Davenport, Iowa

Davenport
City
Downtown Davenport looking across the Mississippi River from Rock Island, Illinois
Flag of Davenport Flag Official seal of Davenport Seal
Motto:  "Working together to serve you"
Location in the State of Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Scott
Incorporated	1839
Government
• Mayor	Bill Gluba (NP)
Area
• City	64.9 sq mi (168.2 km2)
• Land	62.8 sq mi (162.6 km2)
• Water	2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2)
Elevation	700 ft (213 m)
Population  (2006)
• City	99,514
• Density	1,584.6/sq mi (621.0/km2)
• Metro	377,291
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (CDT)
ZIP codes	52801-52809
Area code	563
FIPS code	19-19000
GNIS feature ID	0455799
Website	http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/

Davenport is a city in the American state of Iowa that borders the Mississippi River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 98,359. According to a 2006 estimate, the city had grown slightly to 99,514. Davenport is part of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Bettendorf and the Illinois cities of Moline and Rock Island. Davenport is the home of Saint Ambrose University and Palmer College of Chiropractic, which is the birthplace of chiropractic medicine and wellness technique. Davenport is the county seat of Scott County.

Davenport often makes national headlines when the Mississippi River floods. It is the largest city bordering the Mississippi that has no permanent floodwall or levee. Davenport prefers the open access to the river for parks and vistas over having access cut off by dikes and levees. Davenport has adopted ordinances that any new construction in the floodplain must be elevated above the 100 year flood level or protected with walls. As a result, Davenport's elected representatives have publically expressed the view that if they "let mother nature take her course, we'll all be better off". An example of a building that is elevated or floodproofed in Davenport is the Figge Art Museum During the Great Flood of 1993, the water crested at 22.63 feet on July 9. This is nearly 8 feet above the 14.9 foot flood stage.

Several well-known annual music festivals take place in Davenport. Notable festivals are the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, The Mississippi Valley Fair, and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, dedicated to Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke. An internationally known seven-mile foot race called the Bix 7 is run during the festival.

History

In 1832, Keokuk and General Winfield Scott signed a treaty to end the Black Hawk War. Antoine LeClaire, who was part French and part Pottawattamie, served as translator. A generous portion of land was gifted by Chief Keokuk to Marguerite LeClaire, Antoine's wife, as she was the granddaughter of a Sac chief. Keokuk stipulated that Antoine build their home on the exact spot where the treaty was signed or forfeit the land. Antoine did so, finishing the Treaty House in the spring of 1833. Davenport was established in 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and named after his good friend Colonel George Davenport.

Colonel Davenport arrived in 1816 with the establishment of Fort Armstrong. He acted as a "sutler," or supplier, for the army's Fort Armstrong (1816 - 1845). Fort Armstrong was located on the northwestern tip of Arsenal Island with the purpose of monitoring fur trade traffic in the area and keeping the peace between local Native American tribes. He contributed to the organization and mapping out of the community, now known as the Quad Cities. He also aided in establishing plans for the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi. On July 4, 1845, Colonel Davenport was assaulted in his home by several men who though he had a fortune in his safe. Beaten and left for dead, he survived long enough to give a full description of the criminals before he died that night.

The first railroad bridge built across the Mississippi River connected Davenport and Rock Island, IL in 1856, built by the Rock Island Railroad. Steamboaters saw nationwide railroads as a threat to their business. On May 6, 1856, just weeks after it was completed, a 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.

In 1872, Phebe Sudlow was appointed principal of Davenport High School. She was the first female principal in the United States. On June 19, 1874, Phebe Sudlow was then unanimously voted to the position of Superintendent of Davenport Schools. She was also the first woman in United States history to be a public school superintendent.

The 1920s brought an economic and building boom. The city's skyline began to form, with the construction of commercial buildings like the Kahl Building, the Parker Building, and the Capitol Theatre. Large national department stores also arrived downtown, Montgomery Wards, Sears and J.C. Penney.

On February 18, 1922, WOC Radio makes its broadcasting debut. It is the second licensed station on the air. In 1933, WOC hires future President Ronald Regan as a staff announcer.

Davenport experienced a post-war boom after World War II. Oscar Mayer, Ralston Purina, and other companies all built plants in west Davenport. 1956 brought the Interstate highway network to Davenport. By 1959, more than 1,000 homes a year were being constructed. By the late 1970s, the good times were over for both downtown and local businesses and industries. The farm crisis of the 1980s hit Davenport and the rest of the Quad Cities hard. 35,000 workers lost their jobs through the entire Quad Cities area. The Caterpillar Plant on the cities north side closed, causing many jobs to be lost.

The 1990s brought the beginnings of a turnaround for the city. Many renovations and building additions have occurred to revitalize downtown. Including fixing up Modern Woodmen Park, building the Skybridge, and the Figge Art Museum, along with many other projects.

Geography

Davenport is located at 41°32′35″N 90°35′27″W (41.542982, -90.590745)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 64.9 square miles (168.2 km²), of which, 62.8 square miles (162.6 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²) of it (3.31%) is water. Davenport has 27 parks with a total of 2,200 acres (8.9 km²) of land.

While situated squarely in the path of 'Tornado Alley,' Davenport is believed to be protected by a blessing from a mass mound. It may be due to the fact of the Mississippi River and Rock River come together close to the city. Either way, no devastating tornado has ever touched down in Davenport. Davenport was located on the longest stretch of the Mississippi river with rapids. At this point, the river also runs east to west.

