Rock River

The frozen Rock River near Oregon, Illinois.

The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 285 miles (459 km) long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. It rises in southeast Wisconsin, in the Theresa Marsh near Theresa, Wisconsin in northeast Dodge County, Wisconsin approximately 17 miles (27 km) south of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It flows southwest, through the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, then meanders southward draining the area of southeast Wisconsin between the Wisconsin River and Lake Michigan. It passes through Watertown, collects the Crawfish River in Jefferson, and receives the Bark River at Fort Atkinson. In northern Rock County it receives the Yahara River, and flows southward through Janesville and Beloit into northern Illinois, where it receives the Pecatonica River 5 miles (8 km) south of the state line.

It flows south through Rockford, then southwest across northwestern Illinois, passing Oregon, Dixon and Rock Falls before joining the Mississippi at Rock Island. It was on the Rock River in Dixon where Ronald Reagan served as a lifeguard.^[1]

Shortly before merging the Rock and Crawfish rivers cross Interstate 94. Both rivers flood the nearby land on an annual basis. In 2008, some lanes on I-94 were temporarily closed due to this flooding.[1]

Cities and villages along the river

Rock River flooding downtown Fort Atkinson, June 2004.

References in popular culture

The song "To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament" was recorded by Sufjan Stevens in his album Illinois

The Rock River Valley, recorded by folk musician Art Thieme on the LP "Songs of the Heartland" (1980, Kicking Mule Records)

See also

Rockrivervalleyonline 2007 Documentary on the Rock River Valley

• List of Illinois rivers
• List of Wisconsin rivers

References

1. ^ http://www.dixonil.com/parks/lowellpark.htm