WINNEBAGO COUNTY
County Offices
404 Elm Street
Rockford 815-319-4444
http://wincoil.us
Chamber of Commerce
308 West State Street
Rockford 815-987-8100
www.rockfordchamber.com
Major Highways
Interstates 39 and 90, US Highway 20
Services
Situated in north-central Illinois halfway between Galena and Chicago, Winnebago County is just a 60-minute drive west of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Just as it was in the 1800s, manufacturing remains the region’s largest industry. The leading metropolis of Rockford is one of the largest cities in Illinois, serving as a regional hub for healthcare, education, culture, business and industry, and government.
State-of-the-art healthcare facilities include major medical centers and hospitals as well as a network of supportive services that meet every need close to home. Swedish American Hospital serves the greater Rockford region with a full-service, 375-bed teaching institution affiliated with the University of Illinois College of Medicine. The region’s largest health system is the Rockford Health System, providing residents of northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin with comprehensive services. In addition to the 396-bed tertiary care hospital and the Children’s Medical Center, the system encompasses the Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital and the Visiting Nurses Association. The Rockford Health Physicians number more than 70, offering a wide range of specialties at a number of auxiliary locations.
Students of all ages will find quality educational resources throughout Winnebago County in public and private institutions on every academic level. Pre-schools, primary and secondary schools, technical training and career programs, or institutions of higher education share a dedication to innovative programs and advanced facilities. Rock Valley College provides a community college campus with several learning centers that allow students to pursue two-year degrees, certifications and specialized training, and college-track programs that transfer easily to four-year colleges and universities. Rockford Business College, St. Anthony College of Nursing, Northern Illinois University at Rockford, the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, and a Judson College extension are all located in Winnebago County.
Quality of Life
Winnebago County is only a short commute from the dazzling attractions and bright lights of downtown Chicago, yet the county and its metropolitan center of Rockford offer a unique blend of amenities and small-town friendliness. Nestled in the rolling hills of Northern Illinois, the county combines the open space of rural townships with cosmopolitan culture and entertainment. The Rock River still plays a major role in Winnebago County life, attracting residents and visitors to Riverfront Museum Park for a wide array of special events and celebrations from the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition and Ski Broncs Shows to Rockford Art Museum Greenwich Village Art Fair and Rockin’ Summer concerts at Davis Park. Sinnissippi Gardens and Park stretch along the east bank, and several museums cluster along the west bank. The Rockford SportsCore recreational center enjoys river access on the north, with a trail network linking every attraction.
The visual and performing arts are well represented in this area, where big-name shows are available at more affordable prices. The Rockford Art Museum is the second-largest in the state after the Chicago Art Institute, and Child Magazine has rated the Discovery Center Museum among the top four in the nation. Burpee Museum of Natural History, host to the annual PaleoFest celebration of dinosaurs, created a stir by unearthing a rare new dinosaur in the tyrannus family. Midway Village and Museum Center offers a charming 1899 Heritage Museum along with a number of historic home museums, and Anderson Japanese Gardens is acclaimed as one of the finest in the Western hemisphere. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden features so many rare and unusual trees that botanists claim only a site in France can compare.
With more than 10,000 acres of parks and forest preserves in Winnebago County, outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to year-round activity. Biking, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, boating, sailing, horseback riding, golfing, tennis, bird watching, and nature study are all common pastimes. When the snow flies, residents enjoy ice skating, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. The Rockford metro area alone offers more than 25 miles of interconnecting trails and a dozen golf courses. Rockford SportsCore recreational facilities, the 35-acre Magic Waters water park, free shows given by a world-class water-ski team, trolley or riverboat rides, spectator sports action, and car or motorcycle races at Rockford Speedway or Blackhawk Farms Raceway are among the kaleidoscope of additional attractions.
Home styles and settings are widely varied in this area, allowing newcomers to choose from an attraction selection of single-family and multi-family options. Waterfront views, golf-course properties, contemporary subdivisions, historic districts, rural acreage, country manors, and upscale enclaves are just a few of the possibilities. With its small-town friendliness and accessibility in a package of “big city” amenities and advantages, Winnebago County offers a unique lifestyle and exceptional quality of life.
Rockford, Cherry Valley
Rockford City Offices
779-348-7300
https://rockfordil.gov
Rockford Township Offices
815-962-8855
https://rockfordtownshipil.gov
Cherry Valley Offices
815-332-3441
www.cherryvalley.org
Chamber of Commerce
815-987-8100
www.rockfordchamber.com
Also known as “Forest City” and the “City of Gardens,” beautiful Rockford is the thriving metropolitan center of Winnebago County. Surrounded by one of the largest townships in Illinois, Rockford Township, and neighboring the beautiful Cherry Valley Village, the city provides a wealth of regional services and amenities. State-of-the-art hospitals, public and private college and university campuses, world-famous gardens, wonderful museums, first-rate recreational and sports attractions, and riverfront excitement. Affordable homes along tree-shaded streets, easy access to major highways, and a growing local economy add to the high quality of life. The largest musical festival in Illinois, On the Waterfront, is only one of the colorful celebrations that draw throngs of visitors to this area each year. The lovely village of Cherry Valley along the banks of the Kishwaukee River contributes important amenities, from lush parks and golf courses to a major water park, a regional mall, and popular events like Cherry Valley Festival Days.
