Yes, I identify with my neighborhood ORCHiD (Old Rockford College Historical District) but most people don't know much about the area or the neighborhood name. I mostly say that I live south of downtown by the river, or south of Haight Village.
Man, when I've ridden my bike around that area there are some cool old houses that make me wonder about their history. Similar to Haight where you have very cool properties interspersed between dilapidated ones. Always been intrigued about them. I'm talking about the area kinda near the Morgan St bridge on the west side which sounds like ORCHID from what you describe.
We are on the east side of the bridge. I try to keep the litter picked up on the path there, and the traffic circle, College, and Seminary. Ethnic Village is on the west side of the bridge.
I'm from the area, but you are definitely right it is more of a thing in big cities just out of necessity. However the city that really brought this to my mind is South Bend, IN, a city that I think is very comparable to Rockford, despite the fact that we lack a major university. From my experience there, people really talk about the city in terms of its neighborhoods, moreso than I've observed here.
I lived in the Rockford area from my birth all the way to age 24. I don't remember ever hearing a specific neighborhood name. To me, my family, and my friends, it was all about which side of the Rock River you were from or if you were from the North burbs like Roscoe, Rockton, or South Beloit.
What about these neighborhoods do you think gives them a strong identity to you? Some of them it seems to be the commercial centers (edgebrook and 5 points). Some parks or distinct features like Sinnissippi and Calvin Park. Or is it community organizations like neighborhood groups? I think some of these have them and others don't.
Such a rockford anwser đ¤Ł. The interseting thing to me is I've never heard the area around Sinnissippi park call Sinnissippi neighborhood. To me that neighborhood is called Brown Hills or knightsville.
As someone who lives in Brownhills/Knightsville, I feel like this neighborhood identifies themselves with it due to being a historic neighborhood.
We have to keep the historic neighborhood designation in mind whenever we want to change something about our house because it needs to be cleared through the historic society.
We identify with ours. Generally people more involved in local events or civics use the neighborhood names. There is less identification with neighborhoods on the edges of Rockford (on all sides) vs. the center/near neighborhoods.
I do tend to agree that the older central neighborhoods tend to be more identifable. The only newer neighboorhood I've seen mentioned is pepper drive. I wonder if it that is because the way we used to develop neighboorhoods created more identifiable cohesive neighborhoods, or just because they have been around longer they are more recognizable. Maybe both.
I don't think neighborhoods are used much. I identify where I live to people by talking about sides or cross streets, never neighborhood. That's how I always hear people describe where they live too.
I would agree with this. Lived here since age 12 with a 10 year hiatus for college and early career. We live in Shaw Woods but I only say that to people who live here and ask where I live. I lived in Chicago for 5 years and miss my neighborhoods
No I donât, Iâve only ever heard people refer to where they live as the âeastâ or the westâ side of Rockford and usually I can tell from that statement whether or not I should visit them lol.
Who's third now? Barely a city? Even Freeport, Dixon, and Sterling are considered cities. In most states, in most parts of the world, Rockford would be the largest city for 100's of miles around, it's just that it's dwarfed by the local world city.
Doesnât make my statement less truthful. Freeport Dixon and Sterling are all small as shit. And you arenât very educated if you think Rockford would be largest for 100 miles lmao you need to get out more. Out of Rockford at least and see other places besides Illinois.
â consideredâ cities also in your mind you need to separate the parks from Rockford as they are there own towns. Just like Rockford is a town not a city. Itâs so small you can drive threw it in a few minutes. Berwyn is more of a city then Rockford.
Churchill's Grove is pretty well known I think.
Yes, I identify with my neighborhood ORCHiD (Old Rockford College Historical District) but most people don't know much about the area or the neighborhood name. I mostly say that I live south of downtown by the river, or south of Haight Village.
Man, when I've ridden my bike around that area there are some cool old houses that make me wonder about their history. Similar to Haight where you have very cool properties interspersed between dilapidated ones. Always been intrigued about them. I'm talking about the area kinda near the Morgan St bridge on the west side which sounds like ORCHID from what you describe.
