Rockford, IL

Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. It is located in the far northern part of the state on the banks of the Rock River. Rockford is the fifth-most populous city in Illinois as well as the most populous outside of the Chicago metropolitan area and the 171st-most populous in the U.S. In the 2020 census, Rockford had a population of 148,655 anchoring the Rockford metropolitan area with a population of 348,360. Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, while a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County. Settled in the mid-1830s, the position of the city on the Rock River made its location strategic for industrial development. It became notable for its output of heavy machinery, hardware, and tools; by the 20th century, it was the second leading center of furniture manufacturing in the United States. During the second half of the 20th century, Rockford struggled alongside many Rust Belt cities. Since the late 1990s, efforts in economic diversification have led to the growth of automotive, aerospace, and healthcare industries, as well as the undertaking of various tourism and downtown revitalization efforts. Nicknamed the Forest City, Rockford is known for various venues of cultural or historical significance, including Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, Tinker Swiss Cottage, the BMO Harris Bank Center, the Coronado Theatre, the Laurent House, and the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Its contributions to music are noted in the Mendelssohn Club, the oldest music club in the United States, and performers such as Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and Cheap Trick.