German Valley

A close-knit community on the east edge of the county, German Valley’s agriculture was a strong asset and reason for the establishment of a Great Western Railroad which established the village. Today, the village is still rooted in its rich history but with a refreshed perspective.

Population: 449 President: Mark Jewell, 815-807-7741
School: Forrestville Valley School District #221
View: ESRI Summary Report

German Valley Community Data

UTILITIES

Water: Village of German Valley

Sewer: Village of German Valley

Electric: ComEd

Gas: Nicor

Telecommunications: Mediacom, Frontier,T6

Sanitation/Recycling: Moring Disposal

COMMUNITY DETAILS

German Valley is a quiet well-kept rural village with a population approaching 500 residents. It is located southeast of Freeport — four miles south of Highway 20. Settled in 1848, it was the first colony in America originating from Ostfriesland located in northwest Germany.

The German-American State Bank stands out as the village’s enduring commercial endeavor. Established in 1907, it is one of the few banks in the state that remained open during the Great Depression. It has expanded with branches in Seward, Pecatonica, and Winnebago. The village’s other businesses include a gas station/mini mart, bar & grill, grain storage facility, car repair shop and other small businesses.

The village is located in Forrestville Valley School District and is noted for its academic excellence and parental support. The local grade school serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Ben Miller Park provides facilities for softball, basketball, volleyball and shelters for family gatherings and community activities.
Van Raden Memorial Park has a veterans memorial, a shelter house and a man-made, two-acre fishing spot.
Each year, the community celebrates during its three-day German Valley Days festival, which began in 1973.

CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

German Valley Methodist
Silver Creek Reformed
Grace Valley Christian Reformed
Historical Society, highlights the village’s Ostfriesland and rural history
Active recreational programs
- 4-H club
- Girl Scouts
- Summer recreational baseball
Strong civic volunteer organizations
- Volunteer fire department, EMS
- Lions Club

BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES

Key Industries

Healthcare

Construction, Plumbing, Heating, & Service

Private Label Food Manufacturing

Stephenson County Major Employers

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MVP: Membership Value Proposition April 23, 2024 Freeport, greater freeport partnership, olivo taco, Stephenson County When you decide to become a member or investor of the Greater Freeport Partnership, we understand that a value calculation is made. Is the cost of membership equal to or less than the value you get from being a member and supporting the work that we do at the Partnership? Because we understand that, we work hard to provide value […]

A Leadership Lesson from an Eclipse April 22, 2024 Yesterday at 3:26 pm, my city experienced a 97% solar eclipse. In other words, we were just off-center from the path of totality. I ventured outside at 3:15 p.m. with my eclipse viewer. My dog ran around the backyard. Across the street, a neighbor had 20 people at their house for a joint birthday and eclipse party. And I noticed […]

Exposure to Manufacturing April 18, 2024 Freeport, greater freeport partnership, Manufacturing, Stephenson County It is human nature to gravitate towards the familiar. That holds true for high school students. They will frequently choose careers or educational pathways aligned to future careers based on their exposure to that career. So how do we expose more students to the varied manufacturing careers available locally? That was the most prominent conversation thread at our recent Manufacturing […]

Stephenson County Home Show – April 20 April 18, 2024 Participating Vendors include: Acri Company PO. Box 737 Milan, IL 61264 (309) 787-3580 cfilali@acricompany.com Affordable Water 214 W. Menomonie St. Belvidere, IL 61008 (815) 544-1021 affordablewater.durham@gmail.com Bader Construction 1506 S. Oak Ave. Freeport, IL 61032 (815) 821-5733 Bath Planet 7111 N. Alpine Rd. Loves Park, IL 61111 (815) 205-0049 aileen@bathplanetlocal.com Bowen’s Carpet Dry 108 2nd Ave. […]