Davenport, Iowa is a city of about 101,000 people located on the Mississippi River across the river from Illinois. Those moving to Davenport will discover that the city has won numerous awards for its livability, including being ranked as the most affordable city of its size by Forbes Magazine in 2010. It also is one of the safest cities to live in. If you are thinking of moving to Davenport, Iowa you will find a city that is proud of its past and is looking to its future. There is a lot to do and see there, and several fine old neighborhoods dating back to the mid 1800s.
Economy:
The median household income in Davenport is slightly lower than the state average. The cost of living in Davenport is considerably lower than the national average. The unemployment rate is currently 7.4 percent. Davenport has a diversified economic base, but the major employers in the city are manufacturing in nature. Davenport is home to the Deere & Co, manufacturers of farm equipment, and their world headquarters are in Davenport as well. Other top employers include ALCOA, Genesis Health Systems, Tyson Fresh Meats and Kraft Foods North America. Riverboat casinos have increased the tourism industry tremendously in Davenport as well.
History:
The first known European to explore the area was Zebulon Pike, who explored the upper Mississippi River and camped on the site of Davenport in 1805. At the end of the Black Hawk Indian Wars in 1832, a treaty was signed in the area, and Chief Keokut gave a large portion of land to the treaty's translator's wife at the signing. Her husband, the translator Antoine Le Claire, built a homestead on the site of Davenport. He established the town in 1836 and named it Davenport in honor of a friend, Col. George Davenport. The Rock Island Railroad built a bridge over the Mississippi in 1856 to connect Davenport to Illinois. The city prospered during the Civil War when the Rock Island Arsenal opened to provide ordinance to the Union. It is still in operation today.
Tourism:
One interesting place to visit is the Palmer Museum of Chiropractic History, which documents over a century of the practice. The Figge Art Museum has many permanent and rotating art exhibits and includes a Jackson Pollock. On the banks of the Mississippi is the River Music Experience that documents and celebrates every kind of American Music. The Mississippi Valley Blues Festival is held on the 4th of July weekend. In July the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival attracts world-class jazz musicians from around the world. You can hike, fish, swim and camp along the Mississippi, and enjoy casino gambling on one of the riverboats.