George Haskell and Thomas Garrison were two of the earliest developers of the residential west side.

Dr. George Haskell developed the land adjacent to Garrison's, south of Whitman Street.

The decision of Haskell and Garrison to subdivide their property was probably prompted by the connection of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad in 1852.

Unlike Haight Village, the west side district did not attract immigrants.

From 1887 to 1891, Rockford added over ten thousand people to its population, many of whom came to work in the factories.