Rochelle, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rochelle is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,424 at the 2000 census. It is known as the "Hub City" because of its location at the intersection of several major transportation routes, including both roadways (I-39 and I-88, Historic Lincoln Highway) and railways (The Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway mainlines)

Rochelle is well known among railfans as the location of the Rochelle Railroad Park, which has spawned many imitators, such as the Railroad Platform in Folkston, Georgia. For many years the Whitcomb Locomotive Works, founded by George Dexter Whitcomb, manufactured industrial locomotives as well as the Partin Palmer automobile, in Rochelle. Rochelle is also the birthplace of award nominated actress Joan Allen.

Rochelle is also home to Union Pacific’s Global III Intermodal Facility, one of the largest intermodal facilities in the world. Construction on the state-of-the-art facility was completed in 2003.

Rochelle is about 75 miles west of Chicago and 25 miles south of Rockford.

[edit] Geography

Rochelle is located at 41°55′24″N, 89°3′56″W (41.923274, -89.065694)^GR1, along the Kyte River (commonly, if inaccurately, known to most locals as "Kyte Creek").

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.4 km² (7.5 mi²). 19.3 km² (7.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.27%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,424 people, 3,688 households, and 2,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 487.1/km² (1,260.9/mi²). There were 3,895 housing units at an average density of 201.3/km² (521.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.81% White, 1.14% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.69% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.16% of the population.

There were 3,688 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,984, and the median income for a family was $46,563. Males had a median income of $35,890 versus $25,058 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,139. About 7.6% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.