Davenport

by The Linguist

Population

Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa. As of 2019, the population of Davenport was 101,590, making it the third largest city in Iowa behind Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. The Quad Cities metropolitan area, comprised of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois, has an estimated population of over 380,000.

Davenport saw its peak population in the 1980 census at 103,264 residents. The population declined in the following decades but has begun growing again in recent years. Population growth is attributed to Davenport’s diversified economy and skilled workforce.

Davenport has a racial makeup of 75.5% white, 11.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. 7.2% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median age in Davenport is 35.8 years old. 22.5% of the population is under age 18 while 13.5% is aged 65 or older. There are more women than men with women comprising 51.2% of the population.

For more information on Davenport’s demographics, see the Davenport, Iowa Wikipedia page.

Economy

Davenport has a diversified economy with major industries including manufacturing, healthcare, finance, technology, and transportation. Top employers in Davenport include:

  • Genesis Health System – 4,129 employees
  • Deere & Company – 4,088 employees
  • Rock Island Arsenal – 3,686 employees
  • Ascension – 3,448 employees
  • Hy-Vee – 2,500 employees
  • McLaughlin Body Company – 1,040 employees
  • Lee Enterprises – 800 employees
  • Eastern Iowa Community Colleges – 743 employees

Manufacturing is a vital part of Davenport’s economy. The city is home to major facilities of Deere & Company, which manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment. The Rock Island Arsenal located nearby in Illinois is a major employer producing weaponry and military vehicles.

Healthcare employs over 20,000 people in the Quad Cities area. Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Health – Trinity are two of the major providers based in Davenport.

Finance is also a major industry with banks and insurance companies headquartered in Davenport such as American Bank & Trust and Northwest Bank & Trust.

For more on the Davenport economy and employers, visit the City of Davenport economic development page.

Attractions

Davenport and the surrounding Quad Cities area are home to many attractions and things to do including:

  • Figge Art Museum – An art museum in downtown Davenport with collections spanning European, Haitian, Colonial American and Contemporary American art. https://www.figgeartmuseum.org/
  • Putnam Museum and Science Center – Museum with exhibits on history, science, and culture located in Davenport. https://www.putnam.org/
  • John Deere Pavilion – Interactive museum showcasing the history of the John Deere company. Located in Moline, IL. https://www.johndeereattractions.com/john-deere-pavilion
  • Davenport Skybridge – Pedestrian footbridge over the Mississippi River linking Davenport to Rock Island, IL. Provides scenic river views.
  • Quad City Botanical Center – Indoor conservatory and botanical garden in Rock Island, IL. https://qcgardens.com/
  • Iowa 80 Truck Stop – World’s largest truck stop located in Walcott, Iowa near Davenport. Home to trucking museum and shops. https://iowa80truckstop.com/
  • Niabi Zoo – Zoological park located in Coal Valley, IL. Home to over 700 animals. https://www.niabizoo.com/

The Quad Cities area also hosts many festivals and events throughout the year including the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, Quad Cities Air Show, Red White & Boom 4th of July Fireworks, and more.

Sports

Davenport and the Quad Cities are home to several professional sports teams including:

  • Quad City River Bandits – Class A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Kansas City Royals. Play at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport. https://www.milb.com/quad-cities
  • Quad City Steamwheelers – Indoor football team playing in Champions Indoor Football league. Play at TaxSlayer Center in Moline. https://steamwheelers.com/
  • Quad City Storm – Minor league hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League. Play at TaxSlayer Center. https://www.quadcitystorm.com/

The Quad Cities River Bandits baseball team has been an affiliate of the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals over its history. The team has won several Midwest League championships.

For college sports, Davenport is home to St. Ambrose University Fighting Bees athletics competing in the NAIA. The Palmer College of Chiropractic also fields several varsity teams.

Davenport high schools compete in the Mississippi Athletic Conference for sports such as football, basketball, wrestling, soccer, and more.

History

The Davenport area was historically inhabited by the Sauk, Meskwaki, and Ho-Chunk Native American tribes. The first European settler in the area was a colonist named Antoine LeClaire who established a trading post in 1833. The city was officially incorporated in 1839 and named after George Davenport, an American sailor and trader.

Early Davenport developed as a frontier river town and saw growth due to river transportation and agriculture. Major industries like lumbering, milling, and brewing developed in the city. By 1900, Davenport was the second largest city in Iowa and a manufacturing center.

For more on the history of Davenport, visit the Davenport Public Library local history page.

Government

Davenport has a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor is Mike Matson who has served since 2020. The city council is comprised of 8 aldermen representing 4 wards. Davenport is the county seat of Scott County.

Visit the City of Davenport government website to learn more about city departments, meetings, initiatives and elected officials.

Davenport falls under the jurisdiction of:

  • Scott County – https://www.scottcountyiowa.com/
  • Iowa House District 81
  • Iowa Senate District 41
  • Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Education

Public education in Davenport is provided by the Davenport Community School District. The district has over 17,000 students in 25 elementary schools, 6 intermediate schools, 3 high schools, and 3 alternative learning centers. The three comprehensive high schools are Central High School, West High School, and North High School.

Notable private schools in Davenport include Assumption High School, a Catholic college preparatory school, and Trinity Lutheran School.

Higher education options include:

  • St. Ambrose University – A private Catholic university with enrollment of over 3,000 students. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Athletics compete in the NAIA. https://www.sau.edu/
  • Palmer College of Chiropractic – The first chiropractic school in the world. Offers Doctor of Chiropractic degrees. https://www.palmer.edu/
  • Eastern Iowa Community Colleges – Operates Scott Community College based in Davenport. Offers associate degree and certificate programs. https://www.eicc.edu/

Transportation

Davenport is served by several key transportation links:

  • Highways: Interstate 80, Interstate 74, U.S. Highway 61, U.S. Highway 6
  • Air: Quad City International Airport (MLI) – Located in Moline, IL. Offers daily flights to major hubs.
  • Rail: Davenport is connected by Amtrak passenger rail service and Canadian Pacific freight rail lines.
  • Public Transit: Davenport CitiBus – Local bus system serving Davenport and Bettendorf. https://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/services/citibus

The city also has an extensive recreational trail system for biking, walking, and running. The Davenport Skybridge is a pedestrian bridge crossing the Mississippi River, linking Davenport to Rock Island, Illinois.

Media

Major media outlets based in Davenport include:

Things to Know

  • The ZIP code for Davenport is 52802.
  • The area code is 563.
  • Popular nicknames for Davenport include “The 563” and “Quad Cities”.
  • Davenport has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.
  • Davenport sits along a picturesque stretch of the Mississippi River.

Local Links

 

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