Current situation

The Partnership is located primarily in Winnebago County, with small portions in Boone County to the east and Stephenson County on the west. (View the list of partners that are part of the URREP.)

Winnebago County’s population grew nearly 10 percent between 1990 and 2000, rising from 253,913 to 278,418, which amounts to 538 people per square mile. From 2000 to 2005, the population grew by 3.7 percent, with about 10,500 additional people living in the area. The County population is 77% white (non-hispanic), 11% Black, and 9% Hispanic.

Info on development trends – acres developed since 2000

Rockford, with a population of 152,916 (July 1, 2005) is the major municipal unit of government, and the center for commerce and employment in the region, but indications are that population growth in the county is now occurring at a higher pace in the smaller communities that surround the City. Rockford’s population grew by 8% between 1990-2000 (139,426-150,115), and then 1.4% from 2000-2005 (150,115-152,916).

In comparison, Machesney Park grew by about 10% between 1990 to 2000. By the year 2005, the population had grown another 5.2% to 21,846. Loves Park’s population grew by nearly 15% between 2000 and 2005, from 20,044 to 22,983. This spurt followed relatively slow growth from 1990 when the population was 19008 (just under 5% growth from 1990-2000).

Current initiatives in the area – update of local land use plans, ordinances, etc.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District owns 9,000 acres at 38 preserves across the county. The Rockford Park District maintains over 30 miles of trails in the area, including several section of the 475 mile Grand Illinois Trail that runs from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River.

The Four Rivers Environmental Coalition (the four rivers being: Rock, Kishwaukee, Sugar & Pecatonica), is involved in environmental education efforts that support the goals of the URREP. One such effort was the Green Communities Visioning project in 2003-04 that was facilitated by the Cooperative Extension Service. The Green Communities project included a survey of area residents that revealed strong support for conservation in the area.