Davenport, Iowa

Davenport is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States, and is the county seat. It is the third-most populous city in Iowa, after Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. The city is located along the Mississippi River and is part of the Quad Cities area, which also includes Bettendorf, Iowa, Rock Island, Illinois, Moline, Illinois, and East Moline, Illinois.

Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836, by Antoine Le Claire and named for his friend, George Davenport. For many years, it was known for many different industries, such as making locomotives and other large machines. However, many of these industries have changed or left the city.

The city often faces flooding because of its location near the Mississippi River. It has a flood wall built in 1919, which is older than the walls in nearby cities. Despite this, Davenport still has many things to offer, including two universities: St. Ambrose University and Palmer College of Chiropractic. The city also hosts many music festivals and a famous foot race called the Bix 7. There are many parks and paths for people to enjoy.

Three interstates and two major United States Highways help connect Davenport to other places. The city has had its ups and downs over the years, especially during economic difficulties in the 1980s.

History

Main article: History of Davenport, Iowa

The land where Davenport now stands was first home to the Sauk, Meskwaki, and Ho-Chunk peoples. In the 1700s, France claimed this area as part of its New France and Illinois Country. France later lost this land after the Seven Years' War, giving parts to Britain and Spain.

In 1803, France sold land west of the Mississippi River to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. In 1805, a U.S. officer named Zebulon Pike visited the area where Davenport would later be built. In 1832, after a conflict called the Black Hawk War, the United States bought more land in eastern Iowa. This is when Antoine Le Claire, a man with both European and Native American heritage, helped set up the town. He built a home there and, in 1836, founded Davenport, naming it after his friend George Davenport. The city became official in 1839.

Davenport grew when the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River was built in 1856, linking it to Rock Island, Illinois. This helped trade and travel. Later, during the Civil War, Davenport became an important military center for the Union. The city faced hard times during the Great Depression but began to grow again after World War II, with new industries and homes. In recent years, downtown Davenport has been renewed with new buildings and renovations.

Geography

Davenport, Iowa, covers an area of 66.3 square miles, with 64.2 square miles of land and 2.1 square miles of water. It lies along the Mississippi River, about 170 miles west of Chicago and 170 miles east of Des Moines. The city is also roughly 200 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri, and 265 miles southeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Farmland surrounds the city beyond the Quad Cities area.

The Mississippi River flows east to west near Davenport, contrary to its usual direction. The river reaches depths of 30 to 40 feet and spans 2,217 feet in width at the Centennial Bridge. The city's streets, especially downtown, follow a grid pattern. Davenport often faces seasonal flooding from the Mississippi River. Unlike other cities along the river, Davenport does not have permanent flood walls or levees, choosing instead to keep the river accessible for parks and views. New buildings in flood-prone areas must be built above the 100-year-flood level for protection.

Davenport has a humid continental climate, with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. January is the coldest month, and July is the warmest. The city receives about 31 inches of snow each year. While tornadoes are rare, flooding remains a frequent issue. Major floods in 1993, 2008, 2019, and 2023 caused significant disruptions, closing roads and delaying recovery efforts.

Davenport has many neighborhoods that date back to the 1840s. The city is divided into five main areas: downtown, central, east end, near north and northwest, and west end. The east side, established in 1850, features higher-end homes with views of the river. The central and west neighborhoods were originally home to many German settlers. These areas include architectural styles such as Victorian, Queen Anne, and Tudor Revival. The Hamburg Historic District and Vander Veer Park Historic District are notable for their preserved homes and parks. Today, the eastern side still holds many of the city's grandest houses, while downtown boasts the tallest buildings in the Quad Cities, such as the Wells Fargo Bank Building and the Mid-American Energy Building.

Demographics

See also: African Americans in Davenport, Iowa

The city of Davenport, Iowa, has many people and homes. As of 2024, there are about 100,938 people living there. The city has about 42,463 homes, with usually 2.3 people living in each home. Many people in Davenport have finished high school, and some have gone to college.

The average home price in Davenport was about $179,841 as of the end of 2025.

