Moline City, Rock Island County, Illinois (IL)

Moline City

Rock Island County, Illinois

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Moline City Hall is located at 619 16th Street, Moline, IL 61265.
Phone: 309‑524‑2000.

Beginnings [1]

In 1841, David B. Sears built a crude brush and stone dam on the Mississippi River from the Illinois shore to a point near the eastern end of Arsenal Island. This dam provided waterpower to sawmills and gristmills at each end of the dam. The first settlement consisted of about 65 people and thirteen buildings and was called Rock Island Mills; it was centered on the dam and the waterpower site was the deciding factor in its location.

Neighborhoods

  • Adventure Hills
  • Allens Addition
  • Ambassador Condos
  • Americana Park
  • Amphitheatre
  • Andersona Addition
  • Andrews Addition
  • Applewood
  • Arbor Village
  • Arculorius
  • Arenschields
  • Arlington Estates
  • Ashford Condos
  • Atkinson
  • Autumn Creek
  • Autumn Trails
  • Babbitt Place
  • Babcock
  • Bawdens
  • Bayliss
  • Beaver Crossing
  • Beaver Woods
  • Beers
  • Bellevue
  • Belmont
  • Belmont Meadows
  • Belmont Place
  • Bennetts Addition
  • Bensons
  • Bent Tree Condos
  • Bent Tree Estates
  • Berkley Heights
  • Berly Woods
  • Bil Mar
  • Bishop Hill
  • Black Bear Crossing
  • Blackbird Commons
  • Blackhawk
  • Blackhawk Hills
  • Blackhawk View
  • Blakes
  • Blue Grass Park
  • Blueberry Farms
  • Braden Hill
  • Bradshaws
  • Braughts
  • Brennans
  • Briarwood
  • Bridgeway
  • Brighams
  • Brissman Park
  • Broadlawn
  • Broadview Heights
  • Brook Haven
  • Brookside Park
  • Brookview
  • Brotmans
  • Browns
  • Brunsview
  • Buffalo Heights
  • Burmeister
  • Burns
  • Burrows
  • Butterworth
  • Byron Woods
  • Cabrys
  • Camelot
  • Campbells Island
  • Candlelight
  • Candlelight Park
  • Candlelight Ridge
  • Carbon Cliff
  • Cardinal Valley
  • Carlson Crest
  • Carrs
  • Cedar Hills
  • Cedar Tree Village
  • Cedar Vista
  • Cedarbrook
  • Cedars at Woodfield
  • Cedarwood
  • Central
  • Central 18 Condos
  • Century Heights
  • Chapel Hill Estates
  • Charlet Court
  • Cherry Hill Condos
  • Cherry Ridge
  • Cherrydale
  • Chigakwa Park Estates
  • Chrisop
  • Christensen
  • Christensons
  • Church Place Condos
  • Cliff Heights
  • Clifton Hill
  • Clinton
  • Cobblers Knotch
  • Cobblestone
  • Cobbs
  • Colchester
  • Colchester Twp
  • Coleta
  • College Addition
  • Colona Heights
  • Colony Park
  • Columbia Park
  • Cones
  • Copper Ridge
  • Cornerstone Estates
  • Coronado Keys
  • Costello
  • Cottages at Shady Ridge
  • Coulters
  • Country Acres
  • Country Club
  • Country Club Estates
  • Country Court
  • Country Estates
  • Country Garden Estates
  • Country Home
  • Country Manor
  • Countryside Acres
  • Countryside Estates
  • Creek Ridge
  • Creek Ridge Estates
  • Crescent Lake
  • Crestwood
  • Crestwood Hills
  • Crew Ridge Estates
