Cherry Valley Map
The village of Cherry Valley, Illinois is a community of 8.72 square miles (22.6 km2) located in the Kishwaukee River valley, which lies primarily in Winnebago County, but approximately ten percent of the Village is located in Boone County. The village is within the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, and borders the southeast side of Rockford. The population is 3,162 as of the 2010 Federal Census census, up from 2,191 at the 2000 census.
Official documents from the Winnebago County Clerk's office and the Village of Cherry Valley state Cherry Valley was settled in 1835. The first settler was Joseph Griggs. Cherry Valley was incorporated as a village on January 31, 1857. Early landmark events for Cherry Valley was the establishment of a mill on the Kishwaukee River, and the coming of the railroad in 1852.
Cherry Valley was originally called Griggs Ford, and then other names, none of which were found suitable.[by whom?] Accordingly the leaders in the village decided to change the name; people could make choices and put their suggestions in a hat. A Mrs. Butler, from Cherry Valley, New York placed the name of Cherry Valley in the hat and that name won. The core of the village, centered on its main street businesses in small brick buildings, is surrounded by several blocks of houses built in the 1800s. This late 19th century appearance is further accentuated by turn of the century style lamp lights as well as the original brick paving along the eastern end of main street.
Nearby cities include Kirkland, Machesney Park, Stillman Valley, Caledonia, Winnebago.