Rockford is located in northern Illinois, 60 mi/97 km west of Chicago en route to Galena.
Settlers from New England came to this spot on the Rock River beginning in 1834. They were quickly joined by Swedish woodworkers who saw opportunity in the abundant forests surrounding Rockford and soon opened more than 90 furniture-making companies. Later, Italians, Irish, Germans and Poles moved to Rockford to escape a cholera epidemic in Chicago. Today, many people find work in Rockford's industrial plants.
Although overshadowed by Chicago's more famous museums and Galena's quaint architecture, Rockford can hold its own in any cultural arena. Visitors enjoy such museums as the Discovery Center Museum, the neighboring Burpee Museum of Natural History and Midway Village and Museum Center, to name a few.
Near the Rock River lies the acclaimed Anderson Japanese Gardens. The highly-ranked gardens include a waterfall and 16th-century-style Japanese buildings.
Rockford plays host to a number of regional conventions each year. Consequently, it offers a wide range of accommodations, from bed-and-breakfasts to full blown resorts.
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