Charles Box (born February 24, 1951)[1] is an American politician who served as the first African-American mayor of Rockford, Illinois, then the second largest city in Illinois.

Box was elected mayor of Rockford in 1989, defeating Leonard LaPasso with 63% of the vote and sweeping all 14 wards.

[2] A Democrat, Box was the first African-American Mayor elected in Rockford.

[2] Box was elected to three terms as mayor before choosing not to run in 2001.

In 2006, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed Box as head of the Illinois Commerce Commission.