Rockford, Michigan

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Rockford, Michigan
City
City of Rockford
Downtown looking south along Main Street
Downtown looking south along Main Street
Location within Kent County
Location within Kent County
Rockford is located in Michigan
Rockford
Rockford
Location within the state of Michigan
Rockford is located in the United States
Rockford
Rockford
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 43°07′20″N 85°33′32″W / 43.12222°N 85.55889°W / 43.12222; -85.55889Coordinates: 43°07′20″N 85°33′32″W / 43.12222°N 85.55889°W / 43.12222; -85.55889
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyKent
Settled1842
Incorporated1866 (village)
1935 (city)
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorEdward Ross
 • ClerkKris Murphy
 • ManagerThad Beard
Area
[1]
 • Total3.29 sq mi (8.52 km2)
 • Land3.22 sq mi (8.35 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation
702 ft (214 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total5,719
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
6,391
 • Density1,982.32/sq mi (765.47/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49341, 49351
Area code(s)616
FIPS code26-69080[4]
GNIS feature ID0636089[5]
WebsiteOfficial website

Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,719 at the 2010 census.[2]

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[edit]

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.[6][7]

Wolverine World Wide has had 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.[8][9]

The downtown area hosts a summer farmer's market on Saturday.[10] The city also hosts a Fall Harvest Festival.[11] Start of Summer Celebration is a community organization annually held in early June at the beginning of summertime.[12]

Geography[edit]

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.[1]

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[edit]

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]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870582—
188081640.2%
1900711—
191084318.6%
19201,14836.2%
19301,61340.5%
19401,7739.9%
19501,9379.2%
19602,0747.1%
19702,42817.1%
19803,32436.9%
19903,75012.8%
20004,62623.4%
20105,71923.6%
2019 (est.)6,391[3]11.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[17] 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[edit]

As of the census[4] 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 per square mile (595.4/km2). There were 1,796 housing units at an average density of 599.5 per square mile (231.1/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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). 2010 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. 28 Michigan. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau, retrieved 2008-01-31
  5. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey, 2007-10-25, retrieved 2008-01-31
  6. ^ City of Rockford (June 2020). "City of Rockwood: 2020 Master Plan" (PDF). p. 3. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Godwin, Jennifer (4 February 2000). "The Early History of Rockford". Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "About", We are Wolverine, Wolverine Worldwide, retrieved 4 August 2019
  9. ^ Ellison, Garret (May 6, 2018), Wolverine tannery back in EPA crosshairs 5 years later, MLive Media Group, retrieved 4 August 2019
  10. ^ "2021 summer guide to outdoor social districts in Michigan". mlive. 2021-05-31. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  11. ^ Dewey, Charlsie (2017-09-22). "Rockford Brewing Pitches Tent at Harvest Festival". Grand Rapids Magazine. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  12. ^ "Rockford Start of Summer Celebration returns this weekend". WOODTV.com. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  13. ^ "10 great Outdoor Dining spots along the White Pine Trail". mlive. 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  14. ^ Grand Rapids-Cadillac-Traverse City-St. Ignace (PDF), Indian Trails, January 15, 2013, retrieved 24 May 2020
  15. ^ Schools, Grand Rapids Christian Schools, retrieved 2019-11-24
  16. ^ Census of Population and Housing, Census.gov, retrieved June 4, 2015
  17. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau, retrieved 2012-11-25

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rockford,_Michigan&oldid=1049475985"