Sterling, IL

[domergurl]

I have good friends who were teachers in Milledgeville and lived in Sterling. They liked it very much, just got better jobs elsewhere and moved.

[stromssa]

I have a slightly different perspective, but thought I'd share: I didn't grow up in Dixon, but my grandparents lived there (it's where my mom grew up). I come from a small town in Iowa, and Dixon is about twice my hometown's size. That said, I have to admit I like Dixon partly for nostalgic reasons, as I went there at least once a year throughout my childhood for Christmas.
My grandparents lived in a beautiful Craftsman bungalow on Ottawa Avenue. As a child, I enjoyed walking down to Howell Park, which runs along the Rock River, and just enjoyed walking along there. Also, I liked eating at The Brown Shingle (great bbq chicken) and going to Lowell Park, which is a nice scenic area. White Pines State Forest and Park is about 10 miles away, in Oregon, Illinois, where my grandparents used to take us for brunch now and then. It's a beautiful area there.
While I can't speak for the economics or overall well-being of Dixon like a native citizen or current citizen could, I enjoyed spending 22 years of my life there once to twice a year, and now, my husband and I go to White Pines annually, stay in the cabins, and usually make a trip to Dixon to walk along the river walk, stop by the cemetery where my grandparents are buried, and I tell him about my happy childhood experiences while visiting them. One other memory I have is that I used to like to listen to the train whistle blow in the distance when I'd visit my grandparents in the summer.
I suppose Dixon is overall quite a conservative town (after all, it is the hometown of President Regan). My grandparents were also quite conservative. I'm not, but the "feeling" I used to get going there was a sort of "nuclear family 1950s ideal" sort of feeling that small towns used to generate (that could have also been due to my grandparents' influence, as well). Perhaps it has changed over the years, but whenever I go there, I go to my favorite "haunts" and remembered what I liked about the area.
Just thought I'd share...

[J23]

The first thing to learn when you move to Illinois from PA is to disregard most comments that you hear from spoiled suburb kids like Steve-O. Many of these people were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, and the minute they see a cornfield, industry, or a person who is not white...they automatically classify it as low-class. I went to college with these types, and their view on reality is completely skewed.

Some of the things that have been said about Sterling are true, but many things are way off base...

The mill closed several years ago, putting around 1,000 people out of work at that time. At the mills peak (long ago) it had over 4,000 employees. The mill today has been purchased and the site is being cleaned up and is an example to other cities on brownfield revitalization. Sterling Steel has been operating a new mill that has around 250-300 employees. Also, a grain distribution company and a lumber company operate on the original mill site. Much of the old mill buildings closer to downtown are being destroyed to make way for a riverfront park area. While Sterling is losing much of it's industry to overseas competition, the roots as an industrial city are still strong; Wahl Clipper, one of the worlds leading producers of hair trimming products is based in Sterling. Sterling is trying as a city to become more of a distribution hub while still keeping its character as a manufacturing town.

The park district in Sterling may be the top park district in northwestern Illinois. Sinnissippi park on the east end of Sterling along the Rock River is beautiful...Go a little further to the east and Oppald Marina is another nice park as well. On the west end of town, I challenge anyone to find a city outside of chicagoland with a sports complex as nice as Westwood.

While Sterling Schools are suffering financially, as is most every school outside of the Chicago suburbs and surrounding grip, a great education can still be had in Sterling. Sterling is a diverse town; racially, culturally, and economically. There are many people who are going through the Sterling school system and moving on to great things...On the other hand, there are many people who move on to a life of poverty, gangs, and drugs. Average it all out and you don't have anything special as far as state testing or statistics are involved. The top 50-100 kids in each high school class probably go to college and become successful. The kids who don't care, won't be successful (same as anywhere). The point is, a kid can go as far as he or she wants to go with an education and upbringing in Sterling.

As was mentioned by another poster, there is plenty of regional shopping on the east side of Sterling along Route 2. You can find most anything you need in the city of Sterling. If you're looking for more variety and more of a big city shopping experience, The Quad Cities (Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf) are a 45 min - 1 hr drive west along I-88. Going east along I-88, Aurora/Naperville and other Chicago suburbs are about 1.5 hours away.

Contrary to Steve-O's belief that Steling/Rock Falls is a slum, there are several very nice places to live both in the city and surrounding subdivisions. In the city, one of the nicer neighborhoods that I can think of is around CGH medical center, along Locust St. and 1st avenue. Also along the river around the Dillon Home is a nice area. Some of the nicer subdivisions around Sterling are Mineral Springs on Woodlawn Rd. east of Sterling and Hickory Hills northwest of Sterling. You can find mansions in these areas if that's your bag. Sure, many of the neighborhoods in Sterling are pretty run of the mill and average. That's normal, right? The Million Dollar mansions that line the streets of Naperville are not normal and not for everyone (That's what makes Naperville the #2 city in the nation to live).

I had to jump on here and give you my honest opinion of my hometown. I won't stand for people with little knowledge of Sterling to come on here and flame it. I have too much pride in my hometown for that.

[Steve-o]

J23... silver spoon in my mouth? HAHAHAHA Hardly my friend. Spoiled? Pfft. Riiiiiight. I NEVER had anything given to me. All my cars? I paid for em all, my most expensive car to date only cost me 10 gs.I paid for my whopping 10 classes at CoD, I couldnt afford more than that. I lived in a dump of a house (1000 sq ft at best) in West Chicago with 2 other kids, my dad working 3 jobs sometimes. Dont give me this "spoiled kid" ****e, youre wrong, dead wrong.

