Rockford, Michigan
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| Rockford, Michigan | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Kent |
| Area | |
| - Total | 3.0 sq mi (7.8 km²) |
| - Land | 3.0 sq mi (7.8 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 702 ft (214 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 4,626 |
| - Density | 1,544.2/sq mi (596.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 49341, 49351 |
| Area code(s) | 616 |
| FIPS code | 26-69080[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0636089[2] |
Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,626. It is on the Rogue River and is only a few miles north of Grand Rapids.
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[edit] History
The Rockford area was first visited and inhabited by Native American cultures, such as the Hopewell, Mascouten, and Ottawa peoples. There have not been archeological finds of Native American settlements in the Rogue River valley, but their trails branched through the area and were noted by early surveyors.
The first important settler of what would become the city of Rockford was Smith Lapham, who had come to Kent County in 1843 after living in Washtenaw County for 18 years. Smith Lapham came to the banks of the Rogue to assist in the completion of a dam and sawmill begun by a William Hunter. Hunter gave Lapham 40 acres of land on the east side of the Rogue for his trouble, and Lapham stayed there for the rest of his life. Hunter shortly left the area.
Lapham built his own sawmill on his side of the river, which was completed by 1844. Other settlers soon followed, including John Long, Freeman Burch, and William Thornton. By the fall of 1845, the settlement had about 5 houses. Since the settlement existed largely on land owned or sold by Smith Lapham, it became known as Laphamville. In 1856 it was first platted as Laphamville by William Thornton.
By 1865 the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company had begun a railroad extending northward through the village. The railroad had been advising the residents to adopt a shorter name, and when a newly arrived resident from Rockford, Illinois proposed the name of his former town, the new name was narrowly approved. It was replatted under the name Rockford in 1865 and incorporated as the Village of Rockford in June 1866 with 315 inhabitants.
In recent years (starting around the 1980s), the town of Rockford has developed a more suburban character as a popular bedroom community, as the Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area has grown in the past couple of decades.
[edit] Recreation
The White Pine Trail runs through the downtown area of Rockford, next to the Rogue River and the Rockford Dam. Rockford also has many small parks dotted along the river for a great place to rest while enjoying the white pine trail.
[edit] Economy
Wolverine Worldwide, a footwear manufacturer, was founded in Rockford in 1883 and has been an important employer in the area. Other light industrial, light manufacturing, and commercial business employ many in the area. Many Rockford residents work and shop in nearby Grand Rapids. It also has many small businesses that are in the area to help the economy along.
[edit] Education
Rockford is served by the Rockford Public Schools and various private schools.
[edit] Notable people from Rockford
- Dathan Ritzenhein, Long distance runner
- Adam Kieft, lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL
- John Kiedis, father of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis
- John C. Sjogren, Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
- Joe Staley, Left Tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, First round draft pick #28
- Dick York, starred as the first Darrin Stephens (1964-69), on the long-running television series Bewitched. York is buried in the Plainfield Cemetery in Rockford.
- Ginger Zee (Zuidgeest) Chicago NBC5 Meteorologist
- Joel David Rinzema-Sweet, Famous Russian filmmaker.
[edit] Geography
Rockford occupies land formerly governed by the following townships:
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.99%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,626 people, 1,741 households, and 1,255 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,544.2 per square mile (595.4/km²). There were 1,796 housing units at an average density of 599.5/sq mi (231.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.20% White, 0.61% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 1,741 households out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,562, and the median income for a family was $55,954. Males had a median income of $45,847 versus $28,024 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,906. About 8.4% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- TheRockfordNetwork.com Community Website
- Rockford official website
- Rockford Public Schools official website
- History and directory of Kent County, Michigan. Dillenback & Leavitt. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Daily eagle steam printing house, 1870. pp. 25+.
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