  • Crosstown Meadows
  • Crosstowne Place
  • Crow Creek
  • Crow Valley
  • Crowne Pointe
  • Crystal Creek
  • Decap Subdivision
  • Declerks
  • Deeds Addition
  • Deer Meadows
  • Deer Ridge
  • Deer Run
  • Deer Trac
  • Deer Woods
  • Deerbrook
  • Deerbrook Estates
  • Deerfield
  • Dell View
  • Demarlies
  • Denkmann Place
  • Dennhardts
  • Depue
  • Devils Creek Estates
  • Devils Glen
  • Devils Glen Condos
  • Dewitt
  • Dexter Acres
  • Dickey Place
  • Dona-Lu
  • Duck Creek Heights
  • Duggleby
  • Durant
  • Eagle Ridge
  • Eagles Crest
  • Eastern Avenue Farms
  • Eastwood Estates
  • Edgewild Estates
  • Edgewood
  • Edgewood Park
  • Egerts
  • Ekstroms
  • Eldridge Acres
  • Elm Creek
  • Elmwood
  • Embassy Park
  • Emerald Green
  • Endeca Estates Condos
  • Erins Acres
  • Evans
  • Evidence Point
  • Fair Acres
  • Fair Meadows
  • Faircroft
  • Fairmeadows
  • Fairmount
  • Fairway Pines
  • Fairweather
  • Fairwood
  • Falcon Farms
  • Farmington Hills
  • Farms at Elm Creek
  • Farrs
  • Fenton
  • Ferry Addition
  • Floreciente
  • Fords
  • Forest Glen
  • Forest Hill
  • Forrest Hill
  • Fox Grove
  • Fox Meadows Estates
  • Fox Run Landing
  • Frazier
  • Fredericksens
  • Fullerton
  • Fulton
  • Fulton Park
  • Fyre Lake
  • Fyre Lake West
  • Gaillerts
  • Galbraith Acres
  • Galesburg
  • Galva
  • Garden Green Estates
  • Garden Meadows
  • Gargano
  • Garner Farms
  • Gateway Park
  • Gems
  • Geneseo Hills
  • Georgian Square
  • Georgian Square East
  • Gibsons
  • Giles
  • Glen Oaks
  • Glen Ridge Farms
  • Glen Ridge West
  • Glendale
  • Glendale Acres
  • Glenview
  • Golden Valley Park
  • Golfview Estates
  • Goulds
  • Grahams
  • Grandfield Estates
  • Grandview
  • Great River Estates
  • Green Acres
  • Green Acres
  • Green Manor
  • Green River Heights
  • Greenbrier
  • Greenview Estates
  • Greenwood Place
  • Greenwood Pointe
  • Grigsby
  • Grimes
  • Grove Park
  • Guerrieri
  • Gundersen
  • Habers
  • Hagemans
  • Halls
  • Hamilton Heights
  • Hampton
  • Hampton Bluffs
  • Hampton Woods
  • Hardin
  • Harmony Hills
  • Harmony Hills Estates
  • Harriman Place
  • Harrington Hill
  • Harrison Manor
  • Harvest Acres
  • Harveys
  • Hawthorne
  • Hawthorne Hills
  • Hazel Glen
  • Hazelwood
  • Hazelwood Heights
  • Hazelwood West
  • Hazy Meadows
  • Healeys
  • Heartland
  • Heartland Country Estates
  • Heartland Heights
  • Heartmans
  • Heather Glen
  • Heatherstone
  • Heatherton Heights
  • Hechts Addition
  • Heenes
  • Heritage
  • Heritage
  • Hickory Bend
  • Hickory Creek Estates
  • Hickory Grove
  • Hickory Hills
  • Hidden Valley Farms
  • Hide Away Hills
  • Highclere Town Homes
  • Highcliff Park
  • Highland
  • Highland
  • Highland Green
  • Highland Heights
  • Highlands
  • Highlands East
  • Highpoint
  • Hill And Dale Estates
  • Hillblooms
  • Hillcrest
  • Hillgate
  • Hills Of Cedar Creek
  • Hilltop
  • Hillview
  • Hitchcock
