Rockford, Jackson County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockford, Jackson County,
Indiana |
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 Rockford, Jackson County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Rockford, Jackson County, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Jackson |
| Township | Redding |
| Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) |
| ZIP code |
47274
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| FIPS code | 18-65376 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2830420 |
Rockford is a small, unincorporated community in Redding Township, Jackson County, Indiana. This means it is a place where people live, but it does not have its own local government like a city or town.
Contents
History of Rockford
Rockford got its name from a "rocky ford" in the East Fork of the White River. A ford is a shallow place where you can cross a river. This spot had a rocky bottom, making it easier to cross.
Early Settlement
The village is about one mile west of Tipton Island. It is located along the White River. The first settlers arrived around 1813. James Reno was one of the earliest people to settle in this area.
In the 1840s, this small community was sometimes called New Rockford or Old Rockford.
Railroads and Businesses
In 1852, the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad ended in Rockford. This made Rockford an important place for trade. It became a center for packing pork.
The community had several businesses. These included a grist mill (which grinds grain), a post office, and a Masonic Lodge. There was also a local newspaper.
The last newspaper was called the Rockford Herald. Dr. Jasper Monroe printed it in 1857. He later moved to Seymour, Indiana. There, he started a new newspaper called the Seymour Times.
Changes and Decline
A man named Meedy Shields helped create the nearby town of Seymour. He managed to get a new east-west railroad line, the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, to stop two miles south of Rockford. This new stop in Seymour meant less business for Rockford.
Over time, many of Rockford's original buildings were destroyed in the 1860s. Much of the land that was not kept up belonged to the Reno family.
Geography
Rockford is located at 38°59′14″N 85°53′29″W / 38.98722°N 85.89139°W. It is in Jackson County, Indiana.