2024 estimate

In 2024, there were 100,938 people living in Davenport. There were 42,463 homes in the city.

2020 census

In 2020, there were 101,724 people living in Davenport. Most people in the city were White, with many also being African American, Asian, and others from many backgrounds. Some people were of Hispanic or Latino origin.

2010 census

In 2010, there were 99,685 people living in Davenport. The city's population was mostly White, with many also being African American, Asian, and others from many backgrounds. Some people were of Hispanic or Latino origin.

2000 census

In 2000, there were 98,359 people living in Davenport. Most people were White, with many also being African American, Asian, and others from many backgrounds. Some people were of Hispanic or Latino origin.

In 2000, many families in Davenport had children under 18 living with them. Some homes were made up of just one person, especially older people. The average income for a home was $37,242, and for a family it was $45,944. Some people in the city lived below the poverty line.

Economy

Davenport's main work industry is making things, with over 7,600 jobs in this area. John Deere is a big company and the largest single employer, with many workers in the area. Other important places to work in Davenport include Genesis Health System, Hy-Vee, and the Davenport Community School District.

The city is also home to big companies like Von Maur and Lee Enterprises. These companies help create jobs for many people. Nearby, there are also big workplaces such as the Rock Island Arsenal, KONE, Inc, and Alcoa.

Arts and culture

Downtown Davenport has many interesting places to visit, such as the Davenport Public Library, the Davenport Skybridge, Figge Art Museum, River Music Experience, Putnam Museum, the RiverCenter/Adler Theater, Modern Woodmen Park where the Quad City River Bandits baseball team plays, and the Centennial Bridge. The old Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Freight House is now called The Freight House and has small shops with local foods and drinks.

Davenport has many cultural spots like the Figge Art Museum and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. The German American Heritage Center is also near the Centennial Bridge. Uptown has historic sites like the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home and Ambrose Hall, the original building of St. Ambrose University. There are also places for fun, like the Great Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, NorthPark Mall with many stores, and parks such as Credit Island and Vander Veer Botanical Park.

Davenport holds many festivals, such as Bix Fest honoring jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke, the Bix 7 road race, and the Great Mississippi Valley Fair. These events offer music, food, and activities for everyone to enjoy. In 2007, Davenport and nearby Rock Island, Illinois received an award for being a great place to live.

Sports

See also: Quad Cities sports teams

Davenport and the Quad Cities have many sports teams. The Quad Cities River Bandits baseball team play at Modern Woodmen Park in Downtown Davenport. In nearby Moline, the TaxSlayer Center is where the Quad City Steamwheelers indoor football team and the Quad City Storm hockey team play. High schools in Davenport compete in the Mississippi Athletic Conference for sports.

Parks and recreation

Davenport has more than fifty parks and trails for fun activities. Some big parks are Credit Island, a large park near the Mississippi River, and Fejervary Park, which has a swimming pool and welcomes many visitors each year. LeClaire Park sits right by the river and hosts summer events, while Vander Veer Botanical Park features beautiful flower shows.

The city also has two long paths for biking or walking. The Duck Creek Parkway runs from west Davenport to the nearby town of Bettendorf, and the Riverfront Parkway follows the Mississippi River. There are also public golf courses and a boat that takes people across the river, connecting bike paths on both sides.

Government

Further information: List of mayors of Davenport, Iowa

Davenport uses a mayor–council form of local government. As of 2021, the city government includes Mayor Mike Matson and a ten-person council. One person is elected from each of the eight wards, and two at-large aldermen are elected to represent the whole city. Nonpartisan elections are held in odd-numbered years. The mayor is the top elected official and presides over city council meetings, voting only in case of a tie. The mayor also appoints city board members.

The city council is responsible for making laws and setting the city budget. The city administrator, currently Corrin Spiegel, is appointed by the mayor with confirmation by two-thirds of the council. City goals include having a financially responsible government, a growing economy, revitalizing neighborhoods, and upgrading city infrastructure and public facilities. The city was incorporated in 1839, and its government has grown over time to include more public services and improvements.

