History

Downtown Davenport

The city of Davenport is located in Scott County along Mississippi River. In 2007, the city was awarded the “City Livability Award” in the small city category from the US Conference of Mayors.

The city was part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1814, during the War of 1812 the British military, along with the Saux and Fox Indian tribes fought against the Americans near Davenport. In August, Major Zachary Taylor, later President, fought a battle east of what is now Credit Island Park, in Davenport. An outpost was set up at Fort Armstrong and George Davenport and Antonie LeClaire were stationed there.

In 1832, Chief Keokuk and General Winfield Scott signed a treaty to end the Black Hawk War. Antoine LeClaire, who was part French and part Pottawattamie, served as translator. A generous portion of land was gifted by Chief Keokuk to Marguerite LeClaire, Antoine’s wife, as she was the granddaughter of a Sac chief. Keokuk stipulated that Antoine build their home on the exact spot where the treaty was signed or forfeit the land. Antoine did so, finishing the Treaty House in the spring of 1833. Davenport was established in 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and named after his good friend Colonel George Davenport. The first settlers of Davenport were mostly Germans. After a county seat dilemma with neighboring town Rockingham in 1840, Davenport was established as the county seat of Scott County. Davenport was declared to be Iowa’s first military headquarters just before the Civil War by Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood. In November 1865, the “Iowa Soldier’s Orphans’ Home” was opened in Davenport to take in children left orphaned by the Civil War. In 1895, the city hall was built, and in 1897, the first chiropractic school in the world, Palmer Chiropractic College was opened.
Davenport experienced an economic and building boom in the 1920s and early 1930s. The Capitol Theatre, the baseball stadium, the Kahl Building, the Parker Building, and the Blackhawk Hotel are a few of the buildings built during this time period that are still standing. The Great Depression brought economic tough times to the city. The inclusion of new factories in the 1940s and 1950s helped turn the economy around after World War II. Davenport was on hard times once again with the farm crisis of the 1980s, when the The Caterpillar Plant closed, costing 35,000 jobs. The city was rejuvenated once again in the 1990s and present by renovations and building additions.

Economy

The Davenport economic base is diversified, with a relatively equal distribution among the manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and services sectors. Manufacturing has traditionally been a principal industry in the city. Davenport is also a primary retail and wholesale trade center, drawing from a market area encompassing a radius of up to 100 miles. Business and industry in Davenport benefit from the Quad City financial community. More than 40 area banks and lending institutions, in conjunction with the state of Iowa, have established a fiscal atmosphere favorable to new business and the expansion of existing firms through progressive and conventional financing procedures. Thirteen industrial islands are located within the Davenport city limits.

Items and goods produced: agricultural implements, construction machinery, military equipment, airplane parts, chemicals, meat and food products, lumber and timber, sheet aluminum, metal products, cement and foundry products, electronic parts, clothing, printing and publishing products
City programs include loans and tax abatement programs for job creations and investment in real estate. The city of Davenport currently qualifies to offer the advantages of operating in an Enterprise Zone.

State of Iowa loans/forgivable loans and grants based on payroll and capital investment in plant and equipment. Projects involving larger capital investments and/or higher paying jobs may qualify for property tax exemptions, tax credits and additional training dollars under the New Jobs and Income Program. Additional state funding is also available for infrastructure improvements such as rail spurs, roadways, and others

Attractions

Mushroom Garden

Happy Joe’ Jungle Bungle

This fun venue for children includes a pizza parlor and many themed facility rentals. Redemption games are a big part of the fun.

Quad City Sports Center

This indoor ice arena offers 25 hours of public skating sessions per week plus features an on site sporting goods store.

The Quad City Arts Festival of Trees

It is an annual tradition benefiting Quad City Arts, a not-for-profit local arts agency.

Stampe Lilac Garden

You’ll find Quad Cities’ largest collection of lilacs at this beautiful garden park, as well as many perennials and annuals.

Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science

One of the oldest museums west of the Mississippi River, founded in 1867 as the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, the Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science is accredited by the American Association of Museums.