Rockford, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockford, Alabama
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Rockford, Alabama in 2011
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Location of Rockford in Coosa County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Coosa |
| Settled | 1832 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.32 sq mi (8.60 km2) |
| • Land | 3.31 sq mi (8.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 349 |
| • Density | 105.53/sq mi (40.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35136
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| Area code(s) | 256 |
| FIPS code | 01-65472 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0153189 |
Rockford is a small town in Coosa County, Alabama, United States. It's the main town, or county seat, of Coosa County. In 2020, about 349 people lived there. Rockford is also part of a larger area called the Talladega-Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Rockford: How the Town Began
Rockford has a long history! The area that is now Coosa County was officially created on December 18, 1832. At first, the county seat was a place called Lexington, located near Hatchet Creek.
Just a few years later, in 1835, the name of the county seat was changed. That's when it became known as Rockford, the town we know today.
Geography: Where is Rockford Located?
Rockford is found in the central part of Alabama. Its exact location is 32°53′17″N 86°13′10″W / 32.88806°N 86.21944°W.
Main Roads and Travel
The town is easy to reach because a major road, U.S. Route 231, goes right through its center. This road runs north and south. If you go north on US 231, you'll reach Sylacauga about 21 miles (34 km) away. Heading south for 28 miles (45 km) will take you to Wetumpka.
Another important road, Alabama State Route 22, also meets US 231 in the middle of Rockford. This road goes east and west. Traveling east for 18 miles (29 km) leads to Alexander City. Going west for 29 miles (47 km) will bring you to Clanton.
Land and Water Area
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Rockford covers a total area of about 3.3 square miles (8.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.3 square miles (8.57 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.30%, is water.
Climate: What's the Weather Like?
Rockford has a humid subtropical climate. This means it usually has hot, humid summers and mild winters. It gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.
| Climate data for Rockford, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–2016 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) |
82 (28) |
87 (31) |
90 (32) |
98 (37) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
107 (42) |
101 (38) |
98 (37) |
87 (31) |
79 (26) |
107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 54.6 (12.6) |
59.5 (15.3) |
67.4 (19.7) |
75.0 (23.9) |
81.0 (27.2) |
86.1 (30.1) |
88.7 (31.5) |
87.2 (30.7) |
83.2 (28.4) |
73.9 (23.3) |
64.0 (17.8) |
56.7 (13.7) |
73.1 (22.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.6 (7.0) |
48.6 (9.2) |
55.4 (13.0) |
62.3 (16.8) |
69.7 (20.9) |
75.9 (24.4) |
79.0 (26.1) |
77.9 (25.5) |
73.4 (23.0) |
63.2 (17.3) |
53.1 (11.7) |
46.9 (8.3) |
62.5 (16.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 34.6 (1.4) |
37.7 (3.2) |
43.4 (6.3) |
49.6 (9.8) |
58.3 (14.6) |
65.6 (18.7) |
69.2 (20.7) |
68.7 (20.4) |
63.7 (17.6) |
52.5 (11.4) |
42.2 (5.7) |
37.1 (2.8) |
51.9 (11.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
6 (−14) |
11 (−12) |
24 (−4) |
33 (1) |
37 (3) |
50 (10) |
49 (9) |
37 (3) |
23 (−5) |
12 (−11) |
−4 (−20) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.72 (145) |
5.79 (147) |
5.93 (151) |
5.19 (132) |
4.78 (121) |
4.54 (115) |
5.33 (135) |
5.07 (129) |
3.79 (96) |
3.60 (91) |
4.97 (126) |
5.48 (139) |
60.19 (1,527) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
trace | 1.0 (2.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.4 | 10.1 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 9.2 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 104.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Population: How Many People Live in Rockford?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 171 | — | |
| 1890 | 240 | — | |
| 1920 | 274 | — | |
| 1930 | 320 | 16.8% | |
| 1940 | 394 | 23.1% | |
| 1950 | 373 | −5.3% | |
| 1960 | 328 | −12.1% | |
| 1970 | 603 | 83.8% | |
| 1980 | 494 | −18.1% | |
| 1990 | 461 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 428 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 477 | 11.4% | |
| 2020 | 349 | −26.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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The number of people living in Rockford has changed over the years. In 1850, there were 171 residents. The population grew to 603 people in 1970, which was its highest point. By the 2020 United States census, the population was 349.
Who Lives in Rockford?
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 254 | 72.78% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 75 | 21.49% |
| Other/Mixed | 17 | 4.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3 | 0.86% |
In 2020, there were 349 people living in Rockford. These people made up 261 households. Out of these households, 164 were families.
Education: Schools in Rockford
Public schools in Rockford are managed by the Coosa County Board of Education. There are four schools located right in Rockford:
- Central High School: For students in grades 9 through 12.
- Central Middle School: For students in grades 5 through 8.
- Central Elementary School: For younger students in grades K (kindergarten) through 4.
- Coosa County Science and Technology Center: Also for grades 9 through 12, focusing on science and technology.
Fred the Town Dog: A Local Legend
In 1993, a very sick and scruffy dog wandered into Rockford. The kind people of the town took care of him and helped him get better. They named him "Fred." For the next ten years, Fred became the beloved mascot of Rockford.
Fred became quite famous! He had his own newspaper column called "A Dog's Life," which shared stories about his adventures. He even gained national attention when he was featured on the TV channel Animal Planet.
Sadly, Fred passed away on December 23, 2002, after a mysterious animal bite. He was buried behind the town's old jailhouse. A special grave marker was placed there in May 2003. In 2004, Fred was even added to the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association Animal Hall of Fame! His story was later made into a short film documentary called Fred: The Town Dog in 2014.
Notable People from Rockford
Rockford has been home to some important people:
- James K. Parsons: He was a major general in the United States Army. He earned a special award, the Distinguished Service Cross, for being very brave during World War I.
- Lewis E. Parsons, Jr.: He served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.
Gallery
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The Coosa County Courthouse is located in Rockford which is the county seat of Coosa County.
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Rockford Town Hall
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Rockford Post Office (ZIP code: 35136)
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The Coosa County Law Enforcement Center located in Rockford.
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The Rockford Event Center
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The old Coosa County Jailhouse is located in Rockford. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1974.
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The Rockford Women's Club House was built in 1932 and added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on March 13, 1996.
See also
In Spanish: Rockford (Alabama) para niños
