Remembering the Past

Rockford was founded in 1834 by Germanicus Kent as the village of Midway because it was about midway between his home in Galena and Chicago. Kent, a land speculator, established a settlement on the west side of the Rock River and soon was joined by Daniel Shaw Haight, who established a town on the east side of the Rock River.

While the settlements quickly became known as Kentville and Haightville, the area was recognized as Midway until 1837, when the founders and several respected members of their communities met in Chicago and officially changed Midway’s name to Rock Ford.