Rochelle, Illinois
| Rochelle, Illinois | ||
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| City | ||
Sign seen entering the city of Rochelle
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| Nickname(s): The Hub City | ||
 Rochelle, Illinois
Rochelle, Illinois
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| Coordinates: 41°55′24″N 89°03′56″W / 41.92333°N 89.06556°WCoordinates: 41°55′24″N 89°03′56″W / 41.92333°N 89.06556°W | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Illinois | |
| County | Ogle | |
| Township | Flagg, Dement | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Chet Olson (R) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 12.92 sq mi (33.5 km2) | |
| • Land | 12.90 sq mi (33.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 823 ft (251 m) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 9,574 | |
| • Density | 740/sq mi (290/km2) | |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | |
| Postal code | 61068 | |
| Area code(s) | 815 | |
| Website | www |
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Rochelle is a city in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,574 at the 2010 census, up from 9,424 in 2000. Rochelle is approximately 80 miles (130 km) west of Chicago and 25 miles (40 km) south of Rockford.
Originally named Hickory Grove, the town sits at the intersection of two rail lines. Having a number of granaries holding corn, wheat and other crops for shipping eastward, the town was an important rail link for farmers. During the Civil War, an arsonist burned some of the granaries. He was arrested but vigilantes stormed the local jail and hanged him from a tree. The town then was called Hang Town by locals and travelers. Later in the local pharmacy, some of the city fathers were discussing the problem of lack of people coming to reside in the town. It was agreed a new name was necessary. One of the men reached up on a shelf and picked up a bottle of Rochelle Salts, saying Rochelle would be a good name for the town.
After World War II, Rochelle grew, becoming a center for Swift Meat Packing and Del Monte canned vegetables such as asparagus, corn, green beans, and peas. Now the town hosts Nippon Sharyo, a Japanese maker of railroad passenger cars for commuter lines and regional corridor routes operated by Amtrak, as well as a meat packing plant owned by Hormel Foods.
On April 9, 2015, parts of the city suffered damage after a large wedge EF4 tornado struck the town.
Rochelle is located along the Kyte River (commonly, if inaccurately, known to most locals as "Kyte Creek").
According to the 2010 census, Rochelle has a total area of 12.919 square miles (33.46 km2), of which 12.9 square miles (33.41 km2) (or 99.85%) is land and 0.019 square miles (0.05 km2) (or 0.15%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,424 people, 3,688 households, and 2,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,260.9 people per square mile (487.1/km²). There were 3,895 housing units at an average density of 521.1 per square mile (201.3/km²). 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.
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