|
Welcome to Rockford, Illinois
Possessing the best of big city and small town living.
Serving as the gateway to the recreational treasures of
northwestern Illinois and southern Wisconsin and the urban
riches of Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison, Rockford has a
legacy all its own of manufacturing strength and modern
technology, as well as a diverse array of more than 15,000
businesses.
Manufacturing
Rockford is a center of manufacture, employment and commerce for the more than 375,000 residents who live in or near the city. It remains an important manufacturing town with 1,400 companies producing goods in the three-county area of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle. It's a world leader in the manufacture of machine tools and auto parts and is increasingly becoming recognized as an important center for aerospace components.
Rivers
Located in the northern Illinois Rock River watershed, the
city is bounded together by four rivers: the beautiful Rock
River and its major tributaries: the Kishwaukee, Pecatonica
and Sugar - all of which offer ample opportunities for
canoeing, tubing, nature hikes and fishing.
Parks
The Rockford park system is one of the country's most widely recognized. Made up of 185 public parks on more than 7,000 parkland acres, it offers residents ample opportunities for sailing, swimming, picnicking, camping and hiking.
Golf
Golf is a passion in the city, so it's no wonder that for three years (1998, 1999, 2000), Golf Digest rated Rockford "number one" for mid-sized U.S. cities for the excellence of its public courses. The park district offers some of the finest, most affordable golf courses in the United States with five challenging park district golf courses and 10 public courses overall.
Arts and Culture
Rockford is rich in cultural resources and offers more than 530 arts and cultural attractions entertainment and education destinations - including art galleries, science and history museums, children's theater and museums, dance programs, a symphony, an arboretum and more.
Housing
Housing is plentiful and varied in Rockford. The city offers an inexpensive urban alternative and consistently ranks in the top five among metropolitan areas in the United States for most affordable housing.
Health Care
Quality health care is a top priority. The city is home to
three major health systems and is a regional hub of health
services for the 10-country area of northern Illinois and
southern Wisconsin.
Education
Recognizing education as the key to the future of Rockford,
the public school district offers some of the most
state-of-the-art facilities and most innovative programs in
the region. It covers a 170-square-mile territory and serves
more than 28,000 students. The area also offers a wide
variety of higher learning and technical training
opportunities with more than 45 institutions of higher
education within 75 miles of Rockford and six accredited
institutions in Rockford alone. |
