Oscar nominee (three times!) Joan Allen was born in Rochelle, Illinois in 1956.
Rochelle is a city in northern Illinois
Oscar nominee (three times!) Joan Allen was born in Rochelle, Illinois in 1956.
Rochelle is a city in northern Illinois. It covers 12.92 square miles of prairie lands and is part of Ogle County. Rochelle's strategic location along the paths of major US transportation routes earned it the tag "The City of Hubs." Even in the 1800s, Rochelle already held an important economic position as a granary center and a major rail link for crop farmers. The city's proximity to crucial transportation terminals attracted global manufacturers, like Swift Meat Packing, Del Monte Canning, Hormel Foods and Nippon Sharyo, which all set up manufacturing plants in the Hub City.
Moving to Rochelle
Even in its earliest days, welcoming new members of the community was part of Rochelle's development plan. The change for a better name (Rochelle) in place of the old Hang Town was to entice more people to live in the city. Today, communities in Rochelle work hard in creating a balance of rural and urban living, with a small-town ambiance infused with modern practical amenities in an effort to sustain development and entice new residents and businesses.
As one of the most desirable places to live in Illinois, rental properties in Rochelle can be tight. Make that Rochelle City dream residence a reality by ensuring that you have a competitive edge over other house rental applicants. Proofs of your capacity to pay the rent are of the utmost importance, so prepare copies of your latest pay stubs, receipts for other sources of income if applicable, your filed income tax returns (Form 1040) and records of your credit history (auto loan or credit card statements will do). Include your rental history for a previous leased property and an encouraging endorsement letter, preferably from a former landlord or employer. Provide verifiable identification cards, and you're all set to conquer the city as a full-fledged resident.
The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and Business Development on Currency Court provides assistance and incentive programs for those who are setting up or relocating their business to the city. So whether you're searching for a house to rent or apts for rent, you should find enough variety to suit your needs if you search early enough.
Rochelle Neighborhoods
New housing developments in Rochelle preserve the historic residential and rural character of their areas, while new commercial developments are encouraged in places that have the highest accessibility to state and local roads. The city promotes the growth of moderately dense residential neighborhoods with homes of various architectural styles and accommodation sizes, such as townhomes, split-levels and even ranch-style houses.
Gurler Road: This neighborhood is characterized by expanded residential areas of considerable distance from other residential developments and surrounded by industrial facilities, such as the Southgate Subdivision.
Downtown Rochelle: Rental apt and serviced apartments in Rochelle may be found in this busy mixed-use district, with its commercial, historical, social and residential blocks. The mixed use is aimed at preserving the trade, business and residential uses of downtown Rochelle. Apartments are found above the first floor of many retail shops and offices.
Caron Area: This area is a mix of retail and mid-sized to large detached homes, with large spaces that are predominantly industrial properties. Residents enjoy proximity to banks, personal service shops and medical and dental service providers.
Flagg: Flagg is a suburban neighborhood with a good rental vacancy rate. Properties are a mix of medium-sized homes (3 to 4 bedrooms), condos for rent and apartment complexes, with a mixture of owners and renters. The older homes were built in the 1940s to 1970s, while newer, simpler homes were built in the 1990s.
Living in Rochelle
While two big rail lines (Union Pacific Rail and BNSF Railways), two major highways (Interstates 39 and 88) and two state highways (251 and 38) cross the city, note that Rochelle is also a bicycle haven, with over 9.5 miles of bike routes around the city. Parking is not permitted in designated bicycle lanes. If you acquire a residence near a bike lane, you are required to do your share of regular sweeping to maintain the safety of the lanes.
The Hub City obviously never runs out of access points, and traveling in and around the city is quick and easy. It even has its own airport, the Rochelle Municipal Airport on West Gurler Road. The city is just 25 miles south of Rockford and 75 miles west of Chicago.
Hop on a car or, better yet, prep your feet for some walking exercises and explore downtown Rochelle, a wide, busy square running along Route 251, Lincoln Avenue, 2nd Street and 7th Avenue. This is where shopping centers, dining destinations, service shops and entertainment centers are found, alongside historical facilities and art galleries.
While on Lincoln, check out the Illinois Lincoln Highway Mural, a state gallery of 43 murals with the Emily Post Mural standing on Rochelle's highway line on 5th Avenue. It is a remembrance of the etiquette writer's three days spent in the city as a stranded passenger stuck in the mud.
Tired of retail and art therapies? Go railroad nostalgic. While the last passenger train bid the city adieu in 1971 and the historic 1921 rail depot was demolished in 2007, Rochelle's rich railway legacy lives on through the Rochelle Railroad Park on North 9th Street. It was specifically constructed for train watching, with 80 to 120 trains passing through the city every day. The park also houses a mini-museum, with vintage Whitcomb engines and replica Steel Strap rails.
The Flagg Township Museum is a brick and lime building on 4th Avenue. It showcases artifacts culled from various historical periods of the city, including the only existing Partin-Palmer car in the world. A short distance away is the Flagg Township Public Library, which was built in 1912 through an Andrew Carnegie grant and is now listed on the registry of historical US places.
Rochelle is also a magnet for antique collectors and not just of the old locomotive kind. Popular antique stores here include Hub City Antique Mall on Lincoln Avenue and Bills Trading Post on 4th Avenue.
