Rockford is actually the third largest city in Illinois with 150,000 people and the largest city outside of Chicagoland (Chicago and Aurora are the largest). Downtown was rough in parts, but overall okay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some good stuff, but not crazy about the ubiquitously empty American streets.

Meh.

More like a Hagerstown...minus the urbanity.

yeah but some good stuff too.

 

anything going on there? new business? developments? rehabs? plans?

It really does look deserted lol

There's some great buildings though!

Thanks for the little tour! I've driven past Rockford a million times but never stopped to look... though it doesn't appear that I was missing a whole lot.

Great thread.  Nice looking town.

Did you happen to notice whether the building on the left is or was a First National Bank?

 

It is almost identical to the old First National Bank Building in Williamsport.

Did you happen to notice whether the building on the left is or was a First National Bank?

...

It is almost identical to the old First National Bank Building in Williamsport.

I don't think the building was ever a First National Bank. It is now called the Enterprise Building, and all I've been able to find for previous names are:

Central National Bank Building, Rock River Savings Bank Building, Life Savings and Loan Building, and Forest City National Bank Building.

It

 

Illinois Railway Museum at Union is nearby, making it worth a trip. It's closed now until April, but during operating season there are steam and diesel trains, streetcars, and interurbans in operation as well as many impressive exhibits inside buildings.

I always thought Rockford was just a Tyson's Corner of Chicago.

 

I always thought "Lanford" was a pseudonym of it from the Roseanne show