Quad Cities
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This article is about the Iowa-Illinois metropolitan area. For other uses of the term, see Quad Cities (disambiguation)
 Common name: Quad Cities |
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| Largest city Other cities |
Davenport, Iowa - Bettendorf, Iowa - Moline, Illinois -Rock Island, Illinois -East Moline, Illinois |
| Population | Ranked 131st in the U.S. |
| - Total | 377,291 (2006 est.) |
| - Density | 296.15 /sq. mi. 114.37 /km² |
| Area | 1,318 sq. mi. 3,413 km² |
| State(s) | - Iowa - Illinois |
| Elevation | |
| - Highest point | 850 feet (259 m) |
| - Lowest point | 590 feet (180 m) |
The Quad Cities consists of five[1][2][3]neighboring cities flanking the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois in the Midwestern United States. The July 1, 2006, population of the four-county metropolitan area is estimated at 377,291.[4] The Quad Cities, in order of descending population, are:
Before World War II, the area was known as the "Tri-Cities", and included only Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline. With the growth of Rock Island County, East Moline was eventually given "equal status" and the region became known as the "Quad Cities" during the early 1960s. By the 1970s, Bettendorf had grown such that many people in the community openly discussed the adoption of the name "Quint Cities". However, by this time, the name "Quad Cities" had become known well beyond the area, and Quint Cities never caught on. As Bettendorf passed East Moline in size it became one of the Quad Cities—a name that was now arguably something of a misnomer, as it includes five cities.
As a patchwork of co-located urban units situated at an outpost of the Rust Belt, the Quad Cities area serves as an interesting case study on the effects of various economic, social, political, and environmental variables on the trajectory of municipalities seeking economic recovery. Seen as a single urban mass, the Quad Cities perfectly exemplifies the multiple nuclei model of urban arrangement.
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[edit] Geography
The Quad Cities is located approximately 180 miles west of the Chicago area, where Interstate 80 crosses the Mississippi River. The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of four counties: Scott County in Iowa and Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties in Illinois. The Quad City Metro population is 377,291.
In addition to the five anchor cities, a number of surrounding smaller communities comprise what is recognized as the greater Quad Cities area. They include the Iowa cities of Eldridge, Long Grove, Park View, Blue Grass, Buffalo, Walcott, Maysville, McCausland, Mount Joy, New Liberty, Pleasant Valley, Princeton, Le Claire, Panorama Park and Riverdale are also considered part of the area. The Illinois communities are Silvis, Milan, Andalusia, Carbon Cliff, Coal Valley, Colona, Geneseo, Hampton, Port Byron, Kewanee, Aledo, and Rapids City.
The Quad Cities area is one where the telephone companies cooperate with regional phone calls. Iowa and Illinois have different area codes (563 and 309 respectively), yet one can call from anywhere in the metro area without long-distance charges by dialing just a 7-digit number. This helps the bi-state area promote itself as a single community, "joined by a river."
The Quad Cities are served by the Quad City International Airport, located in Moline. The airport also markets itself to surrounding areas as an alternative to larger airports, such as those in Chicago. The smaller Davenport Municipal Airport is the home of the Quad City Air Show.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is working with Amtrak to restore passenger train service to the Quad Cities.[5] The last passenger train in the area (Quad Cities Rocket) ran between Chicago and Rock Island by the Rock Island Railroad until December 31st, 1978.
| Weather averages for Davenport, IA | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 69 (21) | 70 (21) | 88 (31) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 101 (38) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 95 (35) | 80 (27) | 72 (22) | 101 (38) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 30 (-1) | 36 (2) | 48 (9) | 61 (16) | 72 (22) | 81 (27) | 85 (29) | 83 (28) | 76 (24) | 65 (18) | 48 (9) | 35 (2) | 60 (16) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 13 (-11) | 19 (-7) | 29 (-2) | 41 (5) | 52 (11) | 63 (17) | 68 (20) | 66 (19) | 57 (14) | 45 (7) | 32 (0) | 20 (-7) | 42 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | -17 (-27) | -22 (-30) | -3 (-19) | 19 (-7) | 32 (0) | 44 (7) | 53 (12) | 44 (7) | 35 (2) | 22 (-6) | 8 (-13) | -18 (-28) | -22 (-30) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 1.28 (32.5) | 1.41 (35.8) | 2.59 (65.8) | 3.64 (92.5) | 4.44 (112.8) | 4.75 (120.7) | 2.99 (75.9) | 4.31 (109.5) | 2.90 (73.7) | 2.39 (60.7) | 2.47 (62.7) | 1.93 (49) | 2.93 (74.4) |
| Source: http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/52804</ref> | |||||||||||||
[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island preserves part of historic Saukenuk, the principal village of the Sauk tribe and birthplace of its war leader, Black Hawk. In 1832, Sauk chief Keokuk and General Winfield Scott signed a treaty to end the Black Hawk War in Davenport. The treaty resulted in the United States gaining 6 million acres (24,000 km²) of land.
