Rockford is a city within the northern section of Illinois State. The Rock River runs through this mid-sized city of 152,871 residents. Rockford serves as the county seat of Winnebago County. The city is the most populated within Illinois State outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
Usually called "The Forest City", the city of Rockford was founded by Germanicus Kent during 1834 and referred to is as Midway, due to the village's location halfway between Galena, Kent's hometown and the bustling Chicago. In the year 1852 Rockford officially became a city with a growing population thanks to the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, that ran through it. By the early part of the twentieth century, Rockford had become an important industrial and manufacturing center. Several manufacturers which are recognized nationally established themselves here. Faced with a decline following WWII ended, the economy has in recent years recovered to focus on becoming an entertainment, commercial and cultural center.
The area surrounding the city of Rockford has lots of manufacturing enterprises making products like for example other hardware and machine tools for the aerospace business. The city likewise boasts several chemical manufacturing businesses. High-tech companies have become increasingly attracted to the city of Rockford in the last few decades. Nearly all jobs in the city of Rockford are provided by the following sectors: healthcare, education, manufacturing, metal products, food and accommodation services, government, finance and insurance.
The city of Rockford features a wide range of cultural attractions. An important venue for world-renowned and local artists is the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center. The New American Theater mounts professional theatrical productions on an annual basis. The Burpee Museum of Natural History exhibits collections of fossils, animals, rocks and minerals. The Discovery Center Museum has a planetarium and interesting exhibits. The Erlander Home Museum provides glimpses into the Swedish settlers in the area. The Ethnic Heritage Museum relates the history of the early Irish, Italians, African-Americans, Polish, Lithuanians and Hispanics. Beyond these urban draws, the natural environment of Rockford offer various outdoor recreational activities.