Rockford, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockford, Michigan
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| City of Rockford | |
Downtown looking south along Main Street
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Location within Kent County
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 Rockford, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Rockford, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Kent |
| Settled | 1842 |
| Incorporated | 1866 (village) 1935 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.29 sq mi (8.52 km2) |
| • Land | 3.22 sq mi (8.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,175 |
| • Density | 1,905.09/sq mi (735.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49341, 49351
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| Area code(s) | 616 |
| FIPS code | 26-69080 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626991 |
Rockford is a city in Kent County, a part of the state of Michigan in the United States. In 2020, about 6,177 people lived here.
Rockford is located along the Rogue River. It is part of the larger Grand Rapids metropolitan area. The city is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Grand Rapids.
Contents
History of Rockford: How the City Began
The first person to settle in this area was Marlin Hunter in 1842. He built his home along the Rogue River. By 1845, more families arrived and started a community. They called it Laphamville. The community even got its own post office.
In 1865, the area was officially mapped out. It became an incorporated village in 1866. At this time, its name changed from Laphamville to Rockford. The city first grew because of the lumber industry. Later, a shoe factory and a tannery (a place where animal hides are made into leather) helped the economy. Rockford officially became a city in 1935.
Local Business and Community Events
Wolverine World Wide, a well-known shoe company, has been a big part of Rockford for over 100 years.
Rockford is also known for its fun community events. During the summer, you can visit a farmer's market on Saturdays in the downtown area. The city also hosts a Fall Harvest Festival. Every year in early June, the "Start of Summer Celebration" marks the beginning of the summer season.
Geography and Natural Features of Rockford
Rockford covers a total area of about 3.29 square miles (8.52 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.22 square miles (8.35 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.07 square miles (0.17 square kilometers), is water.
The White Pine Trail State Park runs right through downtown Rockford. It follows the Rogue River and passes by the Rockford Dam. This trail is great for walking, biking, and enjoying nature.
For travel, Indian Trails offers daily bus service. You can catch a bus from Rockford to Grand Rapids, Michigan or even as far as St. Ignace.
Education in Rockford Schools
Students in Rockford attend schools run by the Rockford Public Schools district. The city also has a local library, the Kent District Library, where kids can find books and resources. Rockford Christian School, which is part of Grand Rapids Christian Schools, also has a campus in Rockford.
Population and People of Rockford
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 582 | — | |
| 1880 | 816 | 40.2% | |
| 1900 | 711 | — | |
| 1910 | 843 | 18.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,148 | 36.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,613 | 40.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,773 | 9.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,937 | 9.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,074 | 7.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,428 | 17.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,324 | 36.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,750 | 12.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,626 | 23.4% | |
| 2010 | 5,719 | 23.6% | |
| 2020 | 6,142 | 7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Rockford's Population in 2010
In 2010, the city of Rockford had 5,719 people living there. There were 2,201 households and 1,537 families. The city had about 1,765 people per square mile (681 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people living in Rockford were White (95.0%). Other groups included African American (0.7%), Native American (0.5%), and Asian (1.2%). About 3.7% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (42.1%) had children under 18 living with them. About 51.7% of households were married couples. The average household had 2.58 people, and the average family had 3.16 people.
The average age in Rockford was 33.7 years old. About 30.9% of residents were under 18. About 10.7% were 65 years or older. There were slightly more females (52.6%) than males (47.4%).
The median income for a household in the city was $53,113. For families, the median income was $71,700.
Famous People from Rockford
Many notable people have connections to Rockford:
- Brent Bookwalter – A cyclist who competed in the 2010 Tour de France.
- Andrew Britton – An author.
- Parker Ehinger – A lineman who played for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.
- Jason Hartmann – A distance runner who finished 4th in the 2012 Boston Marathon.
- Adam Kieft – A lineman who played for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
- Scott Melton – A racing driver.
- Julia A. Moore – A poet.
- Dathan Ritzenhein – An Olympic distance runner and former American record holder for the 5k race.
- John C. Sjogren – An Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor during World War II.
- Joe Staley – A left tackle who played for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Dick York – An actor, famous for playing Darrin Stephens on the 1960s TV show Bewitched.
- Ginger Zee – A meteorologist for ABC News and Good Morning America.
Images for kids
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Location within Kent County
See also
In Spanish: Rockford (Míchigan) para niños