John Deere moved his business to Moline in 1848. His business was incorporated as Deere & Company in 1868. Deere & Company is now the largest employer in the Quad Cities.
The first railroad bridge built across the Mississippi River connected Davenport and Rock Island in 1856. It was built by the Rock Island Railroad Company. It landed in the same location in Davenport where the Black Hawk War treaty had been signed a few decades earlier. Steamboaters saw nationwide railroads as a threat to their business. On May 6, 1856, just weeks after it was completed, an angry steamboater crashed the Effie Afton steamboat into the bridge. The owner of the Effie Afton, John Hurd, filed a lawsuit against The Rock Island Railroad Company. The Rock Island Railroad Company selected Abraham Lincoln as their trial lawyer. It was a pivotal trial in Lincoln's career.
[edit] 1980s-current
Beginning in the late 1970s, economic conditions caused the region's main employers - agricultural manufacturers - to cease operations in the Quad Cities. These included International Harvester in Rock Island and Case IH in Bettendorf. Moline-based John Deere cut headcount by only half. Later in the 1980s, Caterpillar Inc. closed its factories at Mount Joy and Bettendorf. A lack of economic and political leadership resulted in the population shrinking as employable skills and youth left the area for opportunity and better quality of life in sunbelt regions. Land values and per capita incomes have also fallen sharply. This effect was known as the "brain drain," and the effects remain evident.
Still, the Quad Cities area continues to struggle for urban renewal. Davenport's River Renaissance (a downtown revitalization project that includes a River Music History Center), an ag-tech venture capital campus, and the Figge Art Museum are fine examples. Moline has also attempted renewal. In what was once a robust downtown, the "John Deere Commons" facility and i wireless Center (then the "Mark of the Quad Cities") opened during the 1990s. In 2007, Davenport and Rock Island petitioned for and won the title of "most livable small city" from the National Council of Mayors, based upon an unfunded proposal called RiverVision. Although the cities of Rock Island and Davenport exceed the maximum population of 100,000 allowed under the contest, the Council of Mayors hopes to help the communities achieve eventual revitalization.
[edit] Landmarks
- Brady Street Stadium, a major high school sports venue along Davenport's Brady Street (U.S. Route 61).
- Davenport Skybridge
- Figge Art Museum, in Davenport.
- Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge, along Interstate 80, connecting Le Claire and Rapids City.
- Government Bridge, connecting Rock Island Arsenal and Davenport.
- Great Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, a fair and exposition venue in Davenport.
- i wireless Center - arena center in Moline. (formerly the Mark of the Quad Cities)
- I-74 Bridge, connecting Bettendorf and Moline.
- John Deere Pavilion, a small museum and showcase for John Deere equipment
- John Deere World Headquarters, in Moline.
- Lock and Dam No. 15, on the Mississippi River.
- Modern Woodmen Park, the home of the St. Louis Cardinal A-Ball affiliate Quad City River Bandits, Davenport. (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium)
- Putnam Museum and IMAX Theater in Davenport
- Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island.
- River Music Experience
- Rock Island Arsenal
- Rock Island Centennial Bridge, connecting Rock Island and Davenport.
- Vander Veer Botanical Park
[edit] Companies
- Alcoa
- Deere and Company
- Happy Joe's
- Harris Pizza
- Heart of America Restaurants
- Hungry Hobo
- KONE, Inc
- Lagomarcino's, Inc
- Lee Enterprises
- Rock Island Arsenal
- Seither & Cherry Quad Cities
- Von Maur
- Yash Technologies Inc
- Whitey's Ice Cream
[edit] Colleges and Universities
- Augustana College
- Black Hawk College - Community College.
- Eastern Iowa Community College District, consisting of campuses in Bettendorf, Clinton, and Muscatine. Bettendorf's campus is known as Scott Community College.
- Hamilton Technical College
- Kaplan University - Satellite campus in Davenport.
- Marycrest International University - Closed in 2002
- Palmer Chiropractic College
- Saint Ambrose University
- Western Illinois University - Satellite campus in Moline.
[edit] Media
[edit] FM Radio
- 88.5 KALA, Variety (College Radio of St. Ambrose University)
- 89.3 WDLM-FM, Religious Music (RDS)
- 90.3 WVIK, Public Radio
- 91.7 KSUI, Classical (RDS)
- 92.5 WGVV-LP "92.5 Groove FM", Urban Contemporary
- 93.5 KQCS "Star 93.5", Hot AC
- 93.9 WYEC, Soft AC (RDS)
- 94.5 K233AA (Translates 90.9 KUNI), Public Radio
- 96.1 KMXG "Mix 96", Adult Contemporary (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 96.9 WXLP "97X", Classic Hits
- 98.9 WLKU "K-Love", Christian AC (RDS)
- 99.7 KBEA-FM "B 100", CHR/Pop
- 101.3 KUUL "KUUL 101.3", Oldies (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 102.7 KTJT-LP, Religious
- 103.7 WLLR-FM, "103.7 WLLR" Country (HD Radio)
- 104.9 KBOB-FM, "Rock 104-9" Active Rock
- 106.5 KCQQ, "Q 106.5" Classic Rock (RDS - Artist/Title)
- 107.9 KRQC-LP, Religious
[edit] AM Radio
- 960 WDLM, Religious
- 1170 KJOC "Supertalk 1170", News/Talk
- 1230 WFXN "Fox Sports 1230", Sports (A Fox Sports Radio Affiliate)
- 1270 WKBF "Pantera", Regional Mexican
- 1420 WOC, News/Talk
[edit] Analog Television
(Nielsen DMA #96)
- 4 WHBF, "CBS4", CBS
- 6 KWQC "TV 6", NBC
- 8 WQAD "Newschannel 8", ABC
- 18 KLJB "Fox 18", Fox
- 24 WQPT, PBS
- 26 KGCW channel 26, CW (Licensed to Burlington and available only on cable systems or a KLJB-DT subchannel.)