  • Holiday Park
  • Holly Hill Estates
  • Holly Ridge
  • Holmes Addition
  • Home Add
  • Homestead
  • Homeway
  • Homewood
  • Homewood
  • Homewood Terrace
  • Homewood Twin Knolls
  • Honeyman Hills
  • Honsa
  • Houglands
  • Howes
  • Huizenga
  • Hunter Meadows
  • Huntington at Crow Valley
  • Huntington Meadows
  • Huntingtons
  • Huntoon
  • Hurts
  • Hynd Farm
  • Hynd Farm Estates
  • Illini Terrace
  • Imperial Point
  • Indian Bluffs
  • Indian Hills
  • Irish Woods
  • Jacksons
  • Jahns
  • James
  • Jersey Farms
  • Jersey Meadows
  • Jersey Pointe
  • Kaasa Heights
  • Karstens Park
  • Keeline
  • Keiths Landing
  • Kellers
  • Kelling Heights
  • Kendalls
  • Kennedy Place
  • Kimberly Crest
  • Kimberly Downs
  • Kimberly Oaks
  • Kimberly Ridge
  • Kimberly Village
  • Kimberly Woods
  • Kimberly Woods
  • Kings Farm Condo
  • Kings Orchard
  • Kingsgate Estates
  • Klinesmith
  • Klingler
  • Knoelwood
  • Krambecks
  • Krogh
  • Kynnelworth
  • Lagers Addition
  • Lake Huntington Estates
  • Lake Lynnwood
  • Lake Meadows Estates
  • Lake Rice Heights
  • Lake Thunderbird
  • Lake View Estates
  • Lake Warren
  • Lakeside Subdivision
  • Lakeside Village Condos
  • Lakeview Estates
  • Lamertsons
  • Lancer Meadows
  • Lancer Park
  • Laney Meadows
  • Lanterns
  • Lauer
  • Lawndale
  • Le Claire
  • Leaf Lake Estates
  • Leamers
  • Ledo Hills
  • Legacy Fields
  • Legends
  • Legends at Mill Creek
  • Legends at Palmer Hills
  • Legends Of Hopewell Creek
  • Leggetts
  • Lighthouse Landing
  • Lincoln
  • Lincoln Heights
  • Lincoln Pines
  • Lincolnshire
  • Linton Hills
  • Locust Grove
  • Logan
  • Lohman Bros
  • Lohmans
  • Long Grove
  • Lost Grove Acres
  • Lost Lake
  • Lukens
  • Luther Terrace
  • Lynwood
  • Madison
  • Mahieus
  • Maple Lane Addition
  • Maple Terrace
  • Marquette
  • Marquette Heights
  • Matthew Heights
  • Maywood
  • McClellan Heights
  • McClellan Park
  • McKenzies
  • McKinley
  • McPherson Woods
  • Meades Addition
  • Meadow Brook
  • Meadow Gate
  • Meadowbrook
  • Meadowbrook Point
  • Meadowlawn
  • Meads Addition
  • Meersman
  • Mercer
  • Merry Oaks
  • Mill Brook
  • Mill Creek
  • Mill Creek Crossing
  • Mill Towne Condos
  • Millbrook
  • Millerbrook
  • Milllcreek Highlands
  • Mills
  • Mineral Springs Park
  • Mississippi Estates
  • Moburgs
  • Moffits
  • Molette
  • Molette
  • Moores
  • Morgans
  • Morrsion
  • Morton
  • Morwood
  • Mosenfelders
  • Mount Lincoln
  • Muellers
  • Mummas
  • Munsons
  • Murphys
  • Murrys
  • Mynster
  • Nakoma Townhomes
  • Nelsons
  • Normandy
  • North Dewitt
  • North Hazelwood
  • North Highland
  • North Hillsdale
  • North Homestead
  • North Meadows
  • North Pine Heights
  • North Shore
  • Northaven
  • Northbrook
  • Northcrest
  • Northland
  • Northlawn
  • Northpark
  • Northwest Crossing
  • Northwest Villas
  • Northwood Estates
  • Northwood Park
  • Norway
