Rockford, Michigan

Rockford, Michigan
City
City of Rockford
Downtown looking south along Main Street
Location within Kent County
Rockford Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Rockford Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 43°07′08″N85°33′29″W / 43.11889°N 85.55806°W / 43.11889; -85.55806
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Kent
Settled	1842
Incorporated	1866 (village) 1935 (city)
Government
• Type	Council–manager
•  Mayor	Edward Ross
•  Clerk	Kris Murphy
•  Manager	Thad Beard
Area [1]
• 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 [2]	709 ft (216 m)
Population  (2020)
• 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
Area code	616
FIPS code	26-69080 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1626991 [2]
Website	Official website

Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,177 at the 2020 census. ^[4]

Located along the Rogue River, the city is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is about 10 miles (16.1 km) north of the city of Grand Rapids.

History

The area was first settled by Marlin Hunter, who settled along the Rogue River in 1842. By 1845, several other families arrived and settled the community under the name Laphamville, and the community received a post office under that name. The community was platted in 1865 and incorporated as a village in 1866. At that time, the community's name changed to Rockford. The community was originally based around the lumber industry but was soon supported by a shoe factory and tannery at the turn of the century. The village incorporated as a city in 1935. ^{[5] [6]}

Wolverine World Wide has major operations in the city for over 100 years. In modern times, its former tannery site used Scotchgard chemicals to waterproof shoes, which contaminated local areas with the active ingredients at the time of PFOA and PFOS. ^{[7] [8]}

The downtown area hosts a summer farmer's market on Saturday. ^[9] The city also hosts a Fall Harvest Festival. ^[10] Start of Summer Celebration is a community organization annually held in early June at the beginning of summertime. ^[11]

Geography

According to the Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.29 square miles (8.52 km²), of which, 3.22 square miles (8.34 km²) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) (2.13%) is water. ^[12]

White Pine Trail State Park runs through the downtown area of Rockford, next to the Rogue River and the Rockford Dam. ^[13]

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between Grand Rapids, Michigan and St. Ignace. ^[14]

Education

Rockford is served by the Rockford Public Schools. The city is served by the Kent District Library. Rockford Christian School, a campus of Grand Rapids Christian Schools, is in Rockford. ^[15] In 2021, a Rockford High School student presented a 137-page report describing a culture of racism present at Rockford Public Schools in an effort to find solutions for the problem, with multiple students describing experiences of racism in the school district. ^{[16] [17]} The acting superintendent of Rockford Public Schools described the report as "more confusing than enlightening" and that society as a whole had issues with racism. ^[17]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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 [18]

2010 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2010, there were 5,719 people, 2,201 households, and 1,537 families living in the city. The population density was 1,765.1 inhabitants per square mile (681.5/km²). There were 2,302 housing units at an average density of 710.5 per square mile (274.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

There were 2,201 households, of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.

The median age in the city was 33.7 years. 30.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 10.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,113, and the median income for a family was $71,700. Males had a median income of $62,015 versus $33,325 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,632. About 10.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 4,626 people, 1,741 households, and 1,255 families living in the city. The population density was 1,544.2 inhabitants per square mile (596.2/km²). There were 1,796 housing units at an average density of 599.5 per square mile (231.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.20% White, 0.61% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.

There were 1,741 households, out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,562, and the median income for a family was $55,954. Males had a median income of $45,847 versus $28,024 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,906. About 8.4% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Brent Bookwalter, cyclist and participant in 2010 Tour de France
• Andrew Britton, author
• Parker Ehinger, lineman for NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
• Jason Hartmann, distance runner, 4th-place finisher in 2012 Boston Marathon
• Adam Kieft, lineman with NFL's Cincinnati Bengals
• Scott Melton, racing driver
• Julia A. Moore, poet
• Dathan Ritzenhein, Olympic distance runner, former American 5k record holder
• John C. Sjogren, Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Joe Staley, left tackle for San Francisco 49ers
• Dick York, actor, best known for playing Darrin Stephens on 1960s sitcom Bewitched
• Ginger Zee, meteorologist for ABC News and Good Morning America

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rockford, Michigan
3. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau , retrieved January 31, 2008
4. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau , retrieved November 25, 2012
5. City of Rockford (June 2020). "City of Rockwood: 2020 Master Plan" (PDF). p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
6. Godwin, Jennifer (February 4, 2000). "The Early History of Rockford" . Retrieved October 11, 2021.
7. "About", We are Wolverine, Wolverine Worldwide, retrieved August 4, 2019
8. Ellison, Garret (May 6, 2018), Wolverine tannery back in EPA crosshairs 5 years later, MLive Media Group, retrieved August 4, 2019
9. "2021 summer guide to outdoor social districts in Michigan". mlive. May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
10. Dewey, Charlsie (September 22, 2017). "Rockford Brewing Pitches Tent at Harvest Festival". Grand Rapids Magazine. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
11. "Rockford Start of Summer Celebration returns this weekend". WOODTV.com. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
12. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
13. "10 great Outdoor Dining spots along the White Pine Trail". mlive. February 9, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
14. Grand Rapids-Cadillac-Traverse City-St. Ignace (PDF), Indian Trails, January 15, 2013, archived (PDF) from the original on September 17, 2021, retrieved May 24, 2020
15. Schools, Grand Rapids Christian Schools , retrieved November 24, 2019
16. Frick, Melissa (December 20, 2021). "As student writes about 'culture of racism' at Michigan school district, officials say work to improve inclusivity is ongoing". MLive . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
17. "Student exposes apparent culture of racism at Rockford Public Schools, leaders respond". WOODTV . December 15, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
18. "Census of Population and Housing", Census.gov, retrieved June 4, 2015

External links

• Rockford official website
• History and directory of Kent County, Michigan. Dillenback & Leavitt. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Daily eagle steam printing house, 1870. pp. 25+.