Rochelle, Illinois Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published January 13, 2021 · Updated September 5, 2024

Rochelle, Illinois is located in the northern region of the state, about 80 miles west of Chicago. It is situated in Ogle County and has a population of around 10,000 people. The area is mostly flat with a few rolling hills and features a diverse landscape including many farmlands, forests, and wetlands. The climate is typical for the Midwest with hot summers and cold winters.

The city was first settled in 1841 by Thomas C. Stewart who named it “Rochelle” after his hometown in New York. Throughout its history, Rochelle has been an important transportation hub for the surrounding area due to its proximity to several railroads. This led to an economic boom in the late 19th century when several businesses were established including several grain mills and furniture factories.

Politics in Rochelle are mostly conservative with most residents voting Republican in presidential elections. There are two public school districts that serve the city: Rochelle Community Unit School District 212 and Byron Community Unit School District 226. Both districts have earned high marks on state assessments and provide excellent educational opportunities for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The most notable landmark in Rochelle is Flagg Township Park which includes two lakes, walking trails, camping sites, fishing piers, boat launches and other recreational activities for visitors of all ages. The park also features an outdoor amphitheater which hosts concerts during the summer months as well as other community events throughout the year. Another popular destination is Grand Detour which offers tours of John Deere’s historic blacksmith shop as well as a museum dedicated to local history and culture.

Population: 9,424. Estimated population in July 2024: 9,712 (+3.1% change)
Males: 4,640 (49.2%), Females: 4,784 (50.8%)

Ogle County

Zip code: 61068

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.0 years
Median household income: $37,984
Median house value: $96,200

Population by Race

Races in Rochelle:

White Non-Hispanic (77.7%)
Hispanic (19.2%)
Other race (8.7%)
Two or more races (1.9%)
Black (1.1%)
American Indian (0.8%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (21.7%), Irish (10.5%), United States (9.4%), English (7.8%), Norwegian (3.2%), French (3.0%).

Elevation: 821 feet

Land area: 7.5 square miles

Map of Rochelle, IL

Population by Education

Rochelle, Illinois is a city located in Ogle County, with a population of 9,574 as of the 2010 census. The median income for a household in the city was $43,845 and the median income for a family was $51,316. The cost of living in Rochelle is 5.1% lower than the national average which makes it an affordable place to live. The unemployment rate is 3.4% which is lower than the national average of 6%.

The diversity in Rochelle is quite high with over 18% of its population being foreign-born. Furthermore, about 30% of citizens are Hispanic or Latino and about 6% are African American or Black. There are also many different religions practiced within the city including Christianity, Islam and Judaism among others.

The housing market in Rochelle is quite affordable with an average home price of around $130,000 and rental prices around $800 per month for a two bedroom apartment. There are plenty of good schools in the area ranging from elementary to post-secondary institutions such as Kishwaukee College and Northern Illinois University’s satellite campus at Rochelle Technology Park. In terms of transportation options, there are two major highways that run through town (I-39 and IL-64) as well as several bus routes that connect to nearby cities like Rockford and Chicago. Overall, Rochelle is an affordable place to live with many amenities available to its residents.

For population 25 years and over in Rochelle

High school or higher: 72.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.2%
Unemployed: 6.5%
Mean travel time to work: 18.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Rochelle city

Never married: 23.7%
Now married: 55.1%
Separated: 1.7%
Widowed: 7.5%
Divorced: 12.0%

13.0% Foreign born (9.9% Latin America, 1.6% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +626 (+7.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Rochelle:

ROCHELLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (900 N 2ND ST)
ROCHELLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (900 N 2ND ST)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Rochelle:

KISHWAUKEE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; DEKALB, IL)
SAINT ANTHONY MEDICAL CENTER (about 23 miles; ROCKFORD, IL)
SWEDISH AMERICAN HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; ROCKFORD, IL)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Rochelle:

GREATER ROCKFORD (about 18 miles; ROCKFORD, IL; Abbreviation: RFD)
WHITESIDE CO ARPT-JOS H BITTORF FLD (about 44 miles; STERLING/ROCKFALLS, IL; Abbreviation: SQI)
ROCK CO (about 48 miles; JANESVILLE, WI; Abbreviation: JVL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Rochelle:

ROCHELLE MUNI AIRPORT-KORITZ FIELD (about 3 miles; ROCHELLE, IL; Abbreviation: RPJ)
BRESSON (about 13 miles; COMPTON, IL; Abbreviation: C82)
BARNETT MEMORIAL (about 24 miles; MOUNT MORRIS, IL; Abbreviation: C55)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Rochelle:

KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE (about 13 miles; MALTA, IL; Full-time enrollment: 2,289)
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (about 23 miles; DeKalb, IL; Full-time enrollment: 19,477)
ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE (about 27 miles; ROCKFORD, IL; Full-time enrollment: 4,200)
ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 44 miles; OGLESBY, IL; Full-time enrollment: 2,272)
WAUBONSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 44 miles; SUGAR GROVE, IL; Full-time enrollment: 3,834)
ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 52 miles; ELGIN, IL; Full-time enrollment: 5,077)
MCHENRY COUNTY COLLEGE (about 57 miles; CRYSTAL LAKE, IL; Full-time enrollment: 2,707)

Public high school in Rochelle:

ROCHELLE TWP HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,064; Location: 1070 N 7TH ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Rochelle:

ROCHELLE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 647; Location: 111 E SCHOOL AVE; Grades: 06 – 08)
CENTRAL ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 414; Location: 444 N 8TH ST; Grades: PK – 05)
LINCOLN ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 272; Location: 108 S MAIN ST; Grades: KG – 05)
MAY ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 262; Location: 1033 N 2ND ST; Grades: KG – 05)
TILTON ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 250; Location: 1050 N 9TH ST; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle school in Rochelle:

ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 160; Location: 1415 10TH AVENUE; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in Rochelle:

FLAGG-ROCHELLE P.L.D. (Operating income: $485,545; Location: 619 FOURTH AVENUE; 45,694 books; 315 audio materials; 857 video materials; 149 serial subscriptions)