Rockford Playlist: kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z61omsxwobuocs4.html Illinois Playlist: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dqFsk9unh9m7o7A.html ==================================================================== EVERYTHING THAT I USE IN THE FIELD: Main Camera: amzn.to/3iS4vvF Side Cameras: amzn.to/2WuCYIs Media Mod for Camera: amzn.to/3j7CMGF Lav Mic: amzn.to/3lsMkz9 Drone: amzn.to/3ITcKBV SD Cards: amzn.to/3C2co9O Camera Mounts: amzn.to/2UXVR6p Cables Required for Longer Recordings: amzn.to/3BYnr3Q Computer: amzn.to/3787b2j External Hard Drive: amzn.to/3lb23Tf WHAT I USE AT HOME: Computer: amzn.to/3rKIdiN Sound Mixer: amzn.to/3C15Ubx Microphone: amzn.to/2VaCjvo Microphone Accessories: amzn.to/3v7A35Z INTERACTIVE MAP that shows you all of the places that I've made videos on: (Doesn't always work on mobile devices. Will always work on PC.) www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?hl=en&mid=1Lhzf04ocimPu-ROkg4cfXEYEvKMNnlI5&ll=43.06219876674538%2C-83.82163216337808&z=10 SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT INFO: Email: ChrisHardenYT@Gmail.com On Twitter: twitter.com/Chris_Harden55 On Instagram: instagram.com/c_harden7/?... On Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisHardenYT/ DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. As an Amazon Associate I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. As always, thank you for supporting my channel!

@hdexplorations9921

2 жыл бұрын

Hey chris relocating to rockford for work. After your experience with rockford wondered if you could recommend me what parts of town to stay in. Also any apartment complexes?

@ChrisHarden

2 жыл бұрын

​@@hdexplorations9921 Anything north of State Street and east of Alpine Road seems like a safe bet. Maybe even Loves Park or Machesney Park.

Grew up here, and dad was principal of Guilford in the 70s and 80s- was a good school then, with over %70 of grads going on to college. It was a great place to grow up. Thanks for not making another 'hate Rockford' video. No place is perfect, but there's something about 'home'. During the years I lived in Texas, after nursing school, I still considered Rockford to be home. I returned 2 decades ago, and have had no regrets.

I grew up in this section of Rockford and graduated from Guilford HS. You drove past so many places and streets that brought back memories. Thanks for these videos. (I also worked in Davenport and Dubuque and enjoyed those videos too).

@ironmike7339

3 жыл бұрын

Grew up there too! Went to Guilford H.S. And ended up leaving for college in Southern Illinois. Now living in Tennessee and really enjoy the people and weather here! Enjoyed seeing the home town again how it’s changed.

@hdexplorations9921

2 жыл бұрын

@@ironmike7339 Relocating to rockford for work. Looking for recommendations on apartments and what parts of town to stay in? Thanks.

@Kathleennebel

Жыл бұрын

I went to guilford too…

@moorelance23

6 ай бұрын

​@@KathleennebelG vikes baby

At 34 minutes you drive by the house I grew up in on Spring Brook, it’s the brown brick house and was built in 1930. Just past is the Laurent house on the left, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Mr. Laurent became paralyzed in WWII and had the house built to accommodate his wheelchair with the money he got from the military for his disability. My younger sister went to school with his daughter Jean. It’s a beautiful house and is open for tours.

Once again you outdid yourself on this project of our stateline. Awesome job.

Brilliant! I grew in one of those suburban style neighborhoods off Mulford. I had lived in 7 other cities before settling down in this part of Rockford. Perfect experience as a teen, like living through a John Hughes movie.

Nice to see Rockford again. 😀 although we are part of the Percentage that moved out of Illinois. We now live in Florida.

@greedothedorito438

3 жыл бұрын

Lucky

@thrasherx2k1

3 жыл бұрын

@@greedothedorito438 you can have that humidity. No thank you. The food just isn’t the same in the south either.

@greedothedorito438

3 жыл бұрын

@@thrasherx2k1 no

@thrasherx2k1

3 жыл бұрын

@@greedothedorito438 no what?

