Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area

Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area
Name	Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area
State	Illinois
Largest city	Freeport, Illinois

Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Metropolitan Statistical Area located in Stephenson County, Illinois, with Freeport, Illinois as its principal city. The area is part of the larger Rockford, Illinois-Freeport, Illinois-Rochelle, Illinois Combined Statistical Area, which also includes Ogle County, Illinois, Winnebago County, Illinois, and Boone County, Illinois. The Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area is situated near the Wisconsin border, approximately 25 miles from Monroe, Wisconsin, and is part of the Driftless Area, a region that includes parts of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The area is also close to the Mississippi River and the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area, including cities like Aurora, Illinois, Elgin, Illinois, and Joliet, Illinois.

Geography

The Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area covers an area of approximately 470 square miles, with a mix of rural and urban landscapes. The area is bounded by the Pecatonica River to the north, the Rock River to the east, and the Illinois-Wisconsin border to the west. The region's geography is characterized by rolling hills, prairies, and woodlands, with an average elevation of around 800 feet above sea level. Nearby cities and towns include Dakota, Illinois, Davis, Illinois, Cedarville, Illinois, and Orangeville, Illinois, as well as larger cities like Madison, Wisconsin, Rockford, Illinois, and Beloit, Wisconsin. The area is also close to several state and national parks, including Pearl Lake, Krape Park, and the Yellowstone Lake State Park in Wisconsin.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of around 47,000 people, with a population density of approximately 100 people per square mile. The area has a diverse population, with a mix of European Americans, African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Asian Americans. The median household income in the area is around $45,000, with a median home value of approximately $120,000. Nearby cities and towns with similar demographics include Rochelle, Illinois, Sycamore, Illinois, DeKalb, Illinois, and Genoa, Illinois, as well as larger cities like Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The area is also home to several universities and colleges, including Highland Community College, Rockford University, and Northern Illinois University.

Economy

The Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area has a diverse economy, with major industries including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and retail trade. The area is home to several major employers, including FHN, Freeport Health Network, Newell Brands, and Sensient Technologies. The area is also a major hub for agriculture, with many farms and agribusinesses located in the region. Nearby cities and towns with similar economies include Dixon, Illinois, Sterling, Illinois, Rock Falls, Illinois, and Mendota, Illinois, as well as larger cities like Peoria, Illinois, Springfield, Illinois, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The area is also close to several major interstate highways, including Interstate 90 and Interstate 39, which provide easy access to markets and distribution centers.

Transportation

The Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area is served by several major transportation routes, including Interstate 90, U.S. Route 20, and Illinois Route 26. The area is also home to the Freeport Municipal Airport, which provides general aviation services and charter flights to destinations like Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Nearby cities and towns with similar transportation options include Rockford, Illinois, Beloit, Wisconsin, and Janesville, Wisconsin, as well as larger cities like Madison, Wisconsin, Des Moines, Iowa, and Kansas City, Missouri. The area is also close to several major railroads, including the Union Pacific Railroad and the Canadian National Railway.

Communities

The Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area is composed of several communities, including Freeport, Illinois, Dakota, Illinois, Davis, Illinois, and Cedarville, Illinois. The area is also home to several townships, including Freeport Township, Stephenson County, Illinois, Dakota Township, Stephenson County, Illinois, and Davis Township, Stephenson County, Illinois. Nearby cities and towns include Rochelle, Illinois, Sycamore, Illinois, DeKalb, Illinois, and Genoa, Illinois, as well as larger cities like Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The area is also close to several major festivals and events, including the Freeport Summer Concert Series, the Stephenson County Fair, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

Education

The Freeport Metropolitan Statistical Area is served by several school districts, including Freeport School District 145, Dakota Community Unit School District 201, and Pearl City Community Unit School District 200. The area is also home to several universities and colleges, including Highland Community College, Rockford University, and Northern Illinois University. Nearby cities and towns with similar educational options include Rockford, Illinois, Beloit, Wisconsin, and Janesville, Wisconsin, as well as larger cities like Madison, Wisconsin, Des Moines, Iowa, and Kansas City, Missouri. The area is also close to several major research institutions, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Argonne National Laboratory.

Category:Metropolitan areas of Illinois