex.* The Discovery Center Museum contains a large and well-respected interactive children's science exhibit. The Rockford Art Museum completes the entire museum campus.
Another point of interest is the Coronado Theatre, an ornately decorated vaudeville movie theater located in Downtown Rockford. The theatre was completely restored in 1999.
To get an idea of what life was like in Rockford in the 19th Century, take a tour of Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, a preserved Victorian "cottage" built in 1865.
Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center is the oldest continuous community music organization in the United States. It exists to provide quality music for all people of the northern Illinois region through live performances by local and world renowned artists.
Midway Village and Museum Center is a picturesque turn-of-the-century Victorian village featuring twenty-six historic structures and heritage gardens. Its grounds include a 55,000 sq. ft. Museum Center that offers five exhibition galleries of Rockford's unique and ethnic history, a collection of antique and handcrafted doll houses in the Old Doll House and a working replica of a water powered machine shop at its Severin Lake entrance.
Sister cities
Brovary, Ukraine - Since 1995
Changzhou, China - Since 1999
Borgholm, Sweden - Since 2002
Miscellaneous
Sports Teams
- Rockford Forest Citys (Baseball, 1871)
- Rockford Lightning (Basketball, 1986-2005)
- Rockford IceHogs (Ice Hockey)
- Rockford RiverHawks (Baseball)
- Rockford Peaches (Baseball, 1943-1954)
- Rockford Metros (Arena Football, 1986 "playtest game")
- Rock River Raptors (Indoor Football)
- Rockford Thunder (AISL, indoor soccer)
- Phantom Regiment, Drum and Bugle Corps
Notable Rockfordians
- Jane Addams, Nobel Peace Prize Winner
- Ginger Lynn Allen, adult film actress
- John Bayard Anderson, U.S. Representative and 1980 presidential candidate
- Jodi Benson, actress and voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid
- Stewart Brand, founder of The Whole Earth Catalog, co-founder of The WELL - Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
- James Henry Breasted, scholar, first American teacher of Egyptology
- Cheap Trick, rock band, circa 1970-present
- Steve Cherundolo, professional footballer
- City of Rockford Pipe Band, Competition Pipe and Drum Band
- Thomas Fleming, editor, Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture
- Susan Saint James, actress, childhood years
- Sarah Kelly, contemporary Christian artist
- Janet Lynn, ice skater
- Joe Mantello, Tony Award winning actor and director
- Lynn Martin, US Secretary of Labor and Congresswoman
- Shawn Ryan, television writer, creator of FX show "The Shield"
- Gordon Tullock, economist
- Janice E. Voss, American Astronaut
- Michelle Williams, member of Destiny's Child
- James "Big Jim" Wright, music producer, songwriter, (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Flyte Time)
- Barbara Hale, Actress, "Perry Mason"
- Matt McDonough, Drummer, Mudvayne
- Paris Bennett, American Idol Season 5 Finalist (Fifth Place)
- "Chicken" George Boswell, Big Brother Season 1 reality television contestant (Fifth Place), Big Brother All-Stars contestant.
- Aidan Quinn, actor
Media
- Rockford Register Star, Daily Newspaper. Founded 1855. Circulation: 75,000.
- Rock River Times, Weekly Newspaper. Independently owned since 1993. Circulation: 20,000.
- Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture, Monthly Magazine. Founded 1977. Features a monthly column on Rockford entitled "The Rockford Files" by executive editor Scott P. Richert.
- WREX-TV, NBC Affiliate. Channel 13.
- WTVO, ABC Affiliate. Channel 17.
- WIFR, CBS Affiliate. Channel 23.
- WQRF-TV, FOX Affiliate. Channel 39.
- WTJK 1380, ESPN Radio.
- WFEN-FM 88.3, Christian Radio.
- WGFB-FM 103.1, Adult Contemporary Radio.
- WGSL-FM 91.1, Christian Radio.
- WYHY-FM 95.3, Classic Hits/Adult Contemporary Radio.
- WNIU-FM 90.5, Classical Radio.
- WNIJ-FM 89.5, NPR.
- WNTA 1330, News/Talk Radio.
- WQFL-FM 100.9, Christian Radio.
- WROK 1440, News/Talk Radio.
- WXRX-FM 104.9, Active Rock Radio.
- WXXQ-FM 98.5, Country Radio.
- WZOK-FM 97.5, Top 40 Radio.
- WKGL-FM 96.7, Classic Rock Radio.