@greedothedorito438

3 жыл бұрын

@@thrasherx2k1 no

You did a great job on Rockford, Il. I would like to correct one statement you made that Rockford has two major hospitals. Rockford has three major hospital systems. Rockford Memorial Hospital, now part of Mercy Health, named Javon Bea. They have the older hospital at 2500 N Rockton Ave, 144 Beds & a new one at E Riverside Blvd & I-39/I-90, 188 beds. Then there is Swedish American Hospital, now part of UW Health System, 324 beds. Third one is St Anthony Hospital on E State St known as OSF, Order of St Frances with 285 beds.

@Ale502703

11 ай бұрын

I was born in the Rockford Memorial hospital, but I’ve never lives there so I have never seen it in person. I’m going back next week and my mom wants me to go and take pictures. Im scared 😂

You should drive by Sinnissippi when its in full bloom for sure! Also around christmas time, its ALL decked out with thousands of lights... absolute favorite thing to do during that time of year

Great video and information. I swear I saw my vehicle in this video but I need to watch it again.

Great video. A magnificent part of town!

I'm a house painter here in town and saw about 30 homes I've painted in this vid. lol. Cool stuff!

Great format for a city tour. Mad Respect!

Use to love walking my dogs along sinnissippi Park. From Thanksgiving to end of the year they have a drive thru Christmas lights event there that's pretty cool. Especially if u have kids

42:25 I used to sit on that rock on the sidewalk. Crazy seeing it in a video.

Thank you for this video, I currently live here and I don't know if you knew but we had an EF 1 tornado come through last August and went straight through this area that you showed. Rock Valley College used to have a lot more trees before the tornado hit which you can see on google maps. I love seeing a different perspective on Rockford so thank you for these videos.

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

Didn’t know that!

I'm really enjoying these videos of Rockford, in your Northside video you almost drove past my house

How much the East Side has changed since the early 70's when I left. Gave me goosebumps watching you drive down Guilford, with Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club on the left-hand side, then passing the entry to my neighborhood on the right just before turning onto Alpine. E State St, Bell Road, Mulford, Perryville Road, that was all cornfields when I grew up in Rockford. I Graduated from Boylan in '71 and RockValley College in "73. Off to Northern Illinois University, Springfield, Champaign/Urbana, Bloomington, and then to TX in '81, and unfortunately, I never regretted moving away even though I still have family in Rockford/Belvedere. Back then I always said Rockford was a big town with a small-town mind as evident in your previous videos showing the decay of Rockford and the National Highest Unemployment in the 80"s. It was nice seeing how the East Side has grown over the years due to the close proximity to Chicago. We were just visiting a couple of weeks ago and I had to chuckle at the sign coming up the I-90, Chicago Rockford International Airport, little Rockford Airport is now an International Airport. That says it all, Rockford East Side is evolving into a Chicago Suburb. Not a small town mind anymore, but it is still too cold and too much snow. I Love Texas.

I delivered pizza for years...drove down all these streets thousands of times. I remember when I was a kid, there was nothing but farm land on State St east of Mulford. I remember going to the Belford drive-in (where the Showplace theater is now...you didn't go quite that far east) and it seemed like it was way out in the middle of nowhere. I attended Rock Valley College; I think everyone who lives or has lived in Rockford has at some point, lol.

I lived in Rockford almost 20 years. Worked as a roofer for many companies there. Kenz roofing, instant roofing,Lask and Taylor roofing doing new construction for 3 hammer construction. I lived on North main Street. Lived in machesney and loves Park as well. The crime and the work running out when everything crashed 10 years ag o we left. I do miss it sometimes even with it's flaws.

@ChrisHarden

2 жыл бұрын

Hard to not miss a place that you have roots in.

My neighborhood! at 12:23 on the left side of the frame that's the house I grew up in, just down the block from the Amos Catlin Spafford House. As kids we'd sneak in through the groundkeeper's gate and cut a path through the "forest" to the grocery store at the 5 points intersection. aww man, so much nostalgia. :)

@OfficialBritta

Жыл бұрын

My mom lived in the 4th house in from Prospect on Jackson St. I love that neighborhood & I always thought the Spafford house was so cool when I was a kid. My grandparents would take us to Highlanders to get snacks when we stayed with them. My family’s last name is Erickson… some of the many Swedes in Rockford! Maybe you’d know them since you lived right there!

