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Rock Island, IL

Frequently asked questions

Rock Island, IL

Rock Island is a city in and the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 37,108 at the 2020 census. Located at the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers, it is one of the Quad Cities along with neighboring Moline and East Moline in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities had a population of 384,324 in 2020. The city is home to Rock Island Arsenal, the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the US, which employs 6,000 people. The original Rock Island, from which the city name is derived, is now called Arsenal Island.

Rock Island is located at 41°29′21″N 90°34′23″W (41.489083, -90.573154).

According to the 2010 census, Rock Island has a total area of 17.872 square miles (46.29 km²), of which 16.85 square miles (43.64 km²) (or 94.28%) is land and 1.022 square miles (2.65 km²) (5.72%) is water

The original portion of what is now known as Rock Island was called Farnhamsburg – after the original two homes were 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 southern portion of Rock Island, including today's Watch Hill area, was originally known as Searstown. It was named after David B. Sears - who built the Sears Power Dam on the Rock River. Searstown was annexed by Rock Island in 1915.

This area has been a fortuitous place first for settlement and then for steamboat traffic, bridges, and railroads.

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 (built by Ben Harper and opened in February 1871) 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.

The city places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, offering residents access to quality healthcare services. One notable healthcare facility is UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island, a leading hospital that serves the community with a comprehensive range of medical services. NovaCare Rehabilitation offers a wide range of physical therapy services such as orthopedics, sports medicine, neurological rehabilitation, and pediatric therapy. IBJI physical therapy services include orthopedic rehabilitation, sports-specific therapy, aquatic therapy, and pediatric therapy. Chicago Physical Therapists offers comprehensive rehabilitation services for conditions such as sports injuries, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain, and musculoskeletal disorders. Impact Physical Therapy specializes in sports physical therapy, orthopedic rehabilitation, and post-operative care. North Shore Physical Wellness provides physical therapy services focused on rehabilitation from injury, post-surgical recovery, and chronic pain management.

Top Sites in Rock Island, IL: Figge Art Museum, Quad City Botanical Center, Black Hawk State Historic Site.

Population: 37,108 (2020). ZIP Codes: 61201. Area code: 309. Elevation: 590 ft (180 m). Area: 17.07 sq mi (44.22 km²).

FAQs

What is Rock Island, IL famous for?

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.

Is Rock Island, IL a suburb of Chicago?

The City of Rock Island is a full-service community located on the Mississippi River, approximately 175 miles west of Chicago. Rock Island is a major city in what is known as the Quad Cities, a region with a population approaching 400,000 that encompasses Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa. According to the 2010 census, Rock Island’s population is 39,018.

What is the history of Rock Island, IL?

The original portion of what is now known as Rock Island was called Farnhamsburg – after the original two homes were 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. 

Sources

City of Rock Island

Wikipedia

UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock

NovaCare Rehabilitation

IBJI

Chicago Physical Therapists

Impact Physical Therapy

North Shore Physical Wellness

Figge Art Museum

Quad City Botanical Center

Black Hawk State Historic Site

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.