And yes, Rock Falls is dumpy. If you think otherwise, its apparent you dont get out often. The economy out there is going downhill, and thats not your guys' fault. National is also closing down, my F-I-L just lost his job there after 25 years. The area cant attract any new business and for good reasons, its a rust-belt town, sadly. The mall along Rt. 2 is a testament to these things, its just run-down. Menards and Wal-Mart on Rt. 2 are the anchors of the town, I really believe that. I wouldnt recommend anyone to move to that town unless they already had a job lined up. Oregon and Dixon are better choices. But you also admit the economy sucks adn that the schools are roughed up, whats attractive about that? No amount of nice riverfront will make up for those things.

[c.adam]

I also grew up in the area... lived in all three towns. I never cared for the chicago burbs, either. Maybe thats why I'm living in Alaska now.

As for things in the local area, not much. As mentioned the Steel Mill was the main economic engine of the area, and when it closed... that was that. Unfortunately you have the mayors and such in Sterling/Rock Falls unable to really do anything to market the town as a nice bedroom community. Cleaning up where the Mill used to be, and turning it into a nice River Walk would be a nice start.

If you want a nice Hicktown, then you found it.

[GoHogsGo]

I disagree.

Sure the mill closed in 01, but it reopened in 03. and is slated to make 6.5 Million this year in PROFIT. not revenue, PROFIT. Don't tell me that it's dead. The older sections of it (old offices and the part that burned down in 04) are being bulldozed for a park project just off the river.

Wahl Clipper's World HQ and factory are in Sterling's north side. Not only are they #1 in the US and Canada, they've recently been named #1 in China...Tell me, what's a #1 Competitor to 1.2 BILLION people who need regular haircuts? $$$

Also, Recently, a Wal Mart Distribution Center has opened off the west side of Rock Falls.

There are good neighborhoods in Sterling. although if you absolutely couldn't stand Sterling/Rock Falls, might i suggest Dixon, IL (15 miles) or Morrison, IL (15 Miles west) as nice towns, although Morrison is smaller than Dixon and S/RF. As was mentioned, Major Shopping centers are going to be the Quad Cities (Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, Bettendorf), or if you're going for quaint small communities/incorporations, go for Milledgeville (13 miles), Chadwick (18 miles) or even the small incorporation of Coleta IL

as for mrtrain, It's nice. Saw it when I stopped up there from Missouri in mid-march, and picked up a SD90 unit from the nice guy that owns the place. Large setup in the basement of that place.

[jo_bee]

Originally Posted by J23

The first thing to learn when you move to Illinois from PA is to disregard most comments that you hear from spoiled suburb kids like Steve-O. Many of these people were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, and the minute they see a cornfield, industry, or a person who is not white...they automatically classify it as low-class. I went to college with these types, and their view on reality is completely skewed.

Some of the things that have been said about Sterling are true, but many things are way off base...

The mill closed several years ago, putting around 1,000 people out of work at that time. At the mills peak (long ago) it had over 4,000 employees. The mill today has been purchased and the site is being cleaned up and is an example to other cities on brownfield revitalization. Sterling Steel has been operating a new mill that has around 250-300 employees. Also, a grain distribution company and a lumber company operate on the original mill site. Much of the old mill buildings closer to downtown are being destroyed to make way for a riverfront park area. While Sterling is losing much of it's industry to overseas competition, the roots as an industrial city are still strong; Wahl Clipper, one of the worlds leading producers of hair trimming products is based in Sterling. Sterling is trying as a city to become more of a distribution hub while still keeping its character as a manufacturing town.

The park district in Sterling may be the top park district in northwestern Illinois. Sinnissippi park on the east end of Sterling along the Rock River is beautiful...Go a little further to the east and Oppald Marina is another nice park as well. On the west end of town, I challenge anyone to find a city outside of chicagoland with a sports complex as nice as Westwood.

While Sterling Schools are suffering financially, as is most every school outside of the Chicago suburbs and surrounding grip, a great education can still be had in Sterling. Sterling is a diverse town; racially, culturally, and economically. There are many people who are going through the Sterling school system and moving on to great things...On the other hand, there are many people who move on to a life of poverty, gangs, and drugs. Average it all out and you don't have anything special as far as state testing or statistics are involved. The top 50-100 kids in each high school class probably go to college and become successful. The kids who don't care, won't be successful (same as anywhere). The point is, a kid can go as far as he or she wants to go with an education and upbringing in Sterling.

As was mentioned by another poster, there is plenty of regional shopping on the east side of Sterling along Route 2. You can find most anything you need in the city of Sterling. If you're looking for more variety and more of a big city shopping experience, The Quad Cities (Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf) are a 45 min - 1 hr drive west along I-88. Going east along I-88, Aurora/Naperville and other Chicago suburbs are about 1.5 hours away.

Contrary to Steve-O's belief that Steling/Rock Falls is a slum, there are several very nice places to live both in the city and surrounding subdivisions. In the city, one of the nicer neighborhoods that I can think of is around CGH medical center, along Locust St. and 1st avenue. Also along the river around the Dillon Home is a nice area. Some of the nicer subdivisions around Sterling are Mineral Springs on Woodlawn Rd. east of Sterling and Hickory Hills northwest of Sterling. You can find mansions in these areas if that's your bag. Sure, many of the neighborhoods in Sterling are pretty run of the mill and average. That's normal, right? The Million Dollar mansions that line the streets of Naperville are not normal and not for everyone (That's what makes Naperville the #2 city in the nation to live).

I had to jump on here and give you my honest opinion of my hometown. I won't stand for people with little knowledge of Sterling to come on here and flame it. I have too much pride in my hometown for that.

I'm also from Sterling, IL and many neighborhoods are pretty nice. Did you know were getting 20 nice stores like Old Navy and T.J. Maxx to. It's the best place to live because it's ethically mixed and cultrally mixed as well.