Loves Park History

History of Loves Park

In 1901, Rockford industrialist and civic leader Malcolm Love purchased a 236 acre tract of land along the Rock River. Love's property served as a gathering place for social events for several of his industrialist friends and became known as Love's Park. A railroad soon cut through the area, which brought with it residential and commercial development. Over time, the area became its own community. The picture to the right show's North 2nd Street circa 1915, a muddy road that follwed the railroad tracks with homes interspersed. As cars and trains became more common than horses and buggies, streets were eventually paved and the

100 Heart Boulevard
Loves Park, Illinois 61111
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Loves Park

Illinois

population boomed. The community incorporated in 1947 become the City of Loves Park with 4,500 residents and a municipal government of 8 aldermen and Mayor Homer E. Burton. From 1947-1949, a fire department, police department, and city hall were established with the help of volunteer contributions.

The commercial and industrial sector continued to rise throughout this period, and the Parkside Citizen, a biweekly "news sheet," addressed the new development and city issues. The 1950 U.S. Census found Loves Park with the following:

                    City Size:                         2.7 square miles
                    Population                       5,366
                    Median Income               $3,977
                    Total Dwellings               1,707
                    Number of Radios           1,590
                    Number of Televisions   5

The 1950s brought modern growth to Loves Park. The city became a fully functional community, with a variety of amenities including a train station, grocery stores and food markets, a library, churches, restaurants, and gas stations. Loves Park had one more great aspect that brought in residents - the lack of a municipal property tax. Still true today, the city is known

as a great place to live with a substantially low cost-of-living. Loves Park provides all of the amenities a community needs through the collection of sales tax within the commercial sector. In the 1950s, the Loves Park Toll Bridge, which crossed the Rock River at Riverside Boulevard and linked the city to Rockford, was built as a symbol of the growth and success of Loves Park. The tolls taken at the bridge provided revenue to pay for the bridge construction over a 40 year period, however enough toll revenue was accumulated in only 12 years and the bridge construction was paid off early. Another symbol of the success and propsperity of the Loves Park

rides for children and fun for all ages. By 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau found Loves Park with:

                        City Size                                 5.4 square miles
                        Population                              12,390
                        Median Income                      $11,436
                        Persons per Household        3.37

Since this period, Loves Park has continued to prosper. One of the most celebrated features the city carries on to this day is the Young at   Heart   Festival, which   began in 1972.   The festival includes a

area was Kiddieland Park. This small amusement park provided fun and entertainment for families, with

parade, pageant, and carnival rides. The Young at Heart Festival occurs every Memorial Day weekend. For current statistics on the City of Loves Park, please click

here.

Learn more about the City of Loves Park in History of Loves Park, Illinois by Craig G. Campbell.

Loves Park

Illinois