It's really pretty when everything is green. Tons of parks and Rock cut park

@JKNat9004

2 ай бұрын

Yes, southeast Rockford, Cherry Valley and New Milford have plenty of nice parks never mentioned in his southeast Rockford video.

I was Born & Raised in Rockford, Il… I now Live in Los Angeles… I DO Plan To Move back to Rockford Very Very Soon… This Is Nice!😊🌹

Well Done !!

This video really makes me miss Rockford.

Thank you so much! I really enjoyed the video and learn a few things. You missed a few beautiful historical houses on State St, right after downtown ends. Maybe next time? By the way you remind me of the " Welcome to the Plathville" sons. Cheers!

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad that you enjoyed! And no matter where I go for whatever video I make on a place, there’s always going to be things that I miss. Always. It’s unavoidable unless I make like a 4 hour long video each time lol.

@slonecznikdoniczkowy

3 жыл бұрын

You are doing a great job! I moved here last year, not knowing much about this city, being paranoid going out due to the Corona virus and learning a lot from you! Awww, spring is here! Definitely going to visit the Japanese Garden!

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

@@slonecznikdoniczkowy Thanks so much!

@slonecznikdoniczkowy

3 жыл бұрын

@@ChrisHarden yes and yo! My Polish spirit. LoL.

Enjoy watching this video, from a 16-years resident.

I was in Rockford in 2002 and the town seemed in search of a new identity 18 years later it's still going on

@karenclark5982

3 жыл бұрын

As a native i can say you are spot on!

My mom dated Robin Zander through high school and my half sister is his daughter He wrote several songs for my mom

@laurametheny1008

3 жыл бұрын

So they did go to Guilford? Weird. Always thought it was Harlem. Friends from church said they went to school with the guys and they went to Harlem. My buddies and I almost killed ourselves getting to a concert in Dane County. Think it was in '76. Blizzard. We went with one headlight. My poor Mom. Told her we were hitching if she wouldn't let me drive. Already bought tickets. Went down under an overpass on the way home, but we got a nice ride from there. I was out of my mind by the time we got to my friends grammas.😈 My poor Dad was so mad. I couldn't even tell them where the car was....fantastic Cheap Trick show!😍🤘

@MrBean5268

3 жыл бұрын

@Laura Metheny no they both went to Harlem, my mom has a year book with them both in it

I lived right behind Old Chicago in the apartments by East State St and Mulford for a couple of years. It was a massive upgrade in terms of safety and lifestyle for me compared to where I grew up on the south side of Chicago.

Great execution as always on the video. The two side cameras add a lot to the experience.

14:58 That white stucco house with the red tile roof on the left is the house I grew up in.

You should come back to this park in the Christmas season for the festival if light's in the park and the conservatory

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

I feel like a lot of people would like their hometown/city to be filmed at night when Christmas lights are up.

40:15 you described that neighborhood spot on

That whole strip mall has been abandoned for a while. Circuit City, Pepboys, Oak Furniture Store, army recruiting station ect used to be in that strip

Been looking at places out there. Rockford, machesney park, loves park, Freeport, roscoe......

I've been planning on road tripping thru Rockford and Freeport soon, never been in Northern Central IL. Looks like there are some definite finds!

@sharianderson6450

3 жыл бұрын

Stop at the Union Dairy in Freeport for some of the best sundaes around.

@1d2y

3 жыл бұрын

Rockford is horrible waste ur money somewhere better

@thrasherx2k1

3 жыл бұрын

@@1d2y depends on which side of town you live in.

@1d2y

3 жыл бұрын

@@thrasherx2k1 It doesnt matter which side. Its a dead boring town. No need to go out of the way to visit a trash town lol

@thrasherx2k1

3 жыл бұрын

@@1d2y you don’t have a clue. No city in Illinois is better than Rockford overall. Not that that’s saying much but it’s the truth.

Rockford looks like a paradise compared to Baton Rouge.

@douglee8158

3 жыл бұрын

I had no idea Baton Rouge was that bad.