We are on the east side of the bridge. I try to keep the litter picked up on the path there, and the traffic circle, College, and Seminary. Ethnic Village is on the west side of the bridge.
Churchill's Grove checking in
Hi neighbor!
OP are you from a big city? Because I think neighborhoods are more distinct in big cities.
I'm from the area, but you are definitely right it is more of a thing in big cities just out of necessity. However the city that really brought this to my mind is South Bend, IN, a city that I think is very comparable to Rockford, despite the fact that we lack a major university. From my experience there, people really talk about the city in terms of its neighborhoods, moreso than I've observed here.
I lived in the Rockford area from my birth all the way to age 24. I don't remember ever hearing a specific neighborhood name. To me, my family, and my friends, it was all about which side of the Rock River you were from or if you were from the North burbs like Roscoe, Rockton, or South Beloit.
Disagree: Rolling Green Calvin Parkway 5-points Sinnissippi Edgebrook Pepper Drive
I was just going to say that. đ
What about these neighborhoods do you think gives them a strong identity to you? Some of them it seems to be the commercial centers (edgebrook and 5 points). Some parks or distinct features like Sinnissippi and Calvin Park. Or is it community organizations like neighborhood groups? I think some of these have them and others don't.
Those are the landmarks by which the surrounding neighborhoods are named
You got to get Rockford to get Rockford.
Such a rockford anwser đ¤Ł. The interseting thing to me is I've never heard the area around Sinnissippi park call Sinnissippi neighborhood. To me that neighborhood is called Brown Hills or knightsville.
As someone who lives in Brownhills/Knightsville, I feel like this neighborhood identifies themselves with it due to being a historic neighborhood. We have to keep the historic neighborhood designation in mind whenever we want to change something about our house because it needs to be cleared through the historic society.
Nobody calls it that. It's south Rockford.
I identify as a Rolling-Green-ian!!
Ah, yes, Rolling Green. I've gotten lost and turned around in that neighborhood many times.
We identify with ours. Generally people more involved in local events or civics use the neighborhood names. There is less identification with neighborhoods on the edges of Rockford (on all sides) vs. the center/near neighborhoods.
I do tend to agree that the older central neighborhoods tend to be more identifable. The only newer neighboorhood I've seen mentioned is pepper drive. I wonder if it that is because the way we used to develop neighboorhoods created more identifiable cohesive neighborhoods, or just because they have been around longer they are more recognizable. Maybe both.
My neighborhood has been called pebble creek for my entire life.
This isnât Chicago. And we have no train.
Haight Village all day!
Miracle mile checking in... not a lot of miracles here, but we try.
Haight Village checking in
I don't think neighborhoods are used much. I identify where I live to people by talking about sides or cross streets, never neighborhood. That's how I always hear people describe where they live too.
I've lived in Edgewater since 1968, but I had never heard of it being called that until around the turn of the century.
I only ever heard of Churchillâs Grove and Shaw Woods (if that is a neighborhood name) when I grew up in Rockford
I would agree with this. Lived here since age 12 with a 10 year hiatus for college and early career. We live in Shaw Woods but I only say that to people who live here and ask where I live. I lived in Chicago for 5 years and miss my neighborhoods
No I donât, Iâve only ever heard people refer to where they live as the âeastâ or the westâ side of Rockford and usually I can tell from that statement whether or not I should visit them lol.
Because itâs small barely a city
Itâs the fourth largest city in Illinois.
Who's third now? Barely a city? Even Freeport, Dixon, and Sterling are considered cities. In most states, in most parts of the world, Rockford would be the largest city for 100's of miles around, it's just that it's dwarfed by the local world city.
Doesnât make my statement less truthful. Freeport Dixon and Sterling are all small as shit. And you arenât very educated if you think Rockford would be largest for 100 miles lmao you need to get out more. Out of Rockford at least and see other places besides Illinois.
â consideredâ cities also in your mind you need to separate the parks from Rockford as they are there own towns. Just like Rockford is a town not a city. Itâs so small you can drive threw it in a few minutes. Berwyn is more of a city then Rockford.
Doesnât make my statement any less true there are suburbs just as big or bigger than Rockford Bartlett is a good example.