1826Architecture
== History ==
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...
1835History
The original city plat was filed on July 10, 1835, and was named Stephenson.
1841Civil Rights
It was renamed Rock Island in March 1841.
1851Government
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 s...
1854Government
Chippiannock Cemetery, established in 1854, is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area and serves as the final resting place for several prominent figures in Rock Island's hist...
1856Architecture
=== Bridges ===
The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River was built between Arsenal Island and Davenport in 1856.
1857Architecture
Rock Island Bridge Co., featured Abraham Lincoln as one of the lawyers who defended the railroad at trial in September 1857.
1860Government
Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution, founded in 1860, that serves as a major educational center for the region.
1862Military
Army facility established in 1862 with a long history of military and industrial importance.
1866Architecture
Although the original bridge is long gone, having been replaced in 1866 with a heavier bridge, a monument exists on Arsenal Island marking the Illinois side.
1871Architecture
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 ...
1872Government
The Rock Island Public Library was established in 1872.
1896Architecture
The Government Bridge, completed in 1896, is notable for having two sets of railroad tracks above the car lanes.
1899Architecture
The Crescent Rail Bridge is a railroad-only bridge, completed in 1899.
1901Sports
The Rock Island Islanders were a minor league baseball team that played for 37 seasons between 1901 and 1948.
1906Architecture
It was built between 1906 and 1910.
1907Government
It was hosted by the Rock Island Independents (1907–1926), who were a charter NFL franchise in 1920.
1915Government
Searstown was annexed by Rock Island in 1915.
1920Culture
Quad City Arts
== Sports ==
The first football game in what was to become the National Football League was played at Rock Island's Douglas Park in September 1920.
1921History
Secretary of Agriculture 1921–24
Friedrich Weyerhäuser, lumber mogul
Bill Zies, catcher with the St.
1934Architecture
15, completed in 1934 as a federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression, is the largest roller dam in the world.
1940Architecture
The Centennial Bridge was completed in 1940 for autos only.
1942Infrastructure
D., The Early Day of Rock Island and Davenport The Lakeside Press, 1942
Tweet, Roald D., The Quad Cities: An America mosaic, East Hall Press, 1996
Wickstrom, George W., The Tow...
1948Economy
Potter Company, 1948
== External links ==
City website
"Rock Island, Ill." .
1952History
The line finally folded in 1952.
1963History
Until 1963, WHBF was one of only two television stations in the Quad Cities area.
1973Architecture
The newest bridge is the Interstate 280 bridge, completed in 1973.
1997History
With exception to 1997, when the annual race was canceled due to legal liability issues, the Rock Island Grand Prix has been held every year since 1994.
2007Architecture
The temple opened in 2007.
2010History
=== Climate ===
== Demographics ==
=== 2010 Census ===
In 2000 Census, there were 39,684 people, 16,148 households, and 9,543 families residing in the city.
2017Architecture
Construction began in April 2017 for a new Rock Island County courthouse.
2018Architecture
The $28 million project was completed in the fall of 2018, and the old courthouse was expected to be torn down upon completion of the new building.
2022History
=== Ethnic communities ===
Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the Burmese American population was 902 comprising 50% of the Asian population (estimated ...
2023History
The old courthouse was demolished in April 2023.