About Quad Cities, IL-IA
The area known as the Quad Cities is located on both the Illinois and Iowa sides of the Mississippi River. There are actually 5 cities that make up the area and they are Davenport, IA, Bettendorf, IA, Moline, IL, East Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL. The total metropolitan area is home to 379,690 residents according to the 2010 US Census. Located approximately 180 miles West of Chicago, the Quad Cites is the largest metro area on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO.
The term Tri-Cities (as it was formerly referred to) came to be in the 1930′s when Davenport, Moline and Rock Island were relatively equal in size and importance to the area. In the 1940′s, Bettendorf grew rapidly and passed East Moline in population and lobbyed for the area to be referred to as the “Quint Cities” but the Quad Cities moniker had already become popular.
The area grew based on agriculture and agricultural manufacturing (tractors and farming equipment). The area remains home to the John Deere world headquarters, located in Moline.
The Quad Cities International Airport, located in Moline, IL, is marketed as a more affordable and convenient alternative to other larger airports and serves 10 major US cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Tampa and Orlando with non-stop service.
Davenport, IA has a population of 99,695, making it the largest city in the Quad Cites and 3rd in Iowa. Founded in 1836, the city is the county seat of Scott County. Bettendorf, also in Iowa and Scott County is home to 33,217 and ranks 4th largest in the Quad. Moline, located in Rock Island County, Illinois has a population of 45,792, while East Moline has 20,333 residents, making it the smallest city in the area. Rock Island, the county seat of Rock Island, Illinois is home to 40,884 people as well as the Rock Island Arsenal, the largest government owned weapons manufacturer in the US.
Nearby Cities & Towns
Davenport IA, Bettendorf IA, East Moline IL, Moline IL, Rock Island IL, Walcott IA, Eldridge IA, Petersburg IA, Blue Grass IA, New Liberty IA, Donahue IA, Park View IA, McCansland IA, Princeton IA, LeClaire IA, Riverdale IA, Durant IA, Stockton IA, Oakbrook IL, Cordova IL, Rapids City IL, Hampton IL, Carbon Cliff IL, Coal Valley IL, Andover IL, Cleveland IL, Dayton IL, Colona IL, Geneseo IL, Atkinson IL, Cambridge IL
