The Rockford Register Star is the Rockford, Illinois, metropolitan area's primary daily newspaper. The paper took its name with the 1979 merger of two influential Rockford competitors, The Register Republic (founded February 15, 1855, daily since January 6, 1873) and The Morning Star (founded March 20, 1888). In April 2007, Gannett announced it was selling the paper to Fairport, New York-based GateHouse Media. The Register Star is the fifth highest circulation Illinois newspaper. As of September 2006, the newspaper's Sunday circulation was 70,300—the 163rd largest in the United States.