Rochelle, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rochelle, Illinois
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Downtown Rochelle
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| Nickname(s):
The Hub City
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Location of Rochelle in Ogle County, Illinois.
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 Rochelle, Illinois
Location in Ogle County, Illinois
Rochelle, Illinois
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Illinois | |
| County | Ogle | |
| Township | Flagg, Dement | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 13.42 sq mi (34.76 km2) | |
| • Land | 13.40 sq mi (34.71 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 823 ft (251 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,446 | |
| • Density | 704.87/sq mi (272.16/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
61068, 61069
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| Area code(s) | 815 | |
| FIPS code | 17-64746 | |
Rochelle is a city in Ogle County, Illinois. In 2020, about 9,446 people lived there. Rochelle is located about 80 miles (129 km) west of Chicago. It is also about 25 miles (40 km) south of Rockford.
Contents
Exploring Rochelle's Past
Rochelle was first called "Lane." It grew up where two important train lines meet. These lines are the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the Union Pacific. The town was a key spot for farmers. They stored corn, wheat, and other crops here. Then, these crops were shipped east by train.
After World War II, Rochelle became bigger. It became a center for food companies. These included Swift Meat Packing and Del Monte. Del Monte canned vegetables like asparagus, corn, and peas.
Today, Rochelle is home to fun places. The Rochelle Railroad Park is very popular. People from all over visit to watch trains. These trains cross paths at the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads. You can also find the Chicagoland Skydiving Center here. It has a Flight Deck Restaurant too. Kennay Farms Distillery is just west of Rochelle.
On April 9, 2015, a strong tornado hit near Rochelle. It caused damage to parts of the city.
Rochelle's Location and Landscape
Rochelle is located along the Kyte River. Many locals call it "Kyte Creek." The city is also near where two major highways meet. These are Interstate 39 and Interstate 88.
In 2010, Rochelle covered about 12.9 square miles (33.4 sq km). Most of this area is land. Only a small part is water.
How Rochelle's Population Has Grown
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,893 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,789 | −5.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,073 | 15.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,732 | 31.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,310 | 21.2% | |
| 1930 | 3,785 | 14.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,200 | 11.0% | |
| 1950 | 5,449 | 29.7% | |
| 1960 | 7,008 | 28.6% | |
| 1970 | 8,594 | 22.6% | |
| 1980 | 8,982 | 4.5% | |
| 1990 | 8,769 | −2.4% | |
| 2000 | 9,424 | 7.5% | |
| 2010 | 9,574 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 9,446 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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Who Lives in Rochelle?
The United States Census collects information about people. This helps us understand who lives in Rochelle. The table below shows the different groups of people. It also shows how these groups have changed over time.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 7,324 | 6,918 | 6,128 | 77.72% | 72.26% | 64.87% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 92 | 208 | 239 | 0.98% | 2.17% | 2.53% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 19 | 21 | 20 | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 83 | 65 | 73 | 0.88% | 0.68% | 0.77% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 6 | 0 | 15 | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 92 | 107 | 323 | 0.98% | 1.12% | 3.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,806 | 2,254 | 2,648 | 19.16% | 23.54% | 28.03% |
| Total | 9,424 | 9,574 | 9,446 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Rochelle's Economy and Businesses
Rochelle has been home to different businesses. Whitcomb Locomotive Works used to make industrial trains here. They also made a car called the Partin Palmer automobile.
Union Pacific built a very large shipping center in Rochelle in 2003. It was called Global III Intermodal Facility. This center closed in 2019.
The Illinois River Energy ethanol plant is also located in Rochelle. It produces ethanol, a type of fuel.
Arts, Culture, and Fun Places
Rochelle has several interesting buildings and places to visit.
- The William H. Holcomb House is a historic home.
- The City and Town Hall is an important government building.
- The Flagg Township Public Library is a place for books and learning.
- The Hub Theater is a local movie theater.
The Rochelle Railroad Park is a special place. Here, you can watch many trains go by. It's a favorite spot for train lovers!
Learning in Rochelle
Rochelle has several schools for students.
- Rochelle Community Consolidated District 231 runs elementary and middle schools:
- Abraham Lincoln Elementary
- Central Elementary
- Floyd J. Tilton Elementary
- Phillip May Elementary
- Rochelle Middle School
- Rochelle Township High School District 212 operates Rochelle Township High School.
- St. Paul Lutheran School teaches children from age three through eighth grade.
How People Get Around: Transportation
The "Hub City"
Rochelle is known as the "Hub City." This nickname comes from its location. Many important roads and train lines cross paths here. Imagine the center of a wagon wheel; that's the "hub."
- The Lincoln Highway was the first road to cross the entire United States. It passed through Rochelle.
- US-51 was one of the first highways to go from north to south across the U.S. It also went through Rochelle.
- Today, major interstates like I-88 and I-39 still cross here.
- Two big train lines, the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, also cross inside the city.
Because of all these crossing paths, many local businesses use "Hub City" in their names. The local high school teams are even called the "Hubs"!
Rochelle used to have passenger trains. The last one left in 1971. The old train station was built in 1921. It was taken down in 2007.
Rochelle Municipal Airport
Rochelle also has its own airport. It is called Rochelle Municipal Airport. The city owns and runs it.
Famous People from Rochelle
Many interesting people have come from Rochelle, Illinois:
- Joan Allen is a well-known actress.
- Joanna Baker is a professor who studies ancient languages.
- Delos W. Baxter was a state senator and mayor of Rochelle.
- Stan Campbell was a professional football player.
- Mabel Craft Deering was a journalist.
- William Gehring is a professor of psychology.
- Lloyd Ingraham was an actor.
- Paul R. Lawrence was a famous Harvard professor.
- William W. May was an athlete who competed in the 1908 Olympics. He was a champion runner in high school.
- Abram B. Steele was a lawyer and politician.
- Daniel Van Kirk is a comedian.
- Judith C. Toth was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
See also
In Spanish: Rochelle (Illinois) para niños
