- Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
Review & Frequenly Asked Questions:
Located in Winnebago County in the northern central part of Illinois, Rockford is the state's third biggest city. Rockford is also the biggest city in Illinois not to be included in the Chicago metropolitan area. Rockford has an estimated population of 147,000 people, with over 344,000 living in the surrounding metropolitan area.
Rockford was founded as Midway in 1834, but received its current name a few years later, in 1837. The city's name came from the presence of a ford across the Rock River which ran through town. The city was constructed on a good location for transport and development and thrived over the years due to industries like furniture production.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plan Your Trip
Get Ready to Go!
- Search flights and stays nearby.
- Book your tour or local activity.
- Book your car rental.
Need some more help?
Go to travel reservations.