Whether you've lived in Rockford your entire life or only been living here for a few years, you probably have some type of opinion about Rockford.

If you were to ask me, I love living in Rockford - I've lived here my entire life and never really had the urge to get up and leave.  Maybe it's because I have all my friends and family here, but I believe it's who I surround myself with that makes living here worth it.

A welcome sign at the Illinois state line
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Based on this discussion thread I found on Quora, I was pretty surprised with the responses people were replying with about living here.

I love that we have all four seasons, even if winters are hard. They are harder in Minnesota, upstate NY and North Dakota. Outside of Chicago and the 'burbs, we are a very green state, plenty of fields and woods. - Beth J.

 

Rob Carroll, Townsquare Media
Rob Carroll, Townsquare Media
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Someone even explained why they think Rockford "could" be toxic and I've actually heard this response from many people over the years,

Frankly, I could only see Rockford as toxic because people tend to get stuck there. Rockford is a good place to settle down with your family, but for a young adult it could become a bear trap. - Alex W.

 

Rockford, Illinois in Early Spring Seen from above by Drone
Jacob Boomsma
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When a lot of people are so quick to list the negatives, this user shared what they were surprised by when living in the Rockford area,

Rockford has some nice areas, but like many cities of size, there are bad areas, too.  I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some of the nicer parts of Rockford. The riverfront is quite appealing with good bars and restaurants. There are several scenic sites and attractions. - Danny S.

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It could definitely be a tough decision for someone debating whether to move to Rockford or a surrounding city by the responses online, but these just make moving here a little bit easier,

If you're looking for culture, there's a variety of options. There's the Burpee Museum and the Discovery Center along the river for those looking for more history, while those seeking a performance might want to go to the Coronado Theatre. - Wayne W.

 

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I mean, there are so many delicious food joints in the area that you can't pass up either!  Other than City Market food trucks, this user recommended some awesome restaurants!

Definitely would recommend Octane Interlounge, Irish Rose, Capri, Lino's, Sam's, Nunzio’s, Fiesta Cancun... - Wayne W.

 

Rockford City Market in downtown Rockford.
Rob Carroll, Townsquare Media
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Like myself, some people look for cities that aren't too big or too small.  I get too anxious even walking around in an extremely large city like Chicago.

If you are looking for a middle size city (100,00 to 200,000) in the Midwest, Rockford is a good enough place. It is more of a small town environment. It is not nearly as fast paced as Chicago. - Joe G.

 

Rockford, Illinois in Early Spring Seen from above by Drone
Jacob Boomsma
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Well, is Rockford really as bad as some make it seem?  I know you're probably waiting for me to say something negative but I won't.  I'm too nice and only think about the positives nowadays.  So with that being said, I'll leave this question up for discussion!

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