  • Nottingate Courts
  • Oak Brook
  • Oak Brook Estates
  • Oak Creek
  • Oak Crest
  • Oak Forest Estates
  • Oak Heights
  • Oak Hill
  • Oak Hill Park
  • Oak Knoll Estates
  • Oak Knolls
  • Oak Lawn
  • Oak Park
  • Oak Park Heights
  • Oak Pointe
  • Oak Pointe Addition
  • Oak Ridge Acres
  • Oak Ridge Estates
  • Oak Valley
  • Oakbrook
  • Oaklawn
  • Oakwood Acres
  • Oakwood Country Club
  • Old Hunters Woods
  • Old Ivy Woods
  • Old Oakwood Estates
  • Old Orchard
  • Olde Coventry
  • Olde Towne
  • Olympia Fields
  • Oneida Heights
  • Oquawka
  • Orchard Addition
  • Orchard Hill
  • Orchard Hill Farm
  • Orchard Park
  • Overlook
  • Palmer Hills Place
  • Par Four
  • Park Addition
  • Park Crest
  • Park Estates
  • Park Heights
  • Park Hill
  • Park Lawn
  • Park Ridge
  • Park Ridge Heights
  • Park View
  • Parkplace
  • Peaceful Valley
  • Pearsalls
  • Pelican Cove
  • Perrys Addition
  • Peterson Heights
  • Pheasant Hills
  • Pheasant Hills Condo's
  • Pierces
  • Pigeon Creek
  • Pillsbury
  • Pine Acres
  • Pine Grove
  • Pinehurst
  • Pineview
  • Plaza Condos
  • Pleasant Harbor
  • Pleasant Ridge
  • Pleasant Valley Heights
  • Pleasant View
  • Ponderosa Hills
  • Praire View Acres
  • Prairie Heights
  • Prairie Knoll Estates
  • Prairie Pointe
  • Prairie Ridge Estates
  • Prairie View
  • Prairie Woods Estates
  • Princeton
  • Pristine Oaks
  • Prospect Park
  • Prospect Park
  • Purdy Addition
  • Quad Manor
  • Quail Hollow Estates
  • Quail Run
  • Quail Run East
  • Raddens
  • Rainbow Ridge
  • Rancho Valley
  • Randalls
  • Ravinia Woods
  • Red Oaks
  • Redden
  • Reese Gardens
  • Reeves
  • Regency Place
  • Renaissance Estates
  • Resser Add
  • Revelles
  • Reynolds
  • Richland
  • Richland Addition
  • Richland Park
  • Richmond Hill
  • Rick Nelson Subdivision
  • Riders Addition
  • Ridge View
  • Ridge View Estates
  • Ridgeview Park
  • Ridgeway Court
  • Ridgewood
  • Ridgewood Acres
  • Ridgewood Courts
  • Ridgewood Ledges
  • Ringwald
  • River Bend View
  • River Oaks
  • River Station
  • Riverside
  • Riverview
  • Riverview Park
  • Rock Falls
  • Rock River View
  • Rock View Estates
  • Rockview Estates
  • Rolling Acres
  • Rolling Green Estates
  • Rolling Hills
  • Rolling Meadows
  • Rose Highlands
  • Rose Hill
  • Rosedale
  • Rosemere Acres
  • Rouses
  • Rozetta
  • Rustic Acres
  • Rustic Green
  • Rustic Lake Estates
  • Rustic Oaks
  • Rustic Ridge
  • Rustic Ridge Estates
  • Ryans
  • Ryans Garden
  • Sabula
  • Safe Harbor
  • Samuelson
  • Santa Anita Estates
  • Sapphire Courts Condos
  • Scenic Hill
  • Schaefer Farms
  • Schattemans
  • Scherers Addition
  • Schlossers
  • Schoomaker Acres
  • Scottswood
  • Seaburgs Addition
  • Seatons
  • Sellnaus
  • Semri Park
  • Seuss
  • Seven Oaks
  • Sheffield Square
  • Sheppard
  • Sheridan Meadows
  • Sheridan Park
  • Sherman Heights
  • Sherrill
  • Shetland Manor
  • Shoal Pointe
