History of Davenport, Iowa
Davenport city has a substantial part in the history of American-African. The town is Scott County's county seat and can be considered the largest city of the Quad Cities. It lies in the state's outlying villages beside the Mississippi River. Due to its geographic location, Davenport is a flood-prone area.
President John Quincy announced in 1828 that the lands in the east of the Mississippi River should be sold to settlers fleeing westward. Many Indian tribes had to move to the West because of this. Chief Black Hawk's refusal to move led to the beginning of Black Hawk War.
President John Quincy announced in 1828 that the lands in the east of the Mississippi River should be sold to settlers fleeing westward. Many Indian tribes had to move to the West because of this. Chief Black Hawk's refusal to move led to the beginning of Black Hawk War.
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On May 14, 1936, Antoine Le Claire founded Davenport city. The city got its name after George Davenport, Le Claire's friend and a former sailor in the U.S. Army. Most of the city's first settlers were Germans. The town became the county seat of Scott County in 1840 following the dilemma in the county seat with Rockingham. Both cities competed to become the county seat in 1837. On the election of February 1838, Davenport secured the spot by getting the majority of votes. Shortly before the Civil War led by Governor Samuel Kirkwood, Davenport became the primary military headquarters of Iowa.
The Civil War resulted in hundreds of children being homeless. Due to the numerous homeless children, it led to the inauguration of the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home on November 16, 1865. The facility took care of the homeless children from Iowa's ninety-nine counties. In 1975, the home closed after 110 years of charity works for the homeless children. |
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The construction of the Rock Island Railroad resulted in significant developments to the city's transportation and commercial relationship with Chicago. The establishment of the railroad connected the town to Rock Island, Illinois. As the years passed, Davenport became the heart of railroad business. However, the boom of the railroad in the country threatened steamboat organizations resulting in a steamboat leader knocking the Effie Afton, not long after the scaffolds finished construction.
Amidst the city's national economic struggle in 1895, Davenport constructed an elaborate City Hall. The total cost construction was $90,000. Most of the funding came from the new state law that taxes illegal saloons that totaled to $50,000 annually. This large sum did fund not only the construction of the new City Hall but also new sewer systems and more streets construction.
Davenport's leaders initiated the construction of a civic center in the latter years of 1970. The center aimed for the revival of the city's downgrading property values. After 16 months of building construction, the civic center opened its doors in 1983. It got its name, RiverCenter, from a public naming contest.
In the 1990s the economy in the city began to grow. Construction of new buildings and renovations of the old ones took place during these years. The Frigge Art Museum, Modern Woodmen, were all reconstructed during this era. The U.S. Conference of Mayors acknowledged Davenport by awarding it the "2007 City Livability Award. The award aims to feature efforts by city mayors in making cities safer and cleaner.
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Amidst the city's national economic struggle in 1895, Davenport constructed an elaborate City Hall. The total cost construction was $90,000. Most of the funding came from the new state law that taxes illegal saloons that totaled to $50,000 annually. This large sum did fund not only the construction of the new City Hall but also new sewer systems and more streets construction.
Davenport's leaders initiated the construction of a civic center in the latter years of 1970. The center aimed for the revival of the city's downgrading property values. After 16 months of building construction, the civic center opened its doors in 1983. It got its name, RiverCenter, from a public naming contest.
In the 1990s the economy in the city began to grow. Construction of new buildings and renovations of the old ones took place during these years. The Frigge Art Museum, Modern Woodmen, were all reconstructed during this era. The U.S. Conference of Mayors acknowledged Davenport by awarding it the "2007 City Livability Award. The award aims to feature efforts by city mayors in making cities safer and cleaner.
More information