Aug/Sep 2013
| Business World Magazine | 77
In Illinois, the Winnebago County seat City
of Rockford is situated along the shores of
the Rock River and borders the state line
of Wisconsin, yet is considered part of the
Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. Just
east of Winnebago County sits Boone
County, both of which make up the Rock-
ford Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Located about an hour’s drive away for
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the
Rockford Region is recognized as the most-
densely populated city in Illinois outside of
Chicago. There was a time the region served
as one of America’s leading centers of man-
ufacturing, with factories that produced
goods which supported industries in agri-