  • Shoreline Estates
  • Short Hills
  • Silver Creek
  • Silver Creek Meadows
  • Silver Valley
  • Silvis Heights
  • Skornas
  • Slavens
  • Sleepy Hollow
  • Smalley
  • Soenkens
  • South Lake
  • Southeast Hills
  • Southwest Estates
  • Speers
  • Spencer Creek
  • Spencer Creek Estates
  • Spring Lake
  • Squires
  • St Andrews Green
  • Stewarts
  • Stewartville
  • Stone Brook
  • Stonebridge Crossing
  • Stonebrook
  • Stonegate
  • Stoney Creek Estates
  • Stoney Creek North
  • Sturdevants
  • Suburban Estates
  • Suburban Heights
  • Summerfield
  • Summit Hills
  • Summit Park
  • Summit Ridge
  • Sunny Crest
  • Sunny Hill
  • Sunny Hill Estates
  • Sunnymede
  • Sunrise Addition
  • Sunrise Crossing
  • Sunset Hill
  • Sunset Park
  • Surrey Heights
  • Swagosa Hills
  • Sylvan Hills
  • Tanglewood
  • Terrace Park
  • Terrace Ridge
  • The Cedars Condos
  • The Conservancy
  • The Highlands
  • The Highlands East
  • The Hills Of Cedar Creek
  • The Manor
  • The Retreat
  • The Ridges
  • The Sevens at Fox Run Landing
  • Thompsons
  • Thunderbay
  • Timber Creek
  • Timber Lake
  • Timber Oaks
  • Timber Point
  • Timber Pointe
  • Timber Ridge
  • Timber Ridge Condos
  • Timber Ridge Estates
  • Timberbrook
  • Timbercrest
  • Timberlake
  • Timberline Estates
  • Timberline Heights
  • Timmerman Lofts
  • Toft Acres
  • Town And Country
  • Town And Country Manor
  • Town Of Walcott
  • Townsend Farms
  • Traceview Estates
  • Trenton
  • Tunbridge Terrace
  • Turkey Hollow Farms
  • Turner
  • Union
  • Upland Place
  • Uptown
  • Urban Heights
  • Urbandale
  • Vails
  • Vails 2Nd Add City Of Gen
  • Valley Oaks
  • Valley Wynds
  • Valleywynds 4Th Adn
  • Velie Estate Condos
  • Venwoods Estates
  • Versman
  • Villa Park
  • Villa Park
  • Villa Pines
  • Village Oaks
  • Village Of Port Byron
  • Villas at Crow Valley
  • Villas at Safe Harbor
  • Wadsworth Valley View
  • Walden Park
  • Walkers
  • Walnut Grove
  • Walnut Hills
  • Walsh Pointe
  • Walton Hills
  • Warren Meadows
  • Warwicks
  • Washington
  • Watermans Place
  • Watertown Of Hampton
  • Wavecrest
  • Webers Estates
  • Weckel Place
  • Wedgewood
  • Weinmiester
  • Wells Addition
  • West Green Acres
  • West Haven
  • West Highland
  • West Lawn
  • West Park
  • West View
  • Western Oaks
  • Westfield
  • Westgate
  • Westholme
  • Weston Wood
  • Westview
  • Westwood
  • Westwood Heights
  • Wharton
  • Wheelocks
  • Whispering Oaks
  • White Oaks
  • White Pine Acres
  • White Pines at Woodfield
  • Whites
  • Wiese Park
  • Wildlife Estates
  • Wildwood
  • Wildwood
  • Willow Creek
  • Windcrest
  • Winding Creek Estates
  • Windmill Farm
  • Windsor Crest
  • Windsor Meadows
  • Winston Hills
  • Witte
  • Woodburns
  • Woodcrest Manor
  • Wooded Highlands
  • Woodhaven
  • Woodhill Addition
  • Woodland
  • Woodland Estates
  • Woods End
  • Woods of Fox Hollow
  • Wyatt
  • Wyndham Hills
  • Zaigers