@joep5815

3 жыл бұрын

@@douglee8158 it is one of the worst places in the south.

The northeast side has basically been the stomping grounds of my childhood. It's a shame that some of the notable locations were hard to get good views of, though that is not your fault. My mom's ford escape (black with sticker on the left side) made a guest appearance on State St. passing Perryville. She's a decently prominent realtor so any viewers that are planning to move to Rockford, I can hook you up. ;) There were also a couple of Olivo Taco trucks on state that you passed. I say a few because Olivo Taco is popular enough to have 4 or 5 trucks all over the city, and is basically the only taco joint popular enough to do so. Deservedly so. At 3 tacos for $5 (3 for 5 as they call it), their truly world class steak tacos are to die for. Definitely a lot of memories in this one. Thank you. :)

I actually live in Fairview Road. It's kind of funny that you drove past it lol

I grew up on the Westside of Rockford but moved to Loves Park were i raised my 3 kids after they graduated from the Harlem district i moved to Florida.

Rockford is a good place to make money in real state and construction and there is many jobs available people just need to want to work instead of dreaming of going to a bigger city where its way harder to live on minimum wage

Rockford is also the home town of CHEAP TRICK

@laurametheny1008

3 жыл бұрын

He mentioned that. Tho I thought they went to Harlem instead of Guilford.🤘

@ericmarshel7343

3 жыл бұрын

@@laurametheny1008 I made this comment in the video that talked about Sinnissippi park and the Conservatory on Monday

22:22 the one thing Rockford as going for them is you can stop by Lino's for Rockford style pizza.

You state that you will do a video on Loves Park and Machesney Park.

Anderson Gardens is beautiful

I love Rockford, but unfortunately the Illinois laws are forcing me to move my entire family out of state. Anyone know of a good place to go?

I grew up in Winnebago and moved into the "big city" of Rockford after meeting my wife. We've lived in the Sinnissippi area for the last 20 years. You almost drove past my house lol We'll be moving out of this state shortly.. p.s. Sorry for the crappy roads!

Are you going to post the East side?

hey NT can you post a list of the songs you play on your vids there very cool thx

My family lived in Rockford since 1910. I moved in 1970.

In the 70s and 80s Rockford was not bad. It wasn't the greatest but, better then now. In the 90s alotWe of businesses got muscled out by big box stores going up on the far east side. We used to have several grocers around town, Pacemaker, Jewel, Highlander, ect. Then we just seemed to have Logli and Highlanders. When Logli sold out to Schnucks they came in and tried to take over. We have a few new ones, superstores, on the far east side. That is the story of alot of the town and along with the loss of manufacturiing, good jobs, we have big pockets of nothing. Everything today is still on the far east side or north in Loves Park and Machesney Park. It's depressing. You should have seen Charles st., between Alpine and Swedish American Hospital back in the 70s and 80s before everything disappeared. Rockford is divided into all or nothing in the city.

@jennyn5692

Жыл бұрын

I loved Pacemaker and the little grocery in Rockford Plaza, the Shopping Bag. I miss how Charles St was before they redid it and added the Heart Hospital to Swedish American.

@jonathanmosher72

2 ай бұрын

You're completely full of sh*t. In the 1980s Rockford's downtown was non-existent nothing but abandoned storefronts. The assault rate was 4x higher than today. What are you smoking😂

You should do Milwaukee😊

Will you be posting a Belvidere video since you were already in the area?

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

Yup! Coming next week.

@cubansilv953

3 жыл бұрын

@@ChrisHarden YAY!

27:46 - My soulmate grew up near here.

Rockford is called the Forest City, but they had even more trees until Dutch Elm disease destroyed a huge amount of trees in the city. Rock Valley College men’s & women’s basketball team have dominated the Juco D3 division for a decade.

