Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. Traditionally referred to as "The Forest City," it is commonly called "Rock City" or "Rock Vegas" by the youth. 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 County. The mayor is Lawrence J. Morrissey, an independent elected to a four year term in April 2005.
As of the census of 2000, there are 150,115 people, 59,158 households, and 37,328 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,034.8/km2 (2,680.4/mi2). There are 63,570 housing units at an average density of 438.2/km2 (1,135.1/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 10.18% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 59,158 households of which 31.5% include children under the age of 18, 43.8% are married couples living together, 14.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% are non-families. 30.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,667, and the median income for a family is $45,465. Males have a median income of $37,098 versus $25,421 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,781. 14.0% of the population and 10.5% of families are 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 are living below the poverty line.
Rockford, Illinois, 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 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 papers. 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 (1881), founder of Chicago's Hull House and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1930). Rockford Public Library, the second such institution in Illinois, opened to the public in August 1872.
Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, and until the 1850s was a sleepy country village. But in 1851 the Rockford Water Power Company was organized and in 1852 the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad reached the city. 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 in 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 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.
Source:
RockfordUSA.com
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