Oregon, Illinois

Oregon, Ill., the administrative seat of Ogle County, lies midway between Rockford and Dixon. From its four state parks to Stronghold Castle, and from quiet tree-lined avenues to the regal Blackhawk statue, Oregon has long provided a haven for tourists, campers, boy scouts, church retreats, and artists: anyone seeking a unique taste of small town Midwestern life. In the early 1830s, pioneer John Phelps journeyed into the Rock River valley, eager to explore. He befriended Native Americans an...