Education

Davenport has many schools for children. The city’s public schools help nearly 14,500 students from Davenport and nearby places like Blue Grass, Buffalo, and Walcott. The Davenport Community School District is one of the biggest school districts in Iowa. There are four public high schools: Central, West, Mid City, and North, plus one private high school: Assumption. There are also six public middle schools and 23 public elementary schools.

Davenport is also home to four colleges and universities. Saint Ambrose University, founded in 1882, is the oldest. Other schools include Kaplan University, Palmer Chiropractic College, and Hamilton Technical College. Palmer College was the first school for a certain type of health care and is where the first treatment of its kind in the world happened.

Media

There are two main daily newspapers in Davenport: the Quad-City Times and The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus. An alternative free newspaper, the River Cities' Reader, is also published there. All four major television networks have stations in the area, including KWQC (NBC) and KLJB (Fox) in Davenport, WHBF (CBS) in Rock Island, and WQAD (ABC) in Moline.

The Quad Cities is the 97th largest market for television and the 147th largest for radio. Radio station WOC began broadcasting locally on February 18, 1922, and was the second licensed station on the air. In 1933, it hired future president Ronald Reagan as a staff announcer.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Three major highways run through Davenport: Interstate 80, Interstate 280, and Interstate 74. Interstate 88 connects to Chicago, and several U.S. routes, including U.S. Route 61 and U.S. Route 67, pass through the city. Davenport is linked to the other side of the Mississippi River by three bridges.

The city has its own airport for small planes and an airshow each year. The bigger airport for commercial flights is just across the river. Trains do not stop in Davenport, but bus services are available. There is also a network of public buses called Citibus that helps people get around the city.

Utilities

Electricity in Davenport comes from MidAmerican Energy Company. The city gets its water from the Mississippi River, which is cleaned at a treatment plant in the southeast part of the city.

Health care

Two hospitals serve Davenport: Genesis Medical Center East and Genesis Medical Center West, both part of the Genesis Health System. These hospitals have many doctors and staff and are known for excellent nursing care.

Notable people (Davenporters)

See also: List of people from Davenport, Iowa

Many well-known people come from Davenport. In music, guitarist and vocalist John Kadlecik grew up there; he founded The Dark Star Orchestra and toured with members of The Grateful Dead in the band Furthur. Rapper Dave Blunts is also from Davenport, as is jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke, for whom the Bix 7 road race and jazz festival are named.

In sports, Davenport has produced several champions, including world boxing champion Michael Nunn, NFL players like running back Roger Craig, offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde, and wide receiver Kenny Shedd. Other sports stars from the city are former NBA guard Ricky Davis, former NBA G-League guard Marlon Stewart, UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, and professional wrestler Seth Rollins.

In politics, Lyda Krewson, the former mayor of St. Louis, was born in Davenport. The city has also been home to many actors, including Stuart Margolin, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sue Lyon, Linnea Quigley, Greg Stolze, and Jock Mahoney. Artist Isabel Bloom, known for her decorative concrete figurines, was raised there.

Among the city’s innovators are aviation pioneer Samuel Cody and Otto Frederick Rohwedder, the inventor of mass-produced sliced bread. Scientist Ida Henrietta Hyde, a notable physiologist, was also born in Davenport.

Film, theater, and literary references

Davenport has been mentioned in several songs and movies. In 1925, Bix Beiderbecke recorded a song called "Davenport Blues". In the 1941 Marx Brothers movie "The Big Store," a funny scene mentions Davenport in Iowa.

The city also appears in a 1958 song by Johnny Cash called "Big River", and in the musical The Music Man from 1957. Additionally, in the movie Tommy Boy, a character tries to get directions to a meeting in Davenport.

Sister cities

Davenport has special connections with cities in other countries, called sister cities. These include:

• Kaiserslautern in Germany, since 1960
• Ilhéus in Brazil, since 2005
• County Carlow in Ireland, since 2006

The city also has friendly relations with:

• Langfang in China, since 2018
• Colón in Mexico