Rochelle is located in north central Illinois in Ogle County about 20 miles south of Rockford between Dixon and DeKalb just northwest of the Interstate 39/Interstate 88 interchange about 15 miles east of the Rock River. The population estimate for July 1, 1998 was 9,287, an increase of 518 since 1990.
The town sports the Rochelle Railroad Park where railroading enthusiasts see over 100 trains a day from a raised platform. The exhibit includes an authentic Whitcomb locomotive as well as a compendium of railroading history.