Low Down on Rockford? (Chicago, Madison: neighborhoods, high schools, university)

[Chelito23]

I have always heard the Rockford horror stories and of course read them on here as well, so recently I decided to get off the Tollway and drive down State St. through downtown all the way to the west side.

Here are some of my impressions of Rockford:

State St. on the East side near the Tollway is completely lined with every chain store and restaurant you could imagine. Commerce lines the street virtually all the way to downtown. Before you hit downtown, there is a nice, older section...so far so good.

Downtown seemed dead, although it was a Sunday, but there were some small businesses here and there, but I have seen worse downtowns.

I crossed the river and left downtown and drove through the local neighborhoods. Here there was a much more run down feel, there were abandoned buildings and it was obviously the poorer area of the city.

My question is, is the city really as segregated as it appeared to me? Could Rockford be generalized in the following way accurately:

SW side, south of the tracks, heavily Hispanic. West side predominantly Black. NW side and the rest of Rockford predominantly white.

Comments please.

[Havasu]

That sums it up, good job!!!

Originally Posted by Chelito23

I have always heard the Rockford horror stories and of course read them on here as well, so recently I decided to get off the Tollway and drive down State St. through downtown all the way to the west side.

Here are some of my impressions of Rockford:

State St. on the East side near the Tollway is completely lined with every chain store and restaurant you could imagine. Commerce lines the street virtually all the way to downtown. Before you hit downtown, there is a nice, older section...so far so good.

Downtown seemed dead, although it was a Sunday, but there were some small businesses here and there, but I have seen worse downtowns.

I crossed the river and left downtown and drove through the local neighborhoods. Here there was a much more run down feel, there were abandoned buildings and it was obviously the poorer area of the city.

My question is, is the city really as segregated as it appeared to me? Could Rockford be generalized in the following way accurately:

SW side, south of the tracks, heavily Hispanic. West side predominantly Black. NW side and the rest of Rockford predominantly white.

Comments please.

[bulldawg1594]

all the rockford high schools are really diverse.

[Chicagoland60426]

Originally Posted by bulldawg1594

all the rockford high schools are really diverse.

Yeah from what I researched, most of the schools are diverse. Rockford segregation is not bad as Chicago. I bet even on the westside, there are still some white people over there too.

[rockfordsucksbigtime]

west side= police sirens every night at sunset you can sum up the rest

[NYC2CHI]

Chelito, being a native of Rockford, I would say your observations are spot on as well. However, this type of segregation is not unusual in the Midwest, or - let's face it - in most metro areas in the country. The racial divide in Rockford is not nearly as combative as it was when I was growing up in the 70's. People have become more open minded (and being a very conservative place, that is saying something), but it'll never be the city with the standard to beat.

[Chelito23]

Honestly Rockford did have its ugly parts but it didn't seem "that" bad to me. I remember several years ago (10?) it was ranked one of the worst cities in America, for what it's worth. I expected something like Gary, IN with that title. I was shocked to see that the majority of Rockford appeared decent, liveable, basically a run of the mill place. I suppose the majority of the people there don't share this view as I have seen and heard so many negative comments about the place. Honestly, I have visited other places which I would consider less desireable, I guess it is all about perception and personal taste.

[NYC2CHI]

It is definitely run-of-the-mill. But I'd agree also that you can live a very comfortable life there if that's your cup of tea. It is not a region full of great cultural and entertainment options. There are gems in the rough, mostly associated with the river and nature parks/sites. Food in general is disappointing. Few home-grown restaurants with anything but very ordinary food.
Rockford is in stark contrast to Madison, WI - a similar sized metro only 70 miles away. With a university and a far less conservative outlook, it offers a lot for a city of its size.

[linicx]

Fifty years ago Rockford was a much different city. It is sad to see it in decline. Unfortunately this is what happens when cities get locked into a collective idea and do not evolve or learn to reinvent itself and time and fortunes change. College towns are less likely to do this as the student population changes constantly. If something specific doesn't work, it must change to survive. When it does not change, it withers and dies. The result is some of the older, beautiful, and once vibrant cities are forgotten and relegated to the past. Before Rockford can see a reversal, it will need a drastic change in thinking, and a lot of cooperative intervention by the people who love it and live there.

[NYC2CHI]

linicx, you're right on the money with your post. It is rather sad to see how the city has (d)evolved. Out with the old and in with the new cannot foster a great place in the context of urban planning. Large swaths of town have been left to decay.