Happy TravellerWelcome to Rock Island, Illinois, a city with a rich history and plenty of entertainment opportunities. Located on the Mississippi River, Rock Island is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities has a population of about 380,000, and Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County. The original Rock Island, from which the city name is derived, is now called Arsenal Island. The population was 37,108 at the 2020 census.
== History ==
Rock Island has a fascinating history that dates back to the early 1800s. The original portion of what is now known as Rock Island was called Farnhamsburg, named after the original two homes built by Colonel George Davenport and Russell Farnham in 1826. Davenport and Farnham were business partners, trading with the local Native Americans. The original city plat was filed on July 10, 1835, and was named Stephenson. It was renamed Rock Island in March 1841.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (RI) was founded here in 1851, known informally as the Rock Island Line. Over the next century, the railroad grew to serve fourteen states but ended in bankruptcy in 1980. As part of later nineteenth-century development, two first-class hotels: the Harper House and the Rock Island House were built in town. The Rock Island Arsenal has manufactured military equipment and ordnance for the U.S. Army since the 1880s.
Due to its geography, Rock Island has a rich history of bridge building, including the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi (now gone), an unusual two-track railroad bridge, and the largest roller dam in the world. The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River was built between Arsenal Island and Davenport in 1856. Many steamboat pilots felt that the bridge had been intentionally positioned to make it hard for them to navigate, and this conflict reflected a larger rivalry: St. Louis and its steamboats against Chicago and its railroads.
== Points of Interest ==
Rock Island has plenty of entertainment opportunities for visitors. The District (Downtown Rock Island) has art galleries and theaters, nightclubs and coffee shops, and restaurants of all flavors. Golf courses, parks, a casino, botanical center, marina, historic tours, bike paths, and festivals offer entertainment opportunities.
The Rock Island Arsenal is the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the US, which employs 6,000 people. The Arsenal is a National Historic Landmark and is open for tours.
The Black Hawk State Historic Site is a 208-acre park located in Rock Island, Illinois, on a bluff overlooking the Rock River. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the Sauk warrior Black Hawk.
The Quad City Botanical Center is a beautiful garden located in Rock Island. It features a tropical Sun Garden, a formal Rose Garden, a Children’s Garden, and a host of other gardens and exhibits.
== Education ==
The majority of the city is served by the Rock Island–Milan School District with portions of the southwest area falling under the Rockridge School District. The Rock Island–Milan School District is currently home to 13 public schools, with one high school, two junior high schools, nine elementary schools, and one alternative education center. Several private schools also serve Rock Island, including Jordan Catholic Elementary School and Alleman Catholic High School.
== Economy ==
Rock Island has a diverse economy with a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and education. The largest employers in the city are the Rock Island Arsenal, UnityPoint Health-Trinity, Augustana College, and the Rock Island-Milan School District.
== Sports ==
Rock Island has a rich sports history. The first football game in what was to become the National Football League was played at Rock Island’s Douglas Field in September 1920. The Rock Island Islanders were a minor league baseball team that played for 37 seasons between 1901 and 1948. The Rock Island High School football and basketball programs are perennial powerhouses.
== Media ==
Rock Island is the location of television station WHBF-TV. National Public Radio member station WVIK is licensed to and located in Rock Island on the campus of Augustana College.
== Conclusion ==
Rock Island, Illinois, is a city with a rich history and plenty of entertainment opportunities. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or just having a good time, Rock Island has something for everyone