In 1843 the village was officially platted and named Moline; however, the records were destroyed by fire, and Moline was incorporated again as a village in 1848. Moline was incorporated as a city in 1872 when its population was about 4,700 persons.

Moline's situation with respect to river traffic was less favorable than that of either Rock Island or Davenport. It was located some distance to the side of the main channel, and lay opposite one of the rock ledges which formed the rapids. However, it possessed advantages for the development of power from the rapid advantages which neither Rock Island nor Davenport could equal. The narrow channel between the Illinois shore and Arsenal Island provided an excellent site for a simple dam. Moline grew because of industries dependent on the development of the power site, and it thus owes its existence in large measure to the river and the rapids.

A number of notable events characterized industrial growth in Moline up to 1900. One of these was the building of the railroads. The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River was built in 1856, and by 1879 three railroads passed through Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport. The construction of the railroads greatly stimulated the settlement of many thousands of acres of agricultural land to the west, which were not readily accessible otherwise. New farms needed lumber for houses, barns, and fences, and agricultural implements, furniture, and other household equipment. This emerging market contributed to the development of two industries important to the early growth of Moline.

The outstanding industrial development during the period was the growth of lumbering. In 1853 there were five sawmill and woodworking industries in Moline, three in Davenport, and two in Rock Island. Employing about 200 workers in 1854, this lumber industry grew to employ more than 2,000 people by 1888. Logs were floated down the Mississippi River from the forests of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the lumber products of the mills moved by rail to inland markets in the treeless areas of the Great Plains.

Perhaps the most notable event during this period, from the standpoint of manufacturing, occurred in 1847, when John Deere moved his plow manufacturing works to Moline from Grand Detour, Illinois. Attracted by the waterpower available at Moline, the transportation facilities afforded by the Mississippi River, and the large market area tributary to the river, Deere opened a small factory below the Moline dam. The development of the agricultural implement industry in the late 1800's was almost as spectacular as that of the lumber industry. Of the five implement factories operating in the three cities in 1887, Deere and Company was the leading manufacturer. From one small forge building the plant expanded until its buildings covered more than eight acres in 1882; mechanical improvements and inventions increased the scope of its production from plows to a variety of agricultural implements. In 1892 the company employed 1,000 workers and produced 150,000 implements.

A further event occurring in this period greatly affected the form of development in Moline. In 1862 Congress created a national arsenal on Rock Island to manufacture ordnance equipment. The Government forced removal of the mills at the eastern end of the island and constructed a new dam near the middle of the south side (at what is now Sylvan Island). The power sites opposite it along the mainland caused a rapid westward expansion of the industrial area in Moline.

Residential expansion in Moline was very unsymmetrical and development occurred almost entirely west and south of the commercial core. This peculiar growth reflected an adjustment to the expansion of the industrial area westward opposite the mill sites by the Government power dam. However, it was also due to the retention of a large part of the lowland east of the city by Bailey Davenport, and the establishment of the large Riverside Cemetery in 1851. Because the lowland was narrow, residential areas were forced to expand on the upland where they met the expanding residential areas of Rock Island. The eastward expansion of Moline did not occur until the development of Bailey Davenport's land sometime after his death in 1890.

Two events in the 1890's acted to slow the rate of growth in all of the cities. One was the financial panic of 1893; the other was the depletion of the pine forests of Minnesota, which caused the rapid decline of the lumber industry. The peak of the lumber industry occurred sometime in the early 1890's, but the decline began in 1895 and by 1910 the industry was extinct. As a result of these two events, manufacturing was paralyzed and unemployment was widespread for several years.

After a short period of stagnation, the rapid growth and development which characterized the previous period resumed, caused mainly by expansion of the agricultural implement industry and Rock Island Arsenal.

Due to the trend towards large-scale production and the concentration of industry in large establishments, Deere and Company grew into a mammoth corporation. The economy of large-scale production with large factory and sales organizations became necessary, and the increased use of mechanical power on farms created a larger demand for tractors and farm implements.

The Spanish-American War showed that the Arsenal lacked adequate facilities; consequently, waterpower facilities were improved and additional manufacturing equipment was installed. Further improvements were made during World War I, when the manufacturing and storage area increased fourfold and new power facilities were installed; a peak employment of 18,000 was reached in 1918. The manufacture of automobiles began shortly after 1900 and boosted the Moline economy somewhat. Production continued until the last of the automobile factories, the Velie Motor Company, was closed in 1928.

Moline's area quadrupled between 1900 and 1930. Its growth was characterized first by expansion south of the business and industrial core on the upland and later by the addition of an eastern wing on the lowland more than twenty blocks long (which gave Moline a common boundary with East Moline). Residential expansion generally followed the directions of the electric street railway lines which served 16 Avenue, 27 Street, 15 Street south to Prospect Park, and the Mississippi River lowland from Rock Island to East Moline. The late twenties were known as the "boom years" of residential construction.

  1. City of Moline, Illinois, Comprehensive Plan 2001, www.molineil.us, accessed October, 2012.

Nearby Towns: Bettendorf City • Davenport City • East Moline City • Rock Island City •


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