Rock Falls

History

Rock Falls was initially part of the Town of Sterling, created in 1838. In 1867, Augustus P. Smith purchased the rights to use the Rock River's hydroelectric power on the south bank, along with 65 acres of land on the river. Smith hired John Arey to survey the land, who soon platted the town in 1868. Rock Falls was incorporated into a village on January 26, 1869, and then incorporated into a city on April 16, 1889. Due to low water levels in the Hennepin Canal, Illinois planners constructed a feeder canal with its mouth on the south bank of the Rock River. Initially, Dixon was proposed to be the location of the mouth, but surveyor Frank E. Andrews argued that the canal would be 11 miles shorter if the mouth were to be in Rock Falls, which was soon accepted. The canal officially opened on October 24, 1907, with an accompanying ceremony of almost 25,000 attendants, a 2 ½ mile long street parade, and a large aquatic parade to commemorate the opening, with Governor Charles S. Deneen in attendance. In 1927, debate began on merging the City of Rock Falls with the neighboring City of Sterling. Supporters of the merge cited the severe lack of public services such as a library and hospital, while opponents argued that the merge would result in higher taxes for the residents of Rock Falls. On November 22, 1927, Rock Falls voted in a referendum on whether or not to merge with the City of Sterling, with the referendum failing with 69.7% of residents voting against.

Geography

Rock Falls is separated from its twin city, Sterling, to the North by the Rock River. According to the 2010 census, Rock Falls has a total area of , of which (or 96.44%) is land and (or 3.56%) is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,266
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  2,210
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,123
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  2,079
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,057
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,967
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,861
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,658

Largest nearby schools

• Sterling High School
  High · Sterling · 1,049 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Challand Middle School
  Middle · Sterling · 710 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• Rock Falls Township High School
  High · Rock Falls · 566 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Franklin Elem School
  Elementary · Sterling · 414 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Jefferson Elem School
  Elementary · Sterling · 401 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Lincoln Elem School
  Elementary · Sterling · 350 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• Washington Elem School
  Elementary · Sterling · 340 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Dillon Elementary School
  Elementary · Rock Falls · 249 students · 11.9:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2024-07-15
  2 km WNW of Somonauk, Illinois
• M 3.6 — 2023-11-15
  1 km SSW of Standard, Illinois
• M 4.2 — 2004-06-28
  12 km NW of Dayton, Illinois