Rockford

Rockford (pop. 283,719), second-largest city in Illinois. It lies on the Rock River in the north-central area, about 17 mi (27 km) south of the Wisconsin state line and less than 100 mi (161 km) northwest of Chicago. Rockford is one of Illinois' major industrial centers and is known for the manufacture of machine tools, hardware, heavy earth-moving equipment, automobile parts, paint, and farm and household goods. The city is the seat of Winnebago County and the home of Rockford College (founded in 1847). Rockford was founded in 1834 at the site of a stagecoach ford and became a city in 1852.

See also: Illinois.