Ahh the nice part. I was raised in the 09

Yes I do miss Rockford Illinois I went to Kennedy Middle School I know they have in Rockford Golden Corral it's a buffet place there used to be before goldencorral Old Country Buffet now I'm very sad that it's gone that was my childhood place to get a bunch of good junk food after I graduate from Kennedy Middle School I went to Guilford High School home of the Vikings yes there's Chuck-E-Cheese in Rockford it's still there I wonder if they're going to bring out trolly car 36 when I was a little kid I used to be scared of the Rock River because it was very deep I was afraid to go on the boat

Going down pepper dr used to make me sick all the winding and turns 🤢

Rockford. I just love it😐

Home of the famous Rockford peaches, Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, Cheap Trick, and gospel group Sounds of Blackness members...yeas I'm a native

To anybody who lives on Rockford. I'm looking at a house out there by the intersection of alpine and Harrison. How's the area right there ?

@ChrisHarden

2 жыл бұрын

Incase nobody responds... from what I could tell, It's not the worst area but it's not the best. I go through that area in this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/YoN517WvirnSfJs.html

@jennyn5692

Жыл бұрын

I haven't lived there in ten years, but it always used to be a decent area.

You should take a drive down central from state street going towards school street there's alot of condemned houses

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

Did in my video titles as “the worst parts of Rockford”

No mention of The Symbol...that big steel orange structure he passed up

Aurora next!

I live off of 11th and charles st never really had anything bad I've been here for a year and only had one bad thing and that was it

I used to live there

More descriptive words and less crappy music would be an improvement.

I wanna house here!!!

I work in rockford... i get there are some nice areas, but in the years ive dealt with the locals it just seems like the place is bad and getting worse. even in this video, while yes the building appear to be in good condition it almost seems like there is a dull quality of life. reminds me of the adage that "even a broken clock is right twice a day"... honestly, some heavy gentrification is in order, i know that a lot of people would have to move but when you only cater to the lowest of the low, most of whom come from bad places carrying their habits with them because rockford is so cheap, you end up with a city whom most from outside of look down upon. it's almost like you can tell most of the residents do not care. I know there are some who do, but in my experience it isnt enough people and they are simply outnumbered by people looking to exploit rather than build.

You missed the dilapidated hulk of a dormitory aka “ivory tower” at Rock Univ.

I love Rockford

@paulhuntley7399

3 жыл бұрын

Your high!!¡!!,

@tomshaw6373

3 жыл бұрын

@@paulhuntley7399 "You're"

@paulhuntley7399

3 жыл бұрын

@@tomshaw6373 I'm hi look who's in dream Land dam wake. Up

@paulhuntley7399

3 жыл бұрын

I've lived in this town my life. I. No how crooket it and does ever people who. Say. I love Rockford. Have. To be on drugs. That's. The dumbest thing I've ever heard of you love This tolets. Town in joy the guns

I was born and raised here, and even though i've moved away, i'm going to come back in a couple of years. Rockford will always be home

me watching you drive past my apartment and seeing my car in the lot 👁👄👁

Next time your in Rockford show the people the briggs mansion it's across the street from Swedish American hospital

Honestly if the roads were redone, It would look 100% better.

Anyone remember “that one place”

Rockford Illinois is my birth town I'll let you know

U have to bring JOBS back to ILLINOIS

@paulhuntley7399

3 жыл бұрын

Burn Rockford Down it's a to

Lot history Herr,

Bro I live in Rockford

When are you going to do rochelle

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

Before you know it

@jameschristiansson3137

3 жыл бұрын

@@ChrisHarden Would you do Pinckneyville Illinois?

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

@@jameschristiansson3137 since it has 5,000 plus residents, yes. Can’t tell you when I’ll be able to get to it though.

@jameschristiansson3137

3 жыл бұрын

@@ChrisHarden Thank you for the reply.

@glennso47

3 жыл бұрын

@@jameschristiansson3137 Carroll County Illinois?

HE DROVE PASS MY HOUSEE

ha just finding out things even tho i can drive there why waste my gass

Rick nielsen of cheap trick lives on the northeast side of rockford.

Where’s section 5 the south East side?

@ChrisHarden

3 жыл бұрын

Check back on Wednesday

Don't be a left lane bandit.

Enjoying the video, music…nope.

@ChrisHarden

11 ай бұрын

Hmm.

Rockford has never been nice.

All of Rockford is bad

@ChrisHarden

2 жыл бұрын

Not all but a lot of it can be.