Climate data for Davenport
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Source:

Education

For other higher education schools in the area, see Quad Cities Colleges and Universities.

Davenport public schools serve nearly 17,000 students in the communities of Davenport, Blue Grass, Buffalo, and Walcott. The Davenport Community School District is the second largest school district in Iowa. Davenport has three public high schools: Central, West, and North and one private high school: Assumption. There are six public intermediate schools: Smart, Sudlow, Walcott, Williams, Wood, and Young. There are 22 public elementary schools: Adams, Blue Grass, Buchanan, Children's Village at Buchanan, Hayes, Hoover, and West, Eisenhower, Fillmore, Garfield, Harrison, Hayes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, McKinley, Monroe, Truman, Walcott, Washington, and Wilson. The high schools are part of the Mississippi Athletic Conference for sports.

The city has 3 higher education schools Palmer Chiropractic College, Saint Ambrose University, and Kaplan University.

Demographics

Davenport Population by decade
1860	11,267
1870	20,038
1880	21,831
1890	26,872
1900	35,254
1910	43,028
1920	56,727
1930	60,751
1940	66,039
1950	74,549
1960	88,981
1970	98,469
1980	103,264
1990	95,333
2000	98,359
2006	99,514 (est.)

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 98,359 people, 39,124 households, and 24,804 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,566.5 people per square mile (604.8/km²). There were 41,350 housing units at an average density of 658.5/sq mi (254.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.68% White, 9.24% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 2.00% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.32% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 5.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 39,124 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,242, and the median income for a family was $45,944. Males had a median income of $34,153 versus $24,634 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,828. About 10.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Three interstate highways serve Davenport: Interstate 80, Interstate 280 and Interstate 74.

U.S. Highway 61, U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 67 also go through Davenport; U.S. 67 crosses over to Illinois via the Centennial Bridge. Davenport is connected to the Illinois side of the Quad Cities by a total of four bridges across the Mississippi River.

Other highways include Iowa Highway 22 (on the city's southwest side) and Iowa Highway 130, along Northwest Boulevard on Davenport's north edge.

For air travel, Davenport Municipal Airport – located adjacent to the city's northern city limits – serves smaller aircraft, while the Quad City International Airport across the river in Moline, Illinois is the closest commercial airport.

CitiBus is the local transit system.

Major railroads include the Iowa Interstate Railroad and the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern.

Two national U.S. recreation trails intersect in Davenport: the Mississippi River Trail and the American Discovery Trail.

Law and government

Further information: List of mayors of Davenport, Iowa

Davenport currently uses the mayor-council form of local government consisting of a mayor and a ten-person council, all duly elected officials. Nonpartisan elections are held in odd-numbered years.

Events and festivals

Bix Fest is a three-day music festival with many traditional jazz bands held in tribute to internationally renowned jazz cornetist, pianist, composer, and Davenport native Bix Beiderbecke. Organized and produced by the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society, 2007 saw its 35th consecutive festival.

Sturgis on the River - annual motorcycle festival

Livability Award

Davenport (along with neighboring Rock Island, Illinois) won the "2007 City Livability Award" in the small-city category from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Tom Cochran, Executive Director of the Conference, stated that the award "gives the Conference a chance to highlight mayoral leadership in making urban areas safer, cleaner and more livable." The award acknowledges achievements from the "RiverVision" plan of Davenport and Rock Island; "RiverVision is a bi-state collaboration between Davenport and Rock Island to transform the Mississippi River’s edge into one of the most compelling waterfronts in the nation."

Sports

Main article: Quad Cities sports teams

Notable natives

Notable Davenporters include jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke. The Bix 7 road race and jazz festival are named for him. Isabel Bloom was raised in Davenport. She is the creator of concrete figurines that bare her name. Other natives include Samuel Cody an Aviation pioneer and Actress Lara Flynn Boyle. Daniel David Palmer moved to Davenport and founded Palmer College of Chiropractic the first chiropractic school in the world. Sports figures born in Davenport include NFL running back Roger Craig and former middleweight boxing champion Michael Nunn.

Points of interest

See also: Quad Cities Landmarks

Centennial Bridge over the Mississippi River in Davenport

Downtown Davenport has many points of interest including the Davenport Public Library, the Davenport Skybridge, Figge Art Museum, River Music Experience, Putnam Museum and IMAX Theater, Modern Woodmen Park which is home of the Quad City River Bandits baseball team and the Centennial Bridge. The first chiropractic school in the world, Palmer College of Chiropractic is located just north of downtown. Uptown features the Great Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, which hosts fairs, stock car racing and many other activities. NorthPark Mall is the cities main mall sporting up to 160 stores. Brady Street Stadium, which is home to Davenport High School football games, as well as football games for Saint Ambrose University. Davenport offers a number of great parks also. Credit Island park includes a bike path, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and fishing along the Mississippi River. Vander Veer Park has a small botanical garden. The park also includes a walking path, a pond, and a large fountain. For those that prefer a scenic overlook, there is Mount Ida. Mount Ida is on a summit overlooking the Mississippi River.

Media

Main article: Quad Cities Media

See also

• Bucktown, Davenport

External links

• City of Davenport
• QCOnline.com - Local information
• Quadcities.com - Local information
• QCTimes.com - Local Newspaper