- 26 WBQD-LP, My Network TV
- 36 KQIN, PBS (Part of the Iowa Public Television Network)
Cable television service is provided by Mediacom..
[edit] Print
- Quad-City Times, daily newspaper
- The Dispatch of Moline and the Rock Island Argus, daily newspapers based on the Illinois side
- River Cities Reader, alternative weekly.
[edit] Roads
Interstate 80 and 
Interstate 280
Interstate 88
Interstate 74
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 150
Illinois Route 5
Illinois Route 84
Illinois Route 92
Illinois Route 192
Iowa Highway 22
Iowa Highway 130
[edit] Sports teams
The Tri-Cities Blackhawks, named in honor of Black Hawk, was the then-Tri Cities only top-level professional sports franchise. The club played in the NBL from 1946 until its merger with the Basketball Association of America following the 1948-49 season to became the National Basketball Association. Hall of famer Red Auerbach coached the Blackhawks during their first NBA season. After the 1950-51 basketball season, the team moved to Milwaukee, becoming the Hawks. After a second move to St. Louis, the team is now the Atlanta Hawks. Professional basketball returned to the Quad Cities during the 1980s and 1990s with the Quad City Thunder of the Continental Basketball Association. The CBA served as the NBA's premiere developmental league and produced many highly regarded NBA stars. From 1987 through the 92-93 season, the Thunder played at Wharton Field House in Moline. Then, starting with the 1993-94 season, The MARK of the Quad Cities (now the i wireless Center) served as the team's new home. Eventually the CBA folded in 2001 and, as a result the Thunder franchise, ceased operations permanently.
From 1920 to 1925, Rock Island was home to the NFL's Rock Island Independents. Football legend Jim Thorpe was once a member of the team.
[edit] Sports
| Club | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quad Cities River Bandits | MWL, Baseball | Modern Woodmen Park | 1960 | 4 |
| Quad City Flames | AHL, Ice hockey | i wireless Center | 2007 | 0 |
| Quad City Steamwheelers | af2, Arena football | i wireless Center | 1999 | 2 |
| Quad Cities Riverhawks | PBL, Basketball | Wharton Field House | 2006 | 0 |
- Quad City River Bandits is a Class A Midwest League minor league baseball team in Davenport. The River Bandits home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park, formerly John O'Donnell Stadium. The team has existed under a variety of names and Major League Baseball team affiliations since 1960. The River Bandits are currently affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
- Quad City Flames is an AHL team, a franchise affiliated with the Calgary Flames. They play home games at i wireless Center in Moline. It replaced the United Hockey League team the Quad City Mallards in the 2008 season.
- Quad City Steamwheelers is an af2 arena football franchise also playing at the i wireless Center
- Quad City Silverbacks is a professional mixed martial arts team competing in the International Fight League. Home matches take place at the i wireless Center.
- The Quad City Riverhawks is a PBL (Premier Basketball League) team. They play home games at Wharton Field House in Moline.
- Additionally, the i wireless Center occasionally hosts NCAA Division I college basketball conference tournaments as well as NBA and NHL exhibitions.
- Every year, the PGA tour makes a stop in the Quad Cities. The event is currently known as the John Deere Classic and has drawn dozens of top PGA players over the years, including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Payne Stewart.
[edit] See also
- Mississippi Athletic Conference for Iowa high school sports.
[edit] See also
- Knights Drum and Bugle Corps
- Bluebox Limited, Bettendorf-based film production company
[edit] References
- ^ Welcome to the Quad Cities. City Guide Post Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ Community Visitor Information. Illinois Quad Cites Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ East Moline Journal; Friday Night High, in the Bleachers. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
- ^ Iowa Data Center. Population Estimates and Components of Population Change for Iowa's Metropolitan Areas (2003 Definition): 2000-2006. Retrieved on 2007-04-06.
- ^ Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition. vision.
[edit] External links
- Quad City Times newspaper - Local News and Information
- Quad-Cities Online - Local Information
- QuadCities.com - Local Information
- Quad City Development Group
- Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau
- WeAreQC. Quad City Resource. Built by the Quad Cities
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