Why visit Rockford
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Porter Hollow Embankment and Culvert, White Pine Trail, Pickett Park and Cahill Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 48 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Rockford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rockford
Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,177 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Rockford, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
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Porter Hollow Embankment and Culvert
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes18
Corner Bar
Bar and pub · Burger, American, Hot Dog · 1.1 mi
31 North Main Street Northeast, Rockford
Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa,Su 11:00-21:00
Sweetland Chocolate & Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Chocolate · 1.2 mi
9 North Main Street Northeast, Rockford
Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-19:00; Su off
Toasted Pickle
Diner · American · 1.2 mi
17 Squires Street Square Northeast, Rockford
Mo-Sa 11:00-20:00; Su 11:00-19:00
Uccello's Ristorante
Restaurant · Italian · 1.2 mi
19 North Main Street Northeast, Rockford
Su-We 11:00-22:00; Th-Sa 11:00-23:00
Rogue River Tavern
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
4 North Main Street Northeast, Rockford
Mo-Sa 10:00-02:00; Su 12:00-02:00
Vitale's
Restaurant · Italian · 1.2 mi
42 East Bridge Street Northeast, Rockford
Mo-Su 16:00-20:00
Dam Dogs
Restaurant · Hot Dog · 1.2 mi
25 Squires Street Square Northeast, Rockford
6 more on the map.
History
The area was first settled by Marlin Hunter, who settled along the Rogue River in 1842. By 1845, several other families arrived and settled the community under the name Laphamville, and the community received a post office under that name. The community was platted in 1865 and incorporated as a village in 1866. At that time, the community's name changed to Rockford. The community was originally based around the lumber industry but was soon supported by a shoe factory and tannery at the turn of the century. The village incorporated as a city in 1935.
Footwear manufacturer Wolverine World Wide has major operations in the city for over 100 years. The company's headquarters are located in the Northern district of the city. A tannery site in the downtown area, along the Rogue River, operated from 1908 until activity on the property ceased in 2009. The former tannery site was demolished between 2010 and 2011. In modern times, its former tannery site used Scotchgard chemicals to waterproof shoes, which contaminated local areas with the active ingredients at the time of PFOA and PFOS.
From the History section of Rockford, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries27
Cedar Springs Early Childhood Center
School · 5.6 mi
204 E Muskegon St, Cedar Springs
Map of Rockford
65 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 14°F | 2.6 in | 13.9 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 14°F | 1.8 in | 7.7 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 22°F | 2.6 in | 5.7 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 32°F | 3.8 in | 1.2 in |
| May | 70°F | 44°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 53°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 57°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 56°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 48°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 38°F | 4.1 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 28°F | 3.5 in | 4.2 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 21°F | 2.5 in | 15.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kent City 2 Sw (12 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Kent County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2024-02-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-06-18: Flooding (Flood)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2004-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Cedar Springs 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Northview 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Comstock Park 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Grand Rapids 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Forest Hills 13 mi south, about 20 min by car
- East Grand Rapids 13 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Walker 14 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Greenville 15 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Kentwood 18 mi south, about 28 min by car
- Wyoming 19 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Rockford (1), Gpwitteveen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rockford Dam, Al Rau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Porter Hollow Embankment and Culvert, Charlie Lemmink, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Catocala concumbens 23321568, Olivia Guswiler